Parents, educators and others are invited to provide feedback regarding proposed revisions to the content standards for high school math courses Math 1, 2 and 3 via an online survey. The survey will be available through May 20.

As you know, the NC Department of Public Instruction reviews the state’s Standard Course of Study on a five-year cycle per subject, and mathematics is currently under review. The State Board of Education approves content standards for all subjects.

To date, the Department has engaged local teachers and curriculum leaders in reviewing content standards via small groups, detailed surveys and focus groups. Information from other resources, including the Academic Standards Review Commission’s December recommendations, also was included in the process.

As a result of this feedback, modifications to the sequencing of standards as well as revisions for clarity of the standards have been proposed. Background documents regarding the changes are available on the State Board’s Meeting web page by clicking on either the May 4 or 5 meeting agenda then scrolling to SLA 1.

As proposed, the changes could go into effect as early as this fall if the State Board approves the changes at its June meeting. The K-12 English/Language Arts Standards revision process will proceed this summer with the K-8 mathematics standards and fourth level high school mathematics standards revision process proceeding in the fall.

State Board of Education Meeting Highlights

At today’s State Board of Education meeting, members approved School Reform Models to be applied to five schools in four districts, FY 2015-16 Final Allotment adjustments, Long-Range Facility Plans (Five-Year Report), requests for local flexibility in the Analysis of Student Work, and a number of consent agenda items including the Middle School Athletics Manual update.

Members also discussed Digital Learning Competencies/Digital Learning Plan, Math I, II and III Draft Standards revisions, and Career and Technical Education Licensure revisions. They also heard a presentation on the Military and Education Connection.

The complete list of this month’s Board actions will be available on the Board’s website. The Board’s May agenda as well as supporting executive summaries are available online by clicking on the SBE Meetings tab.

High School Math Standards Update

Thank you to all who submitted feedback on the first draft of the revised Math I, II and III standards in April. The survey data we received has been extremely helpful and critical in the revision process.

On Thursday, April 28, representatives from the Data Analysis Committee and Writing Teams met in Greensboro to analyze and apply your teachers' and districts' feedback to develop a second draft of revised standards for Math I, II, and III. Members of the NC Chamber of Commerce, NC PTA, and a Triad area business executive had opportunities to address the group and observe the process.

The second draft of the revised Math I, II and III standards were presented as a discussion item during the State Board of Education’s May 4 meeting. A public comment window is open via an online survey through May 20.

Recruiting NC Educators to Participate in the Test Development Process

NCDPI is recruiting highly qualified teachers and instructional coaches who are interested in participating in the North Carolina End-of-Grade, End-of-Course, and NC Final Exam test development process.

We are looking for teachers in grades 3-8 math, English/language arts, social studies or science and/or high school math (i.e., Math I, Math II, Math III, Advanced Functions and Modeling, Discrete Mathematics, Precalculus), English/language arts (i.e., English I, English II, English III, English IV), social studies (i.e., American History I, American History II, American History: The Founding Principles, World History), or science (i.e., Chemistry, Earth/Environmental, Physical Science, Physics). We also are seeking teachers of students with disabilities and English learners.

If there are teachers in your school who you feel are highly qualified to be a part of the state’s test development processes, please complete and submit this questionnaire. The principal nomination survey will be available through May 31; however, your prompt attention is appreciated. Individuals may be selected based on order of receipt. A follow-up survey will be emailed to the nominated individuals to collect and provide additional information.

Information about NC's test development process is available online. Questions may be directed to your Regional Accountability Coordinator. Thank you for all you do to support students, parents and teachers!

Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Examining Core Beliefs

Individual and collective beliefs impact selections and implementation of practices and systems. Practices are how we support our students. Systems are how we support our staff.

Belief work is challenging, incredibly rewarding and critical to MTSS implementation. North Carolina MTSS has identified four fundamental beliefs:

*  All student groups can learn, make growth, and reach proficiency with current academic and behavior standards.

*  Core Instruction (Tier I) in reading, math, and behavior can be effective for the majority of our student groups.

*  Supplemental Instruction (Tier II) can ensure students achieve grade level benchmarks.

*  Intensive Instruction (Tier III) can ensure students are growing toward achieving grade level benchmarks.

How do the existing beliefs in your system align with these fundamental beliefs? NC MTSS provides a belief survey for implementing sites to assist with digging to this level of problem solving.

If you have additional questions, please contact Amy Jablonski.

NCDPI Requests Waivers to Tydings Amendment

The NCDPI is submitting a request for a waiver of section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (the “Tydings Amendment”) as it affects the authority of the Department and its sub-recipients to obligate fiscal year FY 2015 and FY 2016 School Improvement Grant (SIG) 1003(g) funds after Sept. 30, 2017 (FY15 Funds) and Sept. 30, 2018 (FYI 16 Funds).

Specifically, NCDPI is requesting that the authority to obligate funds for the state-administered Elementary and Secondary Education Act CFDA 84.377A School Improvement Grants program be extended to Sept. 30, 2021.

