NCDPI Office of Charter Schools Weekly Newsletter

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Office of Charter Schools

6303 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6303  •  919.807.3491


WEEKLY NEWSLETTER  –  DECEMBER 31, 2015



Upcoming Events

 

 

January 6 - 7, 2016


State Board of Education Meeting

 

January 11 - 12, 2016

 

Charter Schools Advisory Board Meeting

 

 

NCDPI Office of Charter Schools

 

2016-17 Charter School Teacher of the Year Announcement

 

We are pleased to announce Brandon Brown from Lake Norman Charter as the 2016-17 Charter School Teacher of the Year (TOY)!!

 

Recently, the reigning NC Teacher of the Year Keana Triplett, Charter School Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Padgett, TOY NCDPI representatives, and Lake Norman administrators surprised Brandon with the announcement that he was chosen as the 2016-17 Charter School TOY.

 

To be considered for the Charter School TOY candidates submitted a written portfolio and participated in interviews.  After the interviews school visits were conducted for the final two candidates. The culminating event of the TOY process included an announcement to the Charter School TOY candidate.

 

Brandon Brown is now eligible to contend for the 2016-17 NC Teacher of the Year!! Let's congratulate Brandon Brown and Lake Norman for this selection. Please click the WSOCTV News Link

to view the local news coverage capturing this event.

 

For additional information about the 2017-18 TOY process please contact Brian Smith.


State Employees Credit Union Foundation (SECU) High School Scholarship Opportunity!!

 

Since the SECU Foundation was established in August 2004,  they have awarded $10,000 scholarships – increasing from two to three in 2014 – to graduating seniors attending North Carolina Charter Schools. These scholarships will be awarded to students attending one of the 17 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina.  These funds are made possible through the contributions to the Foundation by members of State Employees' Credit Union.

 

Each charter high school should establish a Scholarship Selection Committee. The committee from each charter high school will be responsible for nominating a graduating senior for the “People Helping People” four-year scholarship.  The nominees should be submitted to the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools for the final selection process of three students.  

 

The attached information will provide the Scholarship Selection Committee with eligibility criteria, procedures, and information. 

 

Please Note:

 

  •  The Scholarship Selection Committee at your school should follow the formal application process developed at your school.   Every graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 should be considered for the SECU Foundation “People Helping People” Scholarship

 

  • .Deadline for returning the scholarship recipient information is April 15, 2016. 

 

  • Provide an alternate or first runner up student in the event the named recipient is unable to accept the scholarship for whatever reason

 

  • Information should be submitted to:     
    NCDPI Office of Charter Schools
    Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith
    6303 Mail Service Center
    Raleigh, NC  27699-6303    

    

The Office of Charter Schools appreciates the dedication and hard work by the members of the Scholarship Selection Committee.  You maintain the integrity and ensure the “People Helping People” scholarship program is highly successful. Please contact Deanna Townsend-Smith @ deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov with questions or concerns.



Attachment: SECU Scholarship Memo


NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates

 

 

NCDPI Educator Effectiveness' New Courses!!!

 

The NCDPI Educator Effectiveness Section will offer several FREE sessions in 2016!! Outlined below are the course titles and dates.

 

 Two 14-week instructor-led online courses!! Listed below are the respective course titles:

  • Using Data to Create and Use Assessment
  • Measuring and Implementing Action Research in the Classroom

Starts: Monday, Jan. 11, 2016

Registration limited to 35 participants per section

 

 Nine 5-7 week instructor-led online courses!! Listed below are the respective course titles:

  •  21st Century Learners
  • The North Carolina Evaluation Process

Starts: Monday, February 8, 2016

Registration limited to 35 participants per section


Six week return course!!

  • Return of The Mooclet, Effective Digital Strategies for Teaching and Learning in the K-12 Classroom!! The Mooclet focuses on using digital tools and strategies to support teaching and learning and enriching individuals’ knowledge through developing communities of practice across the state.

Starts: Monday, February 8, 2016

Registration limited to 200 participants per section


For a full description of all courses and associated CEUs, visit https://rt3nc.org. Please contact Geetanjali Soni for questions about Educator Effectiveness courses, webinars or other professional development resources

 


Finance Officers Newsletter

 

AttachmentFinance Newsletter


NCDPI Web Highlights

 

NC Public Schools Partners Newsletter


Superintendents' Weekly Message


NC Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Fee Coverage

 

 

NCDPI will continue to cover all AP and IB test fees for students enrolled in the courses for this 2015-16 school year. 

 

Please see the attached AP/IB Test Fees Guidance document for more information.  The process for AP Test fees is the same as last year; the process for IB Test fees has changed.   

 

Please contact Sneha Shah Coltrane, Director Advanced Learning, with questions at ap.ib@dpi.nc.gov

 

Attachment: AP/IB Fee Coverage Guidance

 


New Health and Safety Requirements for School Bus Drivers

 

 

Beginning January 1, 2015 all North Carolina public school bus drivers will be required to use hand signals to help students safely cross the road to board the bus. The North Carolina State Board of Education approved this revision to its bus safety policy at its July meeting. Please see the attached information regarding the new requirement.

 

Attachment: New Health & Safety Requirements


State Board of Education Meets Next week

 

 

The State Board of Education will meet next week, January 6-7, 2015, in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh.

 

 

An agenda and executive summaries are posted online (under Meetings tab). The State Board’s committee meetings and full Board meeting are audio streamed for those who can’t attend.

 

 

To provide comments or feedback regarding specific agenda items, please email State Board members individually or email general comments/feedback.