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  –  March 11, 2016


Upcoming Events


April 6-7, 2016

State Board of Education Meeting


April 11-12, 2016

Charter Schools Advisory Board Meeting


April 16,  2016

SECU Scholarship Information due to Office of Charter Schools

SECU

NCDPI Office of Charter Schools Updates


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

 

Since the SECU Foundation was established in August 2004, it has awarded annual $10,000 “People Helping People” four-year 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.

 

In order to ensure that each charter high school’s graduating seniors are able to be considered for this opportunity, each charter school must establish a Scholarship Selection Committee.  The Committee from each charter high school will be responsible for nominating a graduating senior for the scholarship.  Each school must submit its nominees to the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools.  The nominee information for each school will be reviewed/evaluated and the SECU will award scholarships to three candidates statewide.

 

The attached information will provide each school’s Scholarship Selection Committee with eligibility criteria, procedures, and information. 

 

Key points in the attached information:

 

  • Each school has flexibility in establishing its formal application process, but should ensure that every graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 is considered for the SECU Foundation “People Helping People” Scholarship

 

  • Scholarship recipient information from each school must be postmarked by 5:00 pm EST on April 15, 2016 to the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools.

 

  • Each school should submit an alternate or first runner up student in the event the first nominee is unable to accept the scholarship (if selected).

 

  • Each school must submit paper copies of nominations and any accompanying information to the following address:      

    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 each school’s Scholarship Selection Committee.  Your diligence and integrity enable the “People Helping People” scholarship program to continue providing important support to our college-going students.  Please contact Deanna Townsend-Smith @ deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions or concerns about the program.

 

 

Attachment: SECU Scholarship Memo

 


Survey

Interscholastic Athletics Participation Survey

 

At its April 2016 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBE) plans to discuss health and safety requirements for students participating in interscholastic athletics.  To inform this discussion, the SBE has requested information on charter school students participating in interscholastic athletics.  ALL charter schools should complete the attached brief 2-question survey by March 25, 2015.  If you do not participate in interscholastic athletics please respond “no” after you complete the school name field.

 

Please contact Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith via email at deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov with questions or concerns.

 

Attachment:  2016 Charter School Interscholastic Athletic Survey

 


NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates

 

Professional Development Opportunity for Charter Schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg

 

The NC Homeless Education Program (NCHEP) is facilitating a round table session for the Charlotte/Mecklenburg area on Wednesday, March 15, 2016 at Lake Norman Charter School.  This is an exciting opportunity for the NCHEP liaisons to work with the charter schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. NCHEP hopes to schedule similar round table sessions in other areas within the Southwest region before the end of this academic year. 25 charter schools are invited to participate in this round table session along with the traditional public schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.  Charter schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area are encouraged to respond to the invitation attached using the provided link below.  


Please contact Patricia Lentz via email at plentz@serve.org with questions or concerns regarding this professional development opportunity.

 

 

 

 

Attachments:  Invitation List

 

Invitation Information

 

Registration Link


CCSA: Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement

Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement Conference (CCSA) Update


The CCSA features an array of professional development and information sessions for educators, policy makers, innovators and community members who have an interest in innovative practices to improve educational outcomes for students of today and tomorrow.

 

The conference takes place on March 21-23, 2016 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC.  This conference features 250 sessions that may be of interest to districts and charter schools. Topics include: K-12 learning standards, K-12 online and blended learning structures, policy, research, accountability, student engagement and more.  The NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) will be hosting a full day (morning and afternoon focus sessions) on March 22 at the CCSA to provide an opportunity for charter school leaders to come together to learn and network.

 

Attached below is a preview of featured presentations for the CCSA conference (more information regarding the OCS Focus Sessions to follow in another communication).

 

 

Attachment:  CCSA Conference Updates

 

                       CCSA Updates Part 2

 


Specific Learning Disabled (SLD) Fact Sheet


Please see the attached fact sheet which addresses the new requirements related to the identification of Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD).  This will be the first of a series of fact sheets related to the definition, evaluation and identification of students with SLD under the policy approved by the NC State Board of Education on February 5, 2016.  

 

If you have any questions, please contact Lynne Loeser (lynne.loeser@dpi.nc.gov / 919 807-3980).  



