June 16, 2016 Principals' Biweekly Message

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Principals' Biweekly Message

June 16, 2016

June Atkinson

With another school year over, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for another successful year. On Facebook and Twitter, I have seen many graduation photos featuring smiling students and families. It is a good reminder of why we all work in public education.

 

The General Assembly continues to work on the budget with the House not agreeing with the Senate’s budget. That means many decisions are still up in the air as the two houses work in committee to resolve their differences.


We will let you know as decisions are nearing, and I encourage you to let your local lawmakers know of your concerns or to work with your professional organizations to express your budget priorities. 

 

I hope that with students home for the summer you have a chance to take a breather and to reflect on your accomplishments and challenges. Thank you, once again for your service to North Carolina’s public schools. 

June Atkinson Signature

Digital Learning Competencies

NC Digital Learning Competencies Approved

 

North Carolina State Board of Education members approved the Digital Learning Competencies for Classroom Teachers and School Administrators at their June 2 meeting. These competencies will go into effect July 1, 2017.

 

The intent of the competencies is for teachers to improve their practice as they integrate digital tools and resources to drive student learning within their classrooms. The four focus areas within the teacher competencies have been aligned to the Professional Teaching Standards and the Digital Learning Plan with a subset of competencies that help to explain and ‘unpack’ each area. For more information about the Digital Learning Competencies, please visit bit.ly/NCDLCs.

 

To provide district leaders and teachers with an initial insight and support for these competencies, NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning Division staff will provide professional learning sessions in July for district teams. Staff are partnering with various Institutes of Higher Education across the state to host these sessions. Together, we will dive deep into the competencies focusing on the scope of the competencies, exploring professional learning resources, and crafting a plan for district implementation. In addition, throughout the 2016-17 school year, staff will pilot the competencies and provide professional learning opportunities statewide.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Goodman.


Multi-Tiered System of Support

Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Data-Evaluation for Implementation

 

One of the six critical components of a MTSS framework is Data Evaluation. While student assessment data tell us about student behavior, implementation data tell us how the adults are implementing the critical parts of the Multi-Tiered System of Support.

 

Traditionally, School Improvement Plans focus on student assessment data, rather than implementation data. As teams plan for implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support, a shift in focus should occur, with implementation data becoming even more important. 

 

We cannot change student outcomes without changing how adults support students to get the outcomes. And, we cannot attribute a change in student outcomes without the implementation data. An example of how the DPI MTSS team is providing targeted assistance to support district and school teams to be intentional about collecting and using implementation data may be found in this online video housed in the NCEES modules.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact Amy Jablonski.


Implementation Science

Implementation Science Frameworks:
Implementation Stages

 

Implementation is a process that occurs in discernible stages through common components (Drivers) of successfully implemented programs. Understanding the stages of implementation provides improved planning and decreases frustration with the challenging work of systems change.

 

There are four functional Implementation Stages:

Exploration. Taking the time to consider change by exploring what to do, how to do it, and who will do it, saves time and money and improves chances for success.

Installation. Activities during this stage create the infrastructure and make instrumental changes necessary to begin implementation.

Initial Implementation. When the new program is first being put to use, practitioners attempt to use new skills during a season of change. This is the most fragile stage.

Full Implementation. This level of implementation is reached when 50 percent or more of the staff or team members are using the program with fidelity and good outcomes, and the new way of providing services is now the standard way of work.

 

Happening Now

  • LEAs and charter schools across the state are currently in the Exploration Stage in the use of the LEA Self Assessment to improve services and programs for Exceptional Children.
  • Chatham County has used Implementation Stages to develop the work of a District Implementation Team. This team has reached the Installation Stage to support systemwide programs.
  • The work of building a Multi-Tiered System of Support in Wake County is in the Initial Implementation Stage. Current work is devoted to building teaming structures, cohorts for training and coaching support, and plans for data evaluation and communication protocols. The MTSS team will begin supporting Cohort 3 schools in the 2016-17 school year.
  • Cleveland County has reached the Full Implementation Stage with its Behavior and Mental Health Support Framework. This framework includes school-based mental health supports through vetted outside agencies, as well as in-school behavior liaisons and interventionists.

Please visit the NCDPI State Implementation Team’s wikispace to learn more about Implementation Science. 


NC Teacher Working Conditions

2016 NC TWCS Results Released

 

The 2016 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NC TWCS) results were presented to the State Board of Education on June 1.

 

Please visit the NC Teacher Working Conditions website to view all detailed reports and information on individual schools and districts, including all public charter schools and NC Special Schools (i.e., NC Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Pre-K Centers, etc.) that participated. The reports are downloadable and include statewide percentage results, school detailed results, school summary comparison results, and the administrator survey results.

