State Board of Education members yesterday recognized four public schools and two principals for their commitment to global education under the State Board’s Global Education Strategic Plan.

Elon Elementary (Alamance-Burlington Schools), E.E. Waddell Language Academy (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and Dixon Elementary (Onlsow County Schools) were recognized for meeting the Prepared Level of Achievement. This means that these schools have effectively implemented systems and processes to support global readiness and that many components of global education are embedded schoolwide.

Unionville Elementary (Union County Public Schools) was recognized for meeting the Model Level of Achievement. This school consistently implements systems and processes to support global readiness and is a leader for other schools to replicate or model. 

To achieve these designations, each school completed a rigorous application process that included submission of an application with narratives and links to evidences that supported the self-assessment rating along with a successful site visit by a state evaluation team. In addition to having met the criteria for Prepared or Model designations, the schools met or exceeded the minimum student achievement requirements for the average composite on statewide achievement assessments and for growth.

“These schools demonstrated through a rigorous application process that they have the programs and tools to ensure students are prepared to live, work and contribute in an interconnected, global world,” NCDPI Special Assistant for Global Education Helga Fasciano said. “The global education components embedded in the school’s curriculum and culture are reaping positive results.”

State Board of Education member Wayne McDevitt also announced that Elon Elementary School Principal Jack Davern and Assistant Principal Tracy Pennington are the state’s first principals to earn the Global Educator Digital Badge.

In 2013, State Board members approved five commitments to help ensure students graduate globally prepared. One of the outcomes was to develop criteria that define what it means to be a Global-Ready School or District. The Global-Ready District implementation rubric was adopted by the Board in May 2015 and embraces the tenets to provide:

*  K-12 world language opportunities for all students and pathways for teachers, leaders and administrators to achieve SBE-recognized badging;

*  career-ready employer requirements;

*  global school partnerships; and

*  local school board resolutions and plans on global education.

Additional information on the Global-Ready School Designation process and the North Carolina Global Education initiative are available on NCDPI’s NC Global Education website.