NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
NC Charter
Schools Advisory Board to Meet
The North Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board
will meet March 5 at 9 a.m. in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington Street,
Raleigh.
The agendas are available on the State Board of
Education’s website under the Meetings
tab. 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.
 State Employees Credit Union Foundation (SECU) High School Scholarship Opportunity - Reminder
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 16 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.
Below are the steps for applying for this scholarship opportunity:
- Review the ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA and share scholarship information with eligible students and their parents. New for 2018: The SECU People Helping People Scholarship is only available to graduating public high school seniors who are either members of SECU or the child of a parent/guardian who is a member of SECU.
- Develop a school-level scholarship selection committee comprised of three or more members who will make the final decision on the school-level nominee. The scholarship selection committee must also identify an alternate (runner up) for each school-level nominee in the event the named nominee becomes ineligible (i.e., receives a full scholarship, declines the scholarship, chooses to attend a private or out of state university, etc.).
- Submit the following information for the school-level nominee:
-
Completed Student Application and Essay. Note: This document must be sent as a Word Document only. The document is enabled to allow SECU Foundation to import student data into our database directly. Please do not send this document as a PDF or Google Doc.
- Copy of University Acceptance Letter
- Photo of Nominee (head shot only)
- A Brief Bio Written by Nominee with Accomplishments and Awards Noted. A guide for writing them bio is provided HERE.
- Written Scholarship Selection Committee Statement (signed by all committee members verifying the selection of the nominee). In this letter, include the name of the selected school-level alternate nominee.
-
Signed Consent Form. Each recipient of the scholarship and their parent/guardian must sign the Consent Form to release their names and images for press releases to the local news media as well as within State Employee’s Credit Union and the SECU Foundation. In addition, the nominee and their parents are asked to complete all the information on the Consent Form which will be used to verify their eligibility as an SECU member.
- Scholarship recipient information from each school must be received by the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools by 5:00 pm EST on March 9, 2018. Application information must be sent via email to Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith at ocs@dpi.nc.gov. Schools should only submit application information for the school-level nominee. Application information should be collected for the alternate nominee, but the information should not be submitted until requested.
- Schools should notify the Office of Charter Schools if the school-level nominee or alternate are no longer eligible for the scholarship.
The Office of Charter Schools appreciates the dedication and hard work by the members of each school’s Scholarship Selection Committee. Please contact Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith @ ocs@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions or concerns about the scholarship opportunity.
Note:
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.
|
2018 Charter School Performance Framework Submission Dates
OCS collects evidence of operational, financial, and academic compliance through the Charter School Performance Framework (PF). March 2018 begins the collection process for the 2018 Charter School Performance Framework.
Submissions for the 2018 PF are divided over two months. Please review the 2018 PF submission schedule:
Deadline- March 31, 2018- 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)
2019 Renewal Schools Only
B1- Graduation Requirements
B2- Student Promotion Requirements
B7- Student Discipline Policy
Deadline- April 30, 2018- All Schools
A1- School Report Card and Letter Grade
A1- Parent Letter (only for schools receiving D/F in 2017)
A8- Grievance Policy
A9- Conflict of Interest Policy
A10- Nepotism Policy
A13- Evidence of Fire Inspection
A14- Certificate of Occupancy
A15- Civil and Liability Insurance Certificate for 2017-18
A16- Criminal History Policy
A20- Evidence of Dissolution Funds (only for schools who participate in the NC Retirement
System)
A21- School Improvement Plan (only for schools identified as Low-Performing and Continually
Low-Performing)
Please submit information into the SharePoint system in pdf format only using previously established credentials. OCS sent information to each charter school to outline document labeling, instructions for upload, etc. for SharePoint. Attached are PF resources for your review and use.
All schools must submit the required documents per the established reporting timelines. While the submissions are divided over two months, schools are invited and able to submit all items at once if preferred.
For questions regarding the 2018 Charter School Performance Framework, please contact Ms. Stephenie Clark at (919)807-3492 or stephenie.clark@dpi.nc.gov.
Attachment: 2018 Performance Framework Resource Documents
 NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates
This March: Teacher
Working Conditions Survey
The North Carolina Teacher
Working Conditions Survey opens March 1. Our goal is to hear from every
school-based educator in the state. To increase the percentage of educators
that participate, we have provided a number of survey enhancements:
- A longer survey window, March
1-March 31
- Anywhere, anytime access
- A robust, one-stop-shop
website: www.ncteachingconditions.org
- Archived instructional webinars
for School-Based Coordinators and Principals (https://ncteachingconditions.org/resources)
- Recognition/prizes for the
first elementary, middle, high, charter, and district
- Two school-based coordinators
where applicable (School Improvement Chairs & NCAE Reps)
- Live helpdesk for school-based
coordinators
In addition to the
enhancements above, we have created a number of tools to help school leaders
understand changes made in 2018. Please visit https://ncteachingconditions.org/resources
for a 2016 vs. 2018 comparison table, 2018 survey questions, and/or details
about scoring changes. Any schools experiencing difficulties can contact the Regional Education Facilitator for their
region or DPI’s survey coordinator, cynthia.martin@dpi.nc.gov.
|
Deaf-Blind Webinar Series
Please
see the attached memo regarding the upcoming Deaf-Blind webinar series.
