Teachers
and curriculum leaders across North Carolina indicated through surveys and
face-to-face meetings that mathematics standards’ changes are needed to improve
the balance among Math I, II and III.
To
that end, the State Board of Education will be considering for approval changes
to the high school math courses to be implemented as early as this fall. We
have surveyed all 115 school districts to determine how well districts are
prepared to move that quickly and the results of that survey will be shared
with Board members to assist their decision-making next week.
Thank
you for the participation of your teachers and curriculum staff as we work to
strengthen high school mathematics. We will address K-8 math and fourth level
math courses in the fall for needed adjustments to come in 2017-18 or at a time
to be determined.
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School Improvement Planning in NC Low-Performing
Schools
NCDPI District and School Transformation staff continue to identify strategies that will help districts and schools
align state and federal initiatives and avoid the pitfalls of duplicating work.
In the process of school improvement planning,
one clear strategy of support is a common language across state, districts and
schools that allows for alignment of opportunities and results in improved
systems for all.
District and School Transformation staff, in
collaboration with Federal Program Monitoring and Support and Integrated
Academic and Behavior Systems staff, have identified the clear connections
within all of the work in authentic school improvement. In further support of
all districts and schools, these divisions focus their service and support for
raising student achievement through:
* high
expectations for staff and students;
* support
through teaming structures;
*
systematic problem solving;
* data
analysis and instructional planning;
*
curriculum and instructional alignment;
*
implementation and monitoring of effective practices; and
* active
family and community engagement.
Since the process of School Improvement is an
ongoing process of assessing needs, creating goals and strategies that address
those needs, and continuous monitoring of progress and improvement, NCStar
continues to emerge as an excellent tool to manage the dynamic process.
With that in mind, we are excited to announce
that low-performing schools identified from the 2015-16 accountability results
will be asked to develop their School Improvement Plan utilizing the NCStar
management tool for submission to the North Carolina State Board for feedback.
Aligned to the Deming Cycle, the school
improvement process managed through NCStar requires district and school teams
to assess the school’s current status on indicators of effective practice,
create a plan to address areas of need and provide ongoing progress monitoring
toward the full implementation of specific indicators. The indicators provided
by NCStar help schools target areas for improvement; and the system provides
the structure for continuous improvement monitoring and the potential for a
blended model of onsite and virtual coaching.
Specific guidelines, directions and timelines
will be coming soon. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact
District and School Transformation Director Nancy
Barbour.
Superintendents’ Message Breaks for Memorial Weekend
The
Weekly Message to Superintendents will take a break on Monday, May 30, along
with all other state employees in celebration of the Memorial Day weekend. The
next superintendents’ message will be sent Monday, June 6. Interim messages
will be sent as needed.
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