Superintendents' Weekly Message - Jan. 3, 2017

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Superintendents' Weekly Message

Jan. 3, 2017

Welcome to 2017!

 

As a reminder, the General Assembly’s 2017 long session begins on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at noon. Please take a moment and review the items included in this week’s superintendents’ message.


NC State Board of Education Seal

State Board of Education Meets This Week

 

The State Board of Education meets tomorrow and Thursday (Jan. 4-5) in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, Raleigh.

 

Action items on the Board's agenda include the School Connectivity Initiative, Bonuses for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Allotments, Third-Grade Teacher Reading Bonus Allotments, Program Approval Requests Under the Cooperative Innovative High School Program, and the Annual Charter Schools Report.

 

Discussion items include Change to Course for Credit Policy, Change to State Graduation Requirements Policy, Update on English Language Arts and Math Standards Revisions, Recommendations for Charters Expiring in June, and Policies on the Beginning Teacher Support Program: Mentor Requirements.

 

The agendas for this meeting and executive summaries are available online (under Meetings tab). The State Board’s committee meetings and full Board meeting are audio streamed for those who can’t attend.


Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Plan Review Update

 

Local AIG plan reviews for those submitted by the due date have been completed and sent to district AIG coordinators and copied to superintendents.

 

It is clear that local districts are committed to serving AIG students and DPI staff look forward to supporting program innovation and improvements. DPI staff are available for support and technical assistance with plan implementation and/or revisions.

 

Contact Sneha Shah-Coltrane, director of Advanced Programs and Gifted Education, with any questions/comments.


Congrats!

Wake County Schools’ Superintendent Finalist for
National Award

 

Congratulations to Wake County School’s Superintendent Jim Merrill who in December was named one of four finalists for 2017 National Superintendent of the Year.

 

The other finalists are Stewart McDonald of Kodiak Island Borough School District in Alaska, Barbara Jenkins of Orange County Public Schools in Florida and Matthew Utterback of North Clackamas School District in Oregon.

 

The winner will be announced at the School Superintendents Association National Conference on Education in March.


NC Charter Schools Advisory Board to Meet

 

The North Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board will meet next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 9 – 11, in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, Raleigh.

 

The agendas are available on the State Board of Education’s website under the Meetings tab. Please note that the meeting will be audio streamed for those who cannot attend.

 

Questions regarding this meeting should be directed to NCDPI Communications at 919.807.3450.


math image

Second Annual Math Summit Registration Deadline Approaching

 

As a reminder, the deadline to register for the second annual Math Summit is Monday. Jan. 9. The Summit, which is scheduled for Jan. 31, focuses on high school mathematics by offering a full day of training for teachers of NC Math 1, 2 and 3. Please remind your curriculum leaders of this upcoming registration deadline.

 

The Summit will include several sessions that teachers and math coaches/leaders can attend on the revised standards. Sessions will address access and equity, the progression and coherence of standards and effective classroom practices. The purpose of this Summit is to assist LEAs in raising student achievement through improvement of high school teaching and learning.

 

District curriculum and math leaders also are receiving a reminder today about the Summit, which will be held in Greensboro at the Embassy Suites Airport, Centreport Drive. The math team invites district teams of 3-4 to attend. Teams should include a district level math content specialist and teachers of NC Math 1, 2 and 3.

 

All the details, including registration, are available online. Questions may be directed to K-12 Mathematics Program Assistant Nina Barrett, or 919.807.3846.


CCSA: Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement

Deadline Extended to Submit
CCSA Proposal

 

The deadline to submit proposals that highlight innovative practices to improve educational outcomes for students of today and tomorrow for the 2017 Collaborative Conference on Student Achievement has been extended to Jan. 14.

 

Priority will be given to proposals that clearly connect content and objectives to proven techniques to increase student achievement, focus on best practices for 21st century educators, connect to conference strands in innovative ways, and or create/revive excitement for both student and adult learners.

 

For full details, including the proposal submission form, please visit CCSA’s conference website. Don’t forget to register for the conference while you are there!