Office of Charter Schools Weekly Newsletter for February 8, 2019

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Office of Charter Schools

6307 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6307  •  919.807.3491

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER  –  FEBRUARY 8, 2019


Upcoming Events

 

February 11 - 12, 2019

Charter Schools Advisory Board Meeting

 

Action Items Due

 

February 15, 2019

NC ACCESS Subgrant Program Letters of Intent Due

 

February 28, 2019

February Performance Framework Submissions Due

 

Future Action Items 

 

February 12, 2019:

NC ACCESS Subgrant Application Training (NCDPI)

 

February 20, 2019 

CSI/TSI and NCStar Training

 

February 21, 2019

OCS Monthly Webinar – CTE Course Code Updates

 

February 22, 2019

NC ACCESS Subgrant Application Training (Douglass Academy, Wilmington, NC)

 

March 6, 2019

NC ACCESS Subgrant Application Training (Sugar Creek Charter, Charlotte, NC)

 

March 18 - 21, 2019

Connecting Communities of Education Stakeholders Conference (CCES)

Greensboro, NC 

 

March 31, 2019

NC ACCESS Subgrant Program Applications Due

 

March 31, 2019

March Performance Framework Submissions Due

 

April 30, 2019

April Performance Framework Submissions Due

 

June 30, 2019

Resubmission Deadline for Performance Framework

 

NCDPI Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates


From the desk of………….

 

I am happy to announce (not really) that Stephanie Clark has taken a position with the Accountability Division of DPI. Stephanie has been a valuable member of the Office of Charter Schools the past several years. Her work on the Performance Framework and assisting in the rollout of EPI Center has been both innovative and thorough. Accountability’s gain is definitely OCS’ loss. I know you share in our best wishes for Steph! In the interim, please direct all Performance Framework questions to performanceframework@dpi.nc.gov.   

 

I encourage our school leaders to share our weekly newsletter with your staff. We are receiving a lot of inquiries about the SECU Scholarship from various guidance counselors that were not aware that we have had the information in our newsletter. This is a great opportunity for our charter school seniors and we want as many students as possible to apply. I know our schools are in the their enrollment and lottery process. Best of luck in your recruiting process and please let us know if our office can assist you in anyway. Thank you for all your hard work assuring our charter schools are offering a high quality education.

 

Dave Machado

Director of Office of Charter Schools

6303 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-6303

dave.machado@dpi.nc.gov

(P) 919-807-3490

(F) 919-807-3496

 


CHARTER SCHOOLS:  DID YOU KNOW?

 

G.S. 115C‑218.45 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

 

"(d1)    A student who is not a domiciliary of the State shall be permitted to register to enroll in a charter school or participate in a lottery for admission to a charter school within the State by remote means, including electronic means, prior to commencement of the student's residency in the State if all of the following apply:

 

(1)        A parent or legal guardian is on active military duty and is transferred or pending transfer pursuant to an official military order to a military installation or reservation in the State.

 

(2)        Upon request by the charter school where the student seeks to register to enroll or participate in a lottery for admission, a parent or legal guardian provides a copy of the official military order transferring to a military installation or reservation located in the State.

 

(3)        A parent or legal guardian completes and submits the charter school's required enrollment forms and documentation, except that proof of residency and documentation related to disciplinary actions pursuant to subsection (i) of this section shall not be required until the student transfers into the State, at which time they shall be required prior to commencing attendance.

 

A charter school shall make available to a student who registers to enroll or who participates in a lottery pursuant to this subsection the same opportunities available to a student enrolled or participating in a lottery contemporaneously with domicilia in the State, such as registering for courses and applying for programs that require additional request or application. A student enrolled pursuant to this subsection may not attend the charter school until proof of residency is provided in accordance with the requirements of the charter school. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to curtail a charter school's authority pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.“

 

SESSION LAW 2018-5; SENATE BILL 99 (June 2018)

 

Question Marks

2019 Performance Framework February Submission

 

OCS collects evidence of operational, financial, and academic compliance through the Charter School Performance Framework (PF). Below you will find the submission criteria due on Thursday, February 28, 2019. Please note the submissions turned in during the month of January are now under review by OCS consultants. Any documents that require a resubmission will be returned within the Epicenter system by the end of February.

Deadline- February 28, 2019 - All Schools

 

A09 – Board Conflict of Interest Policy

A10 – Nepotism Policy

A11 – Board Meeting Schedule

A12 – Board Membership List

 

For more information, please check out to the February Submission Guide linked here. This guide contains Frequently Asked Questions, submission instructions, and general guidelines for the PF evidence documents due by February 28, 2019. [Note: for optimal use of the links within the document, it is best to download a copy of the PDF]

 

All schools must submit the required documents per the established reporting timelines. Please submit information through the web-based document management tool Epicenter. Submission tasks have been assigned to all schools, including items that may be deemed Not Applicable. Please read the instructions provided in Epicenter for each submission task carefully.

 

Users are invited to the Epicenter web-based system by staff members within the NCDPI Office of Charter Schools. To request a user for your school, the lead administrator (as listed in EDDIE) must send an email to ocs@dpi.nc.gov with the following information of the requested user: 1) first and last name, 2) school email address, 3) position at the school, and 4) the name of the school.

 

Web-based Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

February Submission Resources

Epicenter Training Webinar Recording

2019 Performance Framework Resources

 

For questions regarding the 2019 Charter School Performance Framework, please contact Danielle Allen at Danielle.Allen@dpi.nc.gov or Ashley Baquero at Ashley.Baquero@dpi.nc.gov

 

For technical support, please contact the Epicenter Support Center at (855) 899-1624 or support@epicenternow.org.