Please note, the first webinar was scheduled for Wednesday, February 28th.
If you
have any questions, please contact Dottie Snyder at Dottie.snyder@dpi.nc.gov or
919-807-3987.
Attachment: Memo+-+Deaf-Blind+Webinar+Series.pdf
 State Superintendent’s
Arts Initiative
State Superintendent Mark
Johnson is sponsoring a statewide arts initiative. The Superintendent’s Arts
Initiative is an opportunity to recognize student artists and to encourage
participation in all of the arts throughout the state, as well as in each school
district and charter school. The initiative is open to all K-12 public school
students in all arts disciplines (dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts). All two-dimensional artwork, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, and
photography, will be displayed permanently at the Department of Public
Instruction building in Raleigh.
Look for more
information about the initiative in next week’s newsletter!
|
 English Language Learners (ELL) Updates
Please see the attached ELL updates about resources, LIEP and upcoming Summer Conference.
Contact Ms. Xatli Stox at xatli.stox@dpi.nc.gov with questions or concerns.
Attachment: ESL/Title III Updates
|
Learning Ally Criteria Guidance - February 2018
The NC
Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has a limited contract with Learning
Ally to fulfill LEA and Charter Schools’ obligations under the Individuals
with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act to ensure the provision of a Free and Appropriate Public
Education (FAPE) and to meet the requirements of “providing instructional
materials to blind persons or other persons with print disabilities, in a
timely manner” (NC 1501-14.3a).
NCDPI has
seen a steady increase in the utilization of the Learning Ally state contract
to meet this obligation. The attached guidance is provided to ensure that
LEAs are making informed and fiscally responsible decisions when selecting
platforms for access to audiobooks, including consideration of free and
low-cost solutions such as Bookshare.
Please
carefully consider this guidance and share with appropriate staff.
Attachment: Guidance-Learning+Ally+Criteria.pdf
 Dyslexia Capacity Building Application
Please see the attached
professional development opportunity regarding Dyslexia Capacity Building.
Applications are due by May 11, 2018.
If you have any questions, please
contact Lynne Loeser at Lynne.loeser@dpi.nc.gov
or 919 807-3980.
Attachments:
|
Other News
NC Homeless Education Program (NCHEP) Updates
NCHEP 2018 Learning Institute
March 26-27, 2018
March
26th sessions - 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
March
27th sessions - 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Hilton
Wilmington Riverside
301 North Water Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
The
Homeless Education Program's Annual Learning Institute is intended for
Homeless Liaisons and other Educators who work directly with homeless
children and youth in North Carolina LEAs and charter schools.
Sessions
are designed for participants to learn about the McKinney-Vento Act and
ensure compliance in districts and charter schools. The Institute
provides opportunities for professionals to acquire strategies and best
practices in identifying, enrolling, and serving children and youth who are
homeless.
Participants are to make their individual
reservations as conveniently as possible. To do so, please contact one
of the Reservations Departments as shown below.
After the cut-off date, no reservations will be accepted at the special
group rate. Mention the group code "HOM" when registering
to receive the group rate. Space at the special rate is limited, so
make your reservations early.
HILTON WILMINGTON RIVERSIDE
301 North Water Street*
Wilmington, NC 28401
Local: (910)
763-5900
Toll-Free: 1
(888) 324-8170
Online: Hilton Wilmington Riverside
*Event venue.
RIVERVIEW SUITES WILMINGTON
106 North Water Street*
Wilmington, NC 28401
Local: (910)
772-9988
Toll-Free 1(888)
324-8170
Online: Riverview Suites Wilmington
*At time of arrival, please to the Hilton Wilmington
Riverside at 301 N. Water St.
This is a free professional learning event, but
registration is required. Register
for the Learning Institute by Friday, March
16th.
Note:
-
This
year, the Learning Institute is one-and-a-half days, with the
first session starting on March 26th promptly at 1:00 pm and the
last session ending on March 27th at 5:00 pm.
-
Lunch
will be on your own. Options for purchasing lunch on-site will be
available.
-
This
will be the only NCHEP Learning Institute held during 2018.
If you have questions about this event, please contact
your regional program specialist:
Paullett Wall - email: pwall@serve.org
or phone (336) 315-7407 (Regions 1, 2, 3, 4)
Patricia Lentz - email: plentz@serve.org
or phone (336) 315-7402 (Regions 5, 6, 7, 8)
For more information, visit
the NCHEP Learning Institute web page. Additional details,
including agenda information will be posted as it becomes available.
|
