Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson

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Superintendents' Weekly Message

Nov. 14, 2016

June Atkinson

At our meeting tomorrow, we will delve into the details of the draft Every Student Succeeds Act plan for North Carolina and get your feedback on several key issues. You should have received the packet materials last week to assist you in preparing for this meeting. Please come prepared to share your best thinking. 

 

On a personal note, I am sorry that the general election results did not return me to office for a new term as State Superintendent, but I look forward to a smooth transition to our new State Superintendent.

 

Thank you for your support throughout my terms in office and for the work that you have done with us during that time. I am confident that you will continue to keep teaching and learning and student well-being at the top of your agendas moving forward. 

June Atkinson's Signature

North Carolina School Report Cards

2015-16 NC School Report Cards Released

 

The 2015-16 North Carolina School Report Cards featuring state-, district- and school-level information about public school student performance and attendance, class size, school safety, teacher quality and classroom technology are now available online.

 

This year’s report card includes school indicators provided in previous years’ reports such as school performance grades (A-F) for both traditional and charter schools and statewide end-of-grade and end-of-course test results for the five achievement levels. The latest report cards also include a couple of changes:

 

*  Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) are replaced with Participation Targets, as North Carolina is no longer required to report AMO proficiency targets for 2015-16 and 2016-17; and

*  Wireless Access Points per classroom has been added to help evaluate digital access for students.

 

To read more, please click on the appropriate link under News on NCDPI’s website


math image

Update on NC Math 1, 2 and 3 Implementation

 

This week, your curriculum and instruction leaders and principals at the middle and high school levels will be receiving instructions on how to access the “Math Collaboratory” inside Canvas.

 

This “course” is designed as a collaborative space where NC Math 1, 2, and 3 teachers can access tasks and collaborate with colleagues from across the state around teaching and learning using discussion boards. Please ensure that the details sent to curriculum and instruction leaders and principals are forwarded to teachers of record in the NC Math 1, NC Math 2 and NC Math 3 courses only.

 

As a reminder, your district does not need to purchase Canvas for access to this professional development since this is NCDPI's instance. All district math teachers can participate.

 

If you have any questions, please contact NCDPI K-12 Mathematics Section Chief Jennifer Curtis (919.807.3838).


Multi-Tiered System of Support

Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Fundamental Beliefs

 

As the District Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) team facilitates MTSS implementation, they must examine belief systems in the district and at individual schools.  

 

Four overarching questions need to be addressed in order to plan for installation:

  1. Do all staff believe all subgroups can reach proficiency with current academic and behavior standards?
  2. Do staff believe that Core Instruction (Tier I) in reading, math and behavior can be effective for the majority of students?
  3. Do staff understand the purpose of supplemental instruction (Tier II) is to add to core in order to ensure students achieve grade-level benchmarks?
  4. Do staff believe that in addition to receiving core and supplemental supports, that intensive instruction (Tier III) can ensure students are growing toward achieving grade-level benchmarks?

How would you answer these questions? How do the existing beliefs in your system square with these fundamental beliefs?

 

Thank you for the vital role you play as a member of the MTSS leadership team and for supporting your district team in implementation. More information on teaming structures in a Multi-Tiered System of Support is available on the MTSS wiki. If you have additional questions, please contact NCDPI Director of Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems Consultant Amy Jablonski.


Implementation Science

Implementation Science:
Improvement Cycles

 

Implementation of a new innovation is a complex process. It is natural that during implementation challenges will arise. Solving emergent or urgent problems impacting implementation can be facilitated using an improvement cycle.

 

The Plan, Do, Study, Act improvement cycle is a process used to address and potentially remove identified issues associated with implementing a new innovation. 


PDSA Cycle

 

Learn more about this from the National Institute for Research Network’s Active Implementation Hub.


Usability Study Highlight

 

Dare County used selection criteria to develop their district implementation team. This team also serves as the problem-solving team.

 

The inclusive model of Dare’s team reflects district membership from diverse organizational stakeholders thus increasing their capacity to address and resolve barriers to implementation. The district improvement team uses the PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) improvement cycle as a framework to move implementation of the NC K-3 Formative Assessment process forward within their district. Data collected from various organizational professional learning communities (PLCs) are intentionally considered to make meaningful change using the PDSA cycle.

 

Dare’s district improvement team has been able to facilitate meaningful change by developing achievable outcomes for PLCs within the organization using the PDSA improvement cycle.


Driver's Education

Driver Education Advisory Committee Meets Tomorrow

 

The Driver Education Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., in Room 504, Education Building, Raleigh.

 

For those who cannot attend, you may join the meeting via GoToMeetings. You also can dial in using your phone (toll-free) 646.749.3131. The access code is 200-401-549.


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