Attachment:    SLD Fact Sheet


Multi-Tiered System of Support

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) - Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems

 

Creating a Multi-Tiered System of Support requires braiding together installed academic and behavior problem-solving frameworks. This work requires having a clear goal, a vision, for this change. The NCDPI MTSS team is providing opportunities for districts, charter schools and state operated programs to analyze current installation of these parallel structures and cast a vision for the adoption of this braided framework. District and school leadership teams will provide critical guidance during the exploration and installation stages of MTSS to ensure a vision is developed and clearly communicated to all staff.

 

 

Reach out to your MTSS Consultant for more information on opportunities to start this work. Contact information can be found on the NCMTSS wikispace: http://mtss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/.


Charter School Middle School Math Professional Development on Ratios and Proportions

 

 

The NCDPI Curriculum and Instruction Mathematics Section is hosting a middle school Math Professional Development Opportunity for charter schools. Participants in this session will look at the different tasks and the use of representations in the ratios and proportional relationships domain. This includes building understanding based on the progression from concrete to abstract representations and using various models. An emphasis will be placed on language and the progression from middle school into higher-level mathematics. 


This is a repeat of the Middle School Math Summit and is open ONLY to charter school teachers in NC. It is being held during NCDPI's Collaborative Conference on Student Achievement, but participants do NOT have to register and pay for the conference if attending this professional development. It will also take place at a different time for those who are registering for the conference. Location for this training is at the Koury Convention Center in the Imperial D ballroom.

 

Please sign up to attend this free training opportunity using the following link:

Middle School Math Summit Registration for Charter Schools.


 



North Carolina Public Schools Logo

North Carolina's 2016 IDEA Grant

 

 

Attached is the Public Notice for participation and comments on NC’s application for the IDEA Grant for the federal fiscal year 2016.

 

It is requested that districts and charter schools display the attached Public Notice and State Application in the main lobby of the Central Office from March 7 – May 6, 2016.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Tracy Riddle at tracy.riddle@dpi.nc.gov or 919 807-3948.

 

This information will also be posted on the EC Division website.

 

 

Attachments:   IDEA-Memo 0316

 

  

                          Memo-IDEA Part B Public Review Attachment

 

 

                          Memo-IDEA Part B  Public Review App


Finance Officers' Updates

 

 

Attached below is the Finance Officers' Newsletter.  Please review the information and contact the individual listed in the newsletter with any questions or concerns.

 

 

Attachment: Finance Officers' Newsletter

 

                      Memo 2016-10 Iran Divestment Act Final


Expiration of Governor's Flag Order Honoring Former First Lady Nancy Reagan 

 


The Governor's March 7 flag order lowering United States and North Carolina flags to half-staff in honor of former First Lady Nancy Reagan will expire at sunset on Friday, March 11. At that time and date, flags are to return to full-staff.


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NCDPI Web Highlights

 


Home Base Biweekly Update


Other News

 

 

2015 Statute Change for School Health Assessments

 

 

The Kindergarten Health Assessment law with change starting with the 2016-17 school year.  House Bill 13 (copy attached) was ratified in 2015 and requires a health assessment for all K – 12 children presented for first time admission into a public school. In the past, that population has been kindergarten students. With the start of the new school year the law will apply not only to all kindergarten students, but also to all students of any grade who are new to North Carolina public schools, including charter schools.


Health assessments may be completed up to twelve months prior to the start of school.  The health assessment completion must be documented on the required Health Assessment Transmittal Form. That form is available for download at

 https://www2.ncdhhs.gov/dph/wch/doc/aboutus/HAForm2016.pdf  and is the only form allowed by law. The form is to be submitted on or before the first day of school attendance. If a student starts school without the form families should be notified regarding the requirement and are allowed 30 calendar days from the first date of attendance to have the form in place. Required actions after the 30th day without a form are described in the attached statute. This is the same as in the past for the Kindergarten Health Assessment. All schools will also continue to be required to report on compliance by November 1st of each school year. Information on how to report will be sent at the start of the new school year.

 

Please contact the North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Charter School Health Consultant, Catasha Williams at Catasha.Williams@dhhs.nc.gov, 919-707-5652 with questions or concerns.

 


Attachment:  2015 House Bill 13