NCDPI Office of Charter Schools Updates

Adding Board Chair and Vice Chair Information to EDDIE

EDDIE is the authoritative source for NC public school numbers and demographic information, is used to feed multiple NCDPI technology systems including; Accountability, PowerSchool, and NC School Report Cards, and is used to meet federal reporting requirements.

Last year we collected board member information using a word document and schools had to resubmit the form each time they had changes to that information.  In order to improve our data collection regarding board membership, all charter schools must now add the current Board Chair and Board Vice Chair to the EDDIE system.  Keeping accurate, current information for the Board Chair and Vice Chair in EDDIE will help NCDPI to communicate effectively with current school administrators and board members.  If there are changes to Board Chair, Board Vice Chair, or any other school demographic information, charter directors must ensure this information is updated in EDDIE.

In the October and November 2015 newsletters, we requested that each charter school update board member information in EDDIE.  To date, 33 schools have completed this task.  To ensure that NCDPI and OCS communication is directed to the right people at charter schools, each school should complete their update no later than February 1, 2016.

Steps for updating Board Chair and Vice Chair information are as follows:

1. Go to EDDIE - http://apps.schools.nc.gov/eddie 
2. School's EDDIE user logs into the system - Subscribed User List is posted at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/accounting/eddie/ 
3. Look at Selection Options on the Welcome - Main Menu page
4. Change selection button to Charter/Regional Name
5. Select your school in the dropdown, and click GO
6. On School Information screen, midway down and to the right, click "Edit School Staff"
7. On School Staff screen, click "Create A New Staff Record"
8. From Staff Title dropdown, select "Board Chair" or "Board Vice Chair"
9. Complete information and click "Save/Create This Staff Record"
10. Repeat as needed to enter more title information.
11. To edit previously entered information, look at the “Staff Title” row to be updated and click on the blue text that says “Edit” in that row.

Note: Only current school year data can be updated.

Other NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates

NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (NCDVR) Conference

Please see the attached Save-the-Date and registration information for the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (NCDVR) upcoming transition conference; and consider sending a representative from your LEA/Charter. This is an opportunity for charter school and school district transition personnel to collaborate with their district Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) partners.  

In addition to VR Counselors and staff serving transition-aged youth, NCDVR plans to accommodate approximately 75-100 school and school district representatives at this conference.  NCDVR believes that the key to successful outcomes for students with disabilities is to have well-trained staff providing programs and services through collaborations with their partner agencies and organizations. Please note there is a minimal fee to attend this conference.

Attachment:  NC-Transition Conference Information

Global Education January Updates

In September 2011, the North Carolina State Board of Education formed a Task Force on Global Education to assess the state's effort to produce globally competitive graduates ready to live, work and contribute in an interconnected world. Based on its findings, the Task Force made a number of recommendations that would help to ensure that all public school students are well prepared.

One opportunity coming out of the Global Education Task Force work was the creation of criteria and a process for the Global - Ready Schools and Districts Designation. Charter schools may seek this designation by following the Global-Ready Schools Designation.

• K-12 world language opportunities for all students;
• Pathways for teachers, leaders and administrators to achieve SBE-recognized badging;
• Career-ready employer requirements;
• Global school partnerships; and
• Local school board resolutions and plans on global education.

Attached below is information regarding NCDPI's Global Education for charters and districts. Information includes specifics on the following:

• Global Educator Badge
• Application and Guidance on Becoming a Global-Ready School
• Global Educator Coordinators
• Professional Development
  
• Useful Resources

 Attachment: Global Education January Updates

Home Base User's Group Meeting Notice

Please find the attached invitation to the next Home Base Users' Group meeting.  Please contact Aaron Bissonnette with questions or concerns at aaron.bissonnette@dpi.nc.gov).

Attachment: Home Base User Group Information

Distinguished Service Award Nomination Packet

Attached is information to nominate individuals who are distinguished for years of service and statewide impact on improving the education and lives of exceptional children.  Selected individuals from the nominations will be recognized during the March Institute being held at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro on March 8-9, 2016.

If you have any questions, please contact Sherry H. Thomas at 919 807-3992 or sherry.thomas@dpi.nc.gov.

Attachment:  Distinguished Service Nomination Letter

Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children to Meet

The Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children will meet Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 1-2 p.m., via webinar.  Council members will review, discuss and vote on the attached position paper regarding the proposed Policies changes for Students with Learning Disabilities.

The public is invited to join the meeting and provide comments but cannot participate in the Council vote.  The number and access code to call in are: 562.247.8321/Access Code: 121-929-342.

If you have any questions, please contact Tish Bynum with the Exceptional Children Division.

Attachment:  Policies Position Paper.pdf

Seeking Champions of Public Education in North Carolina

NCDPI wishes to recognize champion educators and education advocates in charters/districts during its annual Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA).  Please see the attached information to submit nominees. 

Attachment: CCSA Nomination Information

Multi-Tiered System of Support Readiness Instrument

Please see the attached memo in reference to the MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT (MTSS) READINESS Instrument.

Attachment: MTSS Readiness Instrument Memo

Educator Effectiveness Professional Development Updates

Please see the attached document which outlines professional development opportunities offered by NCDPI Educator Effectiveness.

Attachment: Educator Effectiveness Professional Development Opportunities

US Department of Education Dyslexia Clarification

Please open the attached memorandum and support materials from NCDPI Chief Academic and Digital Learning Officer Tracy Weeks and Exceptional Children Division Director Bill Hussey regarding the US Dept. of Education Dyslexia Clarification.

Attachments:

Dyslexia Memo.pdf

Dyslexia Guidance.pdf

Dyslexia Topic Brief

NCDPI Website Highlights

Superintendents' Weekly Message

Teacher of the Year Announcements

Teachers' Biweekly Message

IMPORTANT REMINDER – EDDIE is the authoritative source for NC public school numbers and demographic information, is used by multiple NCDPI technology systems including; Accountability, PowerSchool, NC School Report Cards, and is used to meet federal reporting requirements.  LEAs and charter schools are responsible for ensuring data their data in EDDIE are complete, accurate, and current.  EDDIE is located at: http://apps.schools.nc.gov/eddie.