NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

Charter School Coordinator for the NC School Report Cards - Reminder

It is time to update the contact information for your school’s NC School Report Card (SRC) Coordinator. The Coordinator is responsible for reviewing and validating the data in the SRC before they are released to the public and is the primary contact for information regarding the Welcome Letter and the data preview period.

For a current list of coordinators, please check the NCDPI website (http://www.ncpublicschools.org/src-communications/resources/). To update the information, please contact Rebecca Chong at rebecca.chong @dpi.nc.gov or (919)-807-3690. Newly assigned SRC Coordinators should also subscribe to the SRC Listserv (subscription located here), as more information about SRC resources and training will soon follow.

2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year (TOY) Program - Reminder   NCDPI is pleased to coordinate the 2018 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year (TOY) Program. The program provides an opportunity to honor and recognize exemplary teachers in North Carolina and to call attention to the importance of the teaching profession. Instructions for school level TOY coordinators can be found here, including a timeline for the selection process. If you have any questions about this process, please contact craig.tucker@dpi.nc.gov

Upcoming OCS Professional Development Opportunities - Reminder

OCS Regional Huddle - West

Location: Lincoln Charter School, Denver, NC

Date: Tuesday, July 18

Registration Information: Registration for the OCS Regional Huddle – West is open through Thursday, July 13. Please submit your registration here. This is a free event. The final agenda will be shared June 30.

A variety of topics will be covered, including sessions related to governance, renewal process, applications, MTSS, NC School Jobs, and many more.

OCS Huddle @ the FBS Conference

Location: Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, Durham, NC

Date: Friday, July 28

Registration Information: This event is the second day of the FBS Conference. As such, those wishing to attend this event must complete the standard FBS Conference registration process. Session information will be released soon.   

*Save the Date*: 2018 Charter School Leadership Institute

Location: Voyager Academy, Durham, NC

Date: October 12-13

Registration Information: Registration information will be released Friday, July 21.

If you have any questions about these opportunities, please contact craig.tucker@dpi.nc.gov

NC School Jobs by PeopleAdmin

There are over 70 districts live in the system and a growing number of charter schools are beginning to post positions as well, so we encourage you to take advantage of this resource as soon as you can. We have thousands of applicants in the system which your school will have access to when you go live in the system.

The steps associated with implementation are: 

• Contact Craig Tucker at craig.tucker@dpi.nc.gov to request an NC School Jobs workbook
• Complete the workbook and submit your school’s logo
• Participate in training
• Familiarize yourself with the system
• Execute a few cutover steps and go-live in the system

If you have been trained and are not currently scheduled for next steps, please contact Craig Tucker via the email address above.

Webinar training classes are scheduled on a weekly basis with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, June 14. Please visit this website to learn more about and register for the training opportunities. Webinars last 1.5 hours with the ability to continue an additional 30 minutes if requested. Team members from the service provider, Jeff Davenport and Bill Barry, will lead the trainings and assist you with the implementation process.  

SECU “People Helping People” Scholarship Recipients   Congratulations to the 2017 State Employees Credit Union Scholarship recipients! The following individuals were selected to receive a SECU “People Helping People” scholarship:   Juhitha Chinthapatla – Raleigh Charter High School Joshua Wynn – Bear Grass Charter School Alyssa Hopson – Gaston College Preparatory   We applaud the recipient accomplishments and all those who applied for this opportunity!

NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates

Growing Success for English Learners (ELs)

The 4th Annual English Learner (EL) Support Conference, Growing Success for ELs, will be held Aug. 8-10, at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro.

The conference is taking on a slightly different format this year, offering only two courses: Co-teaching and Orchestrating Mathematical Discourse (OMD!). Courses will spotlight the ties between the specific strategies for working with ELs and the NC Educator Evaluation System (NCEES). Participants will select one course to attend for the full three days of training.

Space is limited. Register today! For additional information, please contact Ivanna Anderson with NCDPI K-12 Program Areas.

K-12 Mathematics Survey Underway   Have you taken the K-12 Mathematics Education survey? Thank you for sharing the link with your staff and encouraging their participation. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and includes questions about your role in mathematics education, your professional network, and your use of research and/or conceptions of mathematics teaching. NCDPI K-12 Mathematics staff are interested in educator input to inform the design of resources for mathematics teachers. Approximately 1,000 educators have already taken the survey in the first 72 hours. Several hundred more are in progress. Anyone who is involved with mathematics education including principals is encouraged to take the survey.

Concussion Management and Monitoring for all NC Public School Students

In October 2015, the NC State Board of Education approved policy SHLT-001 - Return-to-Learn After Concussion, which includes guidelines for safe and appropriate return to the educational environment for ALL students post-concussion.

Although this policy includes student athletes protected under the Gfellar-Waller Concussion Awareness Act, it is further reaching. Return-to-Learn After Concussion includes requirements for safe return to school for any student in NC public schools who sustains a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), more commonly referred to as a concussion.

The requirements of Return-to-Learn After Concussion became effective at the onset of the 2016-17 academic year.  For information and resources to support implementation, please visit the NCDPI Concussion webpage.

