K-8 Math Standards
Revised;
Classroom Use Begins in 2018-19 School Year
The State Board of Education approved revised K-8
Mathematics standards
in June to go into effect for student learning in the 2018-19 school year. The
new standards describe what students should know and be able to do in
mathematics at each elementary and middle school grade level. The revisions
went through three drafts and several rounds of feedback from teachers, college
and university professors, and other mathematics experts, parents and the
public. Based on feedback received, the new standards were edited to improve
clarity, to strengthen connections to previous learning, and to better align
standards at each grade.
Over the next year, Department of Public Instruction mathematics
staff will provide information sessions for principals and professional
development for teachers and local school district central office staff who
supervise mathematics activities. Resources under development include
collaborative pacing guides and instructional guidance documents. During this
preparation time, NCDPI also will create new student assessments that are
aligned with the standards.
School Construction
Funding Update Provided
School construction and facility needs continue to be a
major concern for North Carolina school districts and communities. School
facilities are generally the responsibility of local school districts; 96
percent of funds for school facilities are local funds, and state and federal
resources provide 4 percent of the total funding needed.
Since 1995, 98 local bond issues passed with a value of
$11.29 billion, and 21 bond issues were defeated with a value of $2.05 billion.
Recent state resources include the Average Daily Membership (ADM) Fund, which last
allocated funds in 2015-16 ($1.6 million) and the NC Education Lottery, which
allocated $105 million in 2015-16. A Blue Ribbon Commission established by
recent legislation recommended that the General Assembly should fund repairs
and renovations (not just new construction), recognize hardships of rural
communities in funding schools, and develop a uniform system to determine cost
efficiency to build, lease or renovate state buildings.
Several bills have been introduced in the 2017 legislative
session to address the issue of school construction, but the most successful
attempt was the inclusion of $30 million in the budget to provide local grants
to districts based on need. The $100 million lottery fund for school
construction is still in effect.
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New Charters, Lab Schools Approved
Charters to Open in 2018-19
Board members approved the following new charter schools to
open in 2018-19:
- Anson Charter Academy (Anson County)
- Ascend Leadership Academy (Lee County)
- Bonnie Cone Classical Academy (Mecklenburg County)
- Carolina Charter Academy – A CFA (Wake County)
- Davidson Charter Academy (Davidson County)
- East Voyager Academy (Mecklenburg County)
- Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School (Rowan County)
- Global Achievers School (Nash County)
- Moore Montessori Community School (Moore)
- Next Generation Academy (Guilford County)
- Raleigh Oak Charter School (Wake County)
- The Experiential School of Greensboro (Guilford County)
- The Paideia Academy (Cabarrus County)
- West Lake Preparatory (Lincoln County)
These schools now enter their planning year in preparation
for opening for students in the Fall 2018.
Lab Schools to Open
in Fall 2017
Two university-sponsored laboratory schools were approved in
June to open in this fall. East Carolina University is sponsoring the East
Carolina University Laboratory School within Pitt County Schools at South
Greenville Elementary School. Western Carolina University will operate the
Catamount School for Grades 6, 7 and 8 to be located at Smoky Mountain High
School (Jackson County Public Schools). These lab schools are being opened and
operated under recently enacted law that allows for UNC-operated lab schools in
school districts that have 25 percent or more of their schools identified as
low performing.
STEM School
Recognition
Three schools were recognized for their significant efforts
and successes as STEM Schools. The schools and staff members recognized were:
- Hilburn Academy, Wake County Schools: Katherine White, principal; and Dr. Jim Merrill, superintendent – Model School of Distinction.
- Weatherstone Elementary School, Wake County Schools: Tim Chadwick, principal, and Dr. Jim Merrill, superintendent – Model School of Distinction.
- Hendersonville Elementary, Henderson County Schools: Kerry Stewart, principal, and Bo Caldwell, superintendent – Prepared School of Distinction.
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National Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Lara Brickhouse, a physical education teacher at Lowes Grove Middle School (Durham Public Schools), was recognized for recently receiving the national Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year award. SHAPE (The Society of Health and Physical Educators) America sponsors this award. She will receive a $1,000 stipend and travel the country at no cost to present on adapted PE during the next year.
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