NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

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 received by 5:00 pm EST on April 13, 2017 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  copies of nominations and any accompanying information to Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith via email at deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov. 
  
      

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 Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith @ deanna.townsend-smith@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions or concerns about the program.

Note:  

The SECU Foundation also provides each North Carolina Community College two (2) $5,000 scholarships.  Recipients are selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee at the community college.  If you have a student who will be attending a community college and exemplifies the membership philosophy of credit unions, “People Helping People”, please direct them to the Financial Aid office at the community college.  

Attachment:    SECU Documents 

Training Opportunity Board members from charter schools that are opening in 2017 are required to attend 5 face-to-face planning year sessions from September to January.  The school leader and some of the board members are also required to attend the New Charter School Leaders Institute in June.     As a customer service, the Office of Charter Schools continues to open up these sessions to all charter schools.  If you have a new school leader and/or a new board member interested in attending any of the sessions, he or she must register to attend.   The next session is scheduled on Wednesday, January 25th.  Registration is now open for this session, which will focus on planning for day one and beyond.  Agenda topics will include licensure, grants, EDDIE, and other items of importance. Registration ends on Monday, January 16th.    Please use this Planning Year #5 Registration Link to register. For questions, please contact Dr.  Kebbler Williams at kebbler.williams@dpi.nc.gov.

Community Charter School Request for Proposals (RFP) Notice

On November 16, 2016, the Charter Schools Advisory Board (CSAB) interviewed Community Charter School to determine its renewal status.  The interview, board discussion, and data review of enrollment, finances, and academic performance, resulted in an “Assumption” recommendation to the State Board of Education from the CSAB for Community Charter School. 

At its December 1, 2016 meeting, the State Board of Education (SBE) accepted the recommendation of the CSAB to allow another entity to assume Community Charter School. The school's board of directors officially notified the Office of Charter Schools (OCS) on December 22, 2016, that it agreed to allow the assumption of the charter. OCS will accept proposals for any group wishing to propose assumption until February 24, 2017 by 5:00 pm EST.  Interested groups should submit their proposed assumption RFP to Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith via email. Please see the attached document detailing the assumption process. 

Please contact the Office of Charter Schools with questions or concerns at 919-807-3491.

Attachment:    Community Charter School RFP Notice

2017 Charter School Performance Framework Submission Dates OCS collects evidence of operational, financial, and academic compliance through the Charter School Performance Framework (PF). January 2017 begins the collection process for the 2017 Charter School Performance Framework .    Based on feedback, submissions for the 2017 PF are staggered to allow extended periods of collection and review.  Please review the 2017 PF submission schedule:   Deadline- January 31, 2017- All Schools                 A6- Admissions Policy and Lottery Application                 A11- Board Meeting Schedule                 A12- Board Residency                 A17- EMO/CMO Public Records Request (only for schools contracting with EMO/CMO)     Deadline- February 28, 2017- All Schools                 A1- School Report Card and Letter Grade                 A1- Parent Letter (only for schools receiving D/F in 2016)                 A13- Evidence of Fire Inspection                 A15- Civil and Liability Insurance Certificate for 2016-17   Deadline- March 31- New Schools Opening in 2016-17 and Previous Operating Schools with Updates from prior year submission                 A8- Grievance Policy                 A9- Conflict of Interest Policy                 A10- Nepotism Policy                 A16- Criminal History Policy                 A14- Certificate of Occupancy   Deadline- April 30, 3017- 2018 Renewal Schools                 B1- Graduation Requirements                 B2- Student Promotion Requirements                 B7- Student Discipline Policy   Please submit information into the SharePoint system in pdf format only using previously established credentials.  Additional details on document labeling, instructions for upload, etc. will be released in early January once SharePoint opens for submissions.  Attached are excellent PF resources for your review/use.   All schools must submit the required documents per the established reporting timelines. While the submissions are staggered this year, schools are invited and able to submit all items at one time if doing so is more convenient.    For questions regarding the 2017 Charter School Performance Framework, please contact Cande Honeycutt at (919)807-3493 or cande.honeycutt@dpi.nc.gov.      Attachment:    PF Resources

NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates

Charter School Curriculum Leaders Collaborative (CLC)

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the first annual Curriculum Leaders Collaborative for Charter Schools beginning in early 2017! 

The purpose of this optional 4-day Curriculum Leaders Collaborative will be to provide charter school administrators who are responsible for the implementation of content standards with a process for discussing how professional development, technical assistance/coaching, communication/visibility and research/evaluation can support quality implementation that can be sustained and monitored for fidelity. 

Dates and applications will be announced in early 2017. We hope you will consider this opportunity to connect with colleagues across the state as we deepen capacity for effective problem solving and standards implementation!

State Board of Education Meets Next Week The State Board of Education will meet next week, Jan. 4 – 5, in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh.   The agendas for this meeting and executive summaries are available online (under Meetings tab). Please note that Board members will discuss all agenda items (unless otherwise noted) in their committee meetings on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Board members will summarize their Committee discussions and take action on agenda items as appropriate during their full Board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5. The State Board’s committee meetings and full Board meeting are audio streamed for those who can’t attend. To provide comments or feedback regarding specific agenda items, please email State Board members individually or email general comments/feedback.

NCDPI Newsletters   Finance Officers' Newsletter  December 2016 - From the Board Room   Revised Licensure Fee Rates - Effective January 1

Charters In the News

NC Virtual Academy

Lincoln Charter Head Discusses Differences Between Charters, Public Schools

IMPORTANT REMINDER – EDDIE is the authoritative source for NC public school numbers and demographic information, is used by multiple NCDPI technology systems including; Accountability, PowerSchool, NC School Report Cards, and is used to meet federal reporting requirements.  LEAs and charter schools are responsible for ensuring their data in EDDIE are complete, accurate, and current.  EDDIE is located at: http://apps.schools.nc.gov/eddie