K-8 Mathematics Standards Adopted   The NC State Board of Education members adopted revised K-8 Mathematics Standards to be implemented in 2018-19. The new standards and a listing of major changes can be found on the NCDPI K-12 mathematics wiki.

Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS): How DPI Supports Implementation

The MTSS team has strategically developed supports for all districts, charter schools, and state-operated programs based on research around readiness, implementation capacity, and sustainability so the MTSS vision can be achieved.      As you begin or continue your work within this cascading system of support, it is important to have awareness of the primary goals of your NCDPI MTSS Team:

1. NCDPI MTSS Team creates and provides professional development to Charter Leadership/MTSS Teams  and MTSS Coordinators
2. NCDPI MTSS Team provides coaching structures and technical assistance to Charter MTSS Teams and MTSS Coordinators
3. NCDPI MTSS Team serves as a direct communication link between your Charter  MTSS Team and State Leadership and Policy Team to support communication and visibility
4. NCDPI MTSS Team creates and provides technical assistance in use of research and evaluation tools supporting implementation

As your NCDPI MTSS Team, we say "how well we communicate, train and coach = how well you implement." Thus, our communication and planning around this support extends beyond our own IABS division. We are planning and receiving feedback on supports through a Charter Collaborative Workgroup that involves Consultants from the Office of Charter Schools, as well as the K-3 Literacy and Exceptional Children Divisions.

For information on MTSS, please access the archived listserv messages on the MTSS wiki or contact Amy Jablonski, Director, Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems(IABS)at Amy.Jablonski@dpi.nc.gov. 

2016-2017 End of Year Begins Friday, June 30, 2017 at 5 PM We arre only two weeks away from the 2016 – 2017 Home Base End of Year Process.  Are you ready?    NCDPI encourages all LEAs and charters to begin validating their data now.  This is a critical step that is needed to ensure the EOY process runs smoothly.  EOY validations can be run from the LEA level within PowerSchool (System > End of Year Process).  When running, make sure one of the two validation options are checked:  Perform EOY Validation Perform EOY Validation and Make Any Students with Issues the Current Selection Below are new and updated documents available to help with the EOY process.  Please take the time to review these documents prior to running EOY.   2017 End of Year User Guide   2017 EOY Webinar   End of Year Process for LEAs and Charters (QRD)   EOY - DPI Point of Contacts   EOY Contacts Page (Instructions)   EOY Post Validation Checklist   Common End of Year Validation Errors   Remember to visit the NC SIS website’s EOY Page for end of year updates.

Unique Mealtime Needs 

Please see the attached course description and registration link for the Fall 2017 Statewide Professional Learning Series Meeting Student Unique Mealtime Participation Needs within a Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS): Leadership Module. Course dates run from September 6 through September 28, 2017. EC Directors/Coordinators and related service leads are strongly encouraged to join LEA leads from School Nutrition and Student Services/504 in attending this training. USDA has updated its regulations regarding students with disabilities to ensure Section 504 and IDEA requirements are being met for students who have unique mealtime needs. 

If you have any questions, please email Lauren_Holahan@med.unc.edu.

Attachment:     UMN+Fall+2017+Flyer.pdf

The Office of the State Auditor Data Collection Request     The Office of the State Auditor has asked our department to assist with the collection of data related to school employees who pay their membership fees to a professional organization through payroll deduction.  It is our understanding that this information has been collected from LEAs and charter schools in North Carolina in the past.  We ask that each LEA and charter school complete the attached reporting template and submit it to NCDPI through the HR Secure Shell.  Our office will compile the data and transmit it securely to the Office of the State Auditor.   Please note that the deadline in the memo is incorrect (April 17, 2017).  The deadline for reporting to our office is Friday, July 14, 2017 by close of business. If you have questions about the purpose of the report or reporting requirements, please contact the liaison for the State Auditor (contact information is in the memo).  If you have questions about the HR Secure Shell, please contact our office (Educator Human Capital Policy and Research) at 919-807-3440 or by email (educatoreffectiveness@dpi.nc.gov).       Attachments:     Payroll+Deduction+File+-+Template+Form.xls                                  Memo+for+Payroll+Files+-+LEAs.pdf

Assistive Technology Evaluation Team Training

Please see the attached professional development training in the evaluation of students who may require assistive technology.  July 1 is the deadline for interested teams to respond.

If you have any questions, please contact Ronda Layman at 919 807-4059 or ronda.layman@dpi.nc.gov.

Attachment:      Memo-AT+Team+Training+0617.pdf

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program   NCDPI’s general info page about loan forgiveness is at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/program-monitoring/loan-forgiveness/   It leads to US Department of Education web pages with lots of important information. It also has a handy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that we at NCDPI compiled.   The only roles NCDPI plays in the loan forgiveness programs are to:     ·         maintain the list of North Carolina’s low-income schools ·         publicize the programs to help low-income schools attract and retain teachers.   We are here to help. However, we encourage people to first read the US Dept of Education web sites and our FAQ document so they know whom to call or email for the fastest answers.