 

For more information, please contact Yvette Stewart.


Revised Middle School Athletic Manual Available Online

 

The Middle School Athletic Manual has been updated and may be accessed online.

 

The most significant change comes from the rule addressing physicals. Following the NC High School Athletic Association, the 365 rule has been extended to 395 days. This 30-day grace period will allow students more flexibility in acquiring their physicals. All physicals acquired after May 3, 2016 will be subject to the new rule.

 

Questions may be directed to Ellen Essick, section chief for Healthy Schools. 


NC Global Education (Larger)

Global Education Workshops Scheduled for this Summer

 

NCDPI staff, in partnership with three of the Regional Education Service Alliances (RESAs), will offer two Global Education Professional Development Workshops this summer.

 

The Global Educator Digital Badge Capstone Project Workshop is for educators enrolled in the process of attaining the digital badge and also for school and district personnel leading the local evaluation of these projects before submission for state level review.

 

The Global-Ready School and/or Global-Ready District Applicant Workshop is for those intending to submit or exploring submission of an application to NCDPI.

 

For more information and registration, please click here or contact Special Assistant for Global Education Helga Fasciano.


STEM Education

State Board of Education Honors Seven
STEM Schools of Distinction

 

The North Carolina State Board of Education recently recognized the following seven public schools for exemplary leadership and instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. These schools were the third set of schools to be recognized under the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) STEM Recognition Program.

•  JW York Elementary (Wake County Schools) Prepared STEM School of Distinction;

•  NC School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Model Future-Ready STEM High School of Distinction;

•  Davie County High STEM Center (Davie County Schools) Prepared STEM School of Distinction;

•  Coltrane Webb STEM Elementary School (Cabarrus County Schools) Model STEM School of Distinction;

•  Patriots STEM Elementary (Cabarrus County Schools) Model STEM School of Distinction;

•  Central Cabarrus High School STEM Magnet Program (Cabarrus County Schools) Model STEM School of Distinction; and

•  Nesbitt Discovery Academy (Buncombe County Schools) Prepared STEM School of Distinction.

 

Two benchmark firsts were highlighted in this year’s recognition program. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics was recognized as the state’s first Model Future Ready STEM School of Achievement. To achieve this, the school had to have a graduation rate of 90 percent or higher or a College Readiness/ACT with 90 percent of students having a composite score at 17 or above. The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics had a 99 percent graduation rate and an average ACT composite score of 31.6.

 

Cabarrus County was the first county to be recognized with a nucleus of neighborhood model STEM Schools of Distinction K-12 that are vertically aligned. The schools forming this nucleus are Coltrane Webb STEM Elementary School, Patriots STEM Elementary School, Central Cabarrus High School STEM Magnet Program and JN Fries Middle School (which was identified in a previous year).

 

Additional information regarding this recognition is available online.


Mosquito

North Carolina and the Zika Virus

 

As a reminder, the NC Department of Health and Human Services is aware and responding to the Zika virus in North Carolina. The DHHS staff has 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 a one page “tip and toss” that provides personal protection and mosquito reduction messages for school personnel.

 

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.


Professional Development

Free, Facilitated Online Summer Courses Begin Monday

 

Less than a week remains to register for free, facilitated online summer courses. These courses provide high-quality professional development and the opportunity to interact with peers and an instructor. They combine the flexibility of working from anywhere at any time. The courses start on Monday, June 20. Course titles are listed below.

 

*  Building and Sustaining Professional Development - 6 weeks, 0.5 CEU

*  Connecting with our 21st Century Learners - 5 weeks, 1.0 CEU

*  Digital Literacies in the K-12 Classroom - 7 weeks, 1.5 CEUs

*  Introduction to Data Literacy - 5 weeks, 1.0 CEU

*  Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects, Part 1 - 5 weeks, 0.5 CEU

*  Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects, Part 2 - 7 weeks, 1.0 CEU

*  North Carolina Teacher Standards and Evaluation Process - 6 weeks, 2.0 CEUs

*  Responsibilities of the 21st-Century Educator - 7 weeks, 1.0 CEU

*  Universal Design for Learning 1: UDL in the Everyday Classroom - 6 weeks, 1.5 CEUs

*  Universal Design for Learning 2: UDL and the Whole Classroom - 5 weeks, 1.0 CEU

*  Effective Digital Strategies for Teaching and Learning in the K-12 Classroom: A PD MOOClet - 6 weeks, 2.0 CEUs

 

For a full description of each course, please visit www.rt3nc.org. If you have specific questions or need additional support, please email Educator Effectiveness Instructional Design Lead Geetanjali Soni.