The public is invited to review and comment on the waivers being requested by May 20. To read more, please visit the NCDPI Public Notices website.

NCVPS Registration Summer Classes Registration Open

Registration is open for students interested in taking NCVPS summer courses. Following are some details worth noting:

*  The NCVPS summer catalog is available online.

*  The allotments for summer enrollments are part of district’s 2016-17 allotment totals.

*  District need to identify summer contacts. NCVPS will be surveying the district contacts for that information.

*  Summer classes begin June 20 and end Aug. 12.

Please visit the NCVPS Summer School Guide for more information.

NC Listens to Its Educators:
2016 NC TWCS Concludes

Thanks to all North Carolina educators who participated in the 2016 Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NC TWCS). 

The official statewide response rate was 85.4 percent representing feedback from over 101,800 educators. Approximately 8,600 more educators participated in 2016 than 2014. Congratulations also to the 1,076 schools who achieved the goal of a 100 percent response rate! These schools will be eligible for incentives sponsored by BB&T, California Casualty, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Duke Energy, Lenovo and NCAE.

The NC TWCS results will be presented to State Board of Education members in June, and available for school districts soon afterward. For more information, please contact Yvette Stewart.

Green Ribbons Awarded to Two
North Carolina Schools

Congratulations to Sandy Grove Middle (Hoke County Schools) and Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary (Wake County Public Schools) for being among 47 schools nationwide to be named 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.

National recipients were honored for their “innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness of students and staff, and ensure effective sustainability education.” 

State Superintendent Atkinson commended the schools for setting good examples saying, “It’s easy to talk about environmental responsibility but it’s another thing to practice it. These schools are doing just that by providing green learning environments while teaching students how to minimize their ecological footprints.”

To date, five North Carolina public schools and two school districts have received this award.

Spring 2016 Principal READY
Resources Available

Approximately 700 principals across North Carolina participated in the Spring Principal READY series. The series, designed based on participants’ feedback, featured over 22 sessions on how to empower principals to be instructional leaders.

Principals in the field as well as NCDPI consultants facilitated discussions on improving Professional Learning Communities, using NCStar for school improvement planning, implementing data teams, understanding digital learning competencies for school administrators, and other customized topics in each area of the state. Principals also had the opportunity to ask questions about the 2014-15 educator effectiveness data and changes concerning licensure requirements.

Materials and resources from all eight Principal READY sessions are still available on the NCEES wiki. Check out this wonderful resource today!

Professional Development Opportunities

Two new professional development modules have been added to the Home Base Professional Development system:

*  Helping Struggling Readers in the K-12 Classroom: Action Research from the GTN Project – 1 CEU – Literacy

*  Universal Design for Learning 2: UDL and the Whole Classroom – 1 CEU – General

Each self-paced module will take approximately 10 hours to complete. For a complete description of these newly added modules, please visit http://rt3nc.org/. If you need additional support, please contact NCDPI Instructional Design Lead Geetanjali Soni.

Action Research Project Spotlight: Motivation

We are approaching the time of the year where educators may need a few new ideas on how to motivate students to do their best. Instead of pouring over articles or doing countless web searches, why not go directly to a source that has been proven to work for North Carolina students.

Kelly Brock, an action researcher in the Stanly County Schools' district, investigated seven different motivational strategies with three groups of fifth graders at different learning levels. Kelly’s goal was to discover what motivates students to increase time on task, persist with tasks, and ultimately, be more successful in applying grade-level curriculum.

If you are interested in learning more about Kelly’s interesting and sometimes unusual motivational techniques, please visit the  Online Professional Development Catalog and click on the Action Research tab.

The Action Research tab contains over 200 action research projects spanning all grade levels and 11 subject areas created by members of the 2014-15 Governor’s Teacher Network.

North Carolina and the Zika Virus

The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services is aware and responding to the Zika virus in North Carolina. DHHS staff have developed informational materials that would be beneficial to North Carolina public schools. Materials include handouts with personal protection messages for mosquito and tick bites, mosquito control, and bite reduction strategies when traveling in North Carolina and outside of the state.

Visit the DHHS Zika web page for available resources and strategies. Questions may be directed to Holly Watkins, Communicable Disease Branch, DHHS, or 919.715.0136.

The Goal is Not Just Better Students but Better Future Citizens

NCDPI is partnering with First Vote NC (formerly Kids Voting) to bring a student-led, project-based initiative to high schools across the state.

Launching this fall, First Vote NC will provide your schools with everything they need for students in the Founding Principals, Civics and Economics courses to become their school's Board of Elections and run a school-wide simulation election.

In addition, teachers will have access to data analytics tools that will allow students to engage in contrast and comparison studies with other high school students across the state.

Please take three minutes to watch the video (produced by high school students) then access online materials. This resource is offered free-of-charge to high schools this fall. If you have any questions, please contact Hunter Buxton.