Special Education Surrogate Parent Training Materials

Please the attached regarding two online training modules for identifying, training and maintaining surrogate parent volunteers.

If you have any questions, please contact Heather Ouzts at heather.ouzts@dpi.nc.gov.

Attachment:     Memo-Surrogate+Parent+Training+0617.pdf

Homebound/Modified Day Survey Please see the attached information regarding data gaps, specifically the root causes for homebound placements and the length of time students are placed on homebound or modified day.  The Homebound Stakeholder group is requesting LEA participation in the survey.   Responses are due by June 23.   If you have any questions, please contact Carol Ann Heather at carolannhudgens@dpi.nc.gov.   Attachment:     Memo-Homebound+Stakeholder-Survey+0617.pdf

NCDPI Newsletters     Weekly Legislative Update - Friday, June 16, 2017   Finance Officers' Newsletter June 16, 2017   June 15, 2017 - Home Base Biweekly Update   Students Recognized in N.C. Summer Nutrition Program for Kids Artwork Contest  N.C. Summer Nutrition Program Sponsors Receive First-Ever Turnip the Beet Awards    Artist+Link+Project+061417.pdf   June 12, 2017 Superintendents' Weekly Message   June 2017 NC Public School Partners' Newsletter

Charters In The News

American Renaissance School Seeks Middle Campus Principal

ALL GIRLS CHARTER SCHOOL WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE FOR 2017-18 SCHOOL YEAR

Other News

NC Science and Engineering Fair Teacher Workshop Opportunities

Want to learn how to inspire your students to conduct independent research? Interested in learning how to assist students in topic selection, time management, and presentation of science and engineering research projects? Planning your school’s science and engineering research competition? New to the process or looking for a more organized approach?

Plan to attend a NC Science & Engineering Fair Workshop

for the 2017-2018 Academic Year!

Workshops will be offered at the locations below. All workshops run from 9:00am to 3:30pm and include coffee, snacks and lunch.

• July 19 - NC Center for Engineering Technology, Hickory
• July 27 - Biogen, Research Triangle Park
• July 28 - Triad Math and Science Academy, Greensboro
• August 2 - UNC-Wilmington

Register online at http://ncsciencefair.org/index.php/teachers/workshops.

There is a $15 registration fee but all attendees will receive a $65 stipend for participation and 0.5 CEU for completion of the workshop.

ONLY Teachers & Administrators in grades 3 - 12 are eligible to participate. Participants will be asked to implement a science and engineering fair for your class, grade-level or school during the 2017-2018 academic year andcomplete a survey spring 2018.

The following topics will be discussed during the workshop:

• Learn how to foster and guide scientific and engineering research in the classroom.
• Learn how to initiate, manage, and evaluate student science and engineering research projects.
• You will be guided through the steps in planning a school or district science & engineering fair.

Workshops are sponsored by the Biogen Foundation

Eastern NC Educators Invited to Attend Free Teacher Leadership Symposium

The Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership is pleased to announce its inaugural North Carolina Teacher Leadership Symposium on Tuesday, Aug. 1 in Greenville. As Lead Champion, the Biogen Foundation has made it possible for the Kenan Fellows Program to provide this Symposium at no cost to attendees. The event includes a plated lunch, a networking reception, concurrent professional development sessions, and keynote speakers.

This one-day immersive event will feature concurrent sessions on project-based learning, technology integration, interdisciplinary instruction, building leadership capacity, inquiry-based instruction, developing successful grant proposals, and more!

Educators in the Kenan Fellows Alumni Network will lead the one-day Symposium. These talented Fellows have developed expertise across a wide variety of innovative and effective educational practices that are particularly pertinent to teachers who seek to grow professionally and have a powerful impact in and beyond the classroom.

Registration is open to K-12 educators from 27 Eastern North Carolina school districts:
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, and Wilson.

WHEN

Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

WHERE

Hilton Greenville

207 Greenville Boulevard Southwest, Greenville, NC 27834

SPONSOR

Biogen Foundation, Lead Champion

REGISTER BY JULY 21!

https://nc-teacherleader-symposium.eventbrite.com

Teacher Seminars at James Madison's Montpelier

The Center for the Constitution offers immersive 3-day Seminars for K-12 educators throughout the calendar year. Seminar participants engage in interactive lectures and discussions as well as tours of the Montpelier mansion and grounds. Seminars are taught at a graduate level by leading constitutional experts and draw on primary source materials. Studying the Constitution at Montpelier – the very place where James Madison thought profoundly and creatively about our American form of government – is a rich and powerful experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere. 

There are full scholarships for North Carolina teachers to attend the programs! Scholarships cover accommodations, meals, seminar materials, re-certification points, plus up to $500 for travel reimbursement.   

This summer's upcoming Montpelier Seminars are:

·  The Constitution in Wartime - July 19-21, 2017

·  Immigration and the U.S. Constitution - July 31-August 2, 2017

Details about each seminar, including applications and bios on guest scholars, can be found on the website: https://www.montpelier.org/learn/seminars.

Applications are very easy - no essays required! 

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.