 


NCCAT

NCCAT Charter Conference

 

Last week, an amazing group of charter school teachers from across the state came together at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) for three days of professional development focused on leadership, advocacy, and best practices in the classroom. Thank you to all the teachers who took time out of their busy schedules to join us, and thank you to NCCAT for the incredible experience and hospitality!

 


OCS Monthly Webinar Series

 

Contact: Jay.Whalen@dpi.nc.gov

 

Register here for the February edition of the OCS Monthly Webinar Series on February 21, 2019. John Kirkman will lead a conversation and answer questions about changes to CTE courses and course codes in local course options, as well as an overview of Perkins V and the implications for charter schools in 2019-20.

 


Section 504 Informational Session

 

We are pleased to announce that American Renaissance School will be hosting a Section 504 Informational Session on February 26 from 10:00- 12:00 PM. All surrounding charter schools and local LEAs are invited to attend. Guest speaker for the overview session will be Freda M. Lee, State Section 504 Coordinator for the NC Department of Public Instruction. The overview will include a discussion of the intent of the law, avoiding discriminatory practices and OCR violations, eligibility, and the difference between an IEP and a Section 504 Plan. Participants will receive digital resources to assist them and have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A

 

Freda M. Lee, Federal Program Administrator  Federal Program Monitoring and Support Division Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Innovation NC Department of Public Instruction 6307 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-6351

Email: freda.lee@dpi.nc.gov Phone:  919-807-3292  Cell: 252-363-2747 fax:  919-807-3968

 


CSI & TSI-AT Letters


Please remember that all CSI & TSI-AT schools must send notifications home informing parents/guardians that their children attend a CSI or TSI-AT school. Per communication sent by email on November 29th by Dr. Michael Wells & Dr. Chris Vecchione, the deadline to send the letters has been extended until the release of the State Report Cards (week of February 18th).
We have added sample letters and a list with all identifications at:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/program-monitoring/planning/resources/
AND
http://www.ncstar.weebly.com

 

CSI Funding (PRC 105)


With the shift to ESSA, PRC 105 (formerly used to support “Priority” schools) funds are now available to support “Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI)” schools. For more information on CSI Funding please contact our Assistant Director – Chris Vecchione at chris.vecchione@dpi.nc.gov
You can find the spreadsheet with planning allotments for each of the 109 identified CSI schools at:
https://ncstar.weebly.com/docs.html

 

Free PD Opportunity for School and/or District Administrators


Due to positive reviews last year, the divisions of Federal Program Monitoring and District & Regional Support will be joining forces once again for a Family & Community Engagement Workshop on Thursday, March 21st at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro from 8:45am – 11:45am. There is no charge for this opportunity and you can register at the link below. This is separate from the Connecting Communities of Education Stakeholders Conference and will require separate registration. The session is open to district and school personnel. This is NOT an NCStar session. Please forward the registration link to anyone you know that could benefit from this professional development on family/community engagement in NC. Presenters will be Alessandro Montanari & Dr. Susan Silver
Please share with Principals the registration Link - https://goo.gl/forms/L0xk9GXqRxuO4nzy2

 


Regional NCStar Trainings in March & April – Registration NOW OPEN

From 8:30am – 1:00pm at each location, beginner training will be conducted and then from 2pm-4pm each location will have a Q&A session for experienced users. Registration is open at www.ncstar.weebly.com. Space is limited and registration for each site will close once site capacity is reached. Please remember that any school identified in a federal or state list will be required to use NCStar to create and manage their school improvement plan.

 

  • SANDHILLS
    o March 29th – Sampson County Schools Boardroom
    at 437 Rowan Road in Clinton
    NORTHWEST
    o April 12th – Olive Hill Resource Center
    at 509 West Concord Street in Morganton
    WESTERN
    o April 5th – Burrell Building at Southwestern Community College
    at 447 College Drive in Sylva
    SOUTHWEST
    o April 3rd – Linda Rader Staff Development Center
    at 240 Eighth Avenue in Cramerton
    NORTH CENTRAL
    o April 10th – Harnett Health Sciences Center
    at 51 Red Mulberry Way in Lilington
    SOUTHEAST
    o March 26th – New Hanover County Schools Board of Education Center
    at 1805 South 13th Street in Wilmington
    NORTHEAST
    o March 28th – Sadie Saulter Educational Center
    at 400 Spruce Street in Greenville
    PIEDMONT-TRIAD
    o April 11th – Workforce Development & Continuing Education Building
    at 629 Industrial Park Avenue in Asheboro, NC

NC Reform Model Form added to NCStar – Reform Model Schools Only

 

All Reform Model Schools (Restart, Transformation, and Turnaround) now have access to the Annual Report template form within NCStar. Following the first year of implementation in the approved model, all Reform Model Schools must submit an annual report based on General Statute and NC State Board of Education Policy (DSTR-040). For those schools who have completed their first year of implementation in a Reform Model, the SBE has extended this year’s annual report submission deadline to March 1, 2019.


The form in NCStar can be found under the Complete Forms tab at the bottom of the school’s NCStar home page. The reflection questions found in the form are meant to engage the school in the continuous improvement process for the practices and strategies employed within the reform efforts. Once the Annual Report template form is complete, the report will need to be submitted by March 1, 2019. To submit the form, use the submit button found under the Submissions tab. Please email NCRMAnnualReport@dpi.nc.gov with questions or to request the MS Word version template of the NC Reform Model Annual Report.

 


NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Updates


Superintendents' Weekly Message:

 

Superintendents' Weekly Message: Feb. 5

 


Multi-Tiered System of Support

 

Many of the questions about MTSS deal with secondary implementation. Educators ask, “What does MTSS look like in a secondary setting?”. It is the belief not only as a  state level team but nationally, that the most effective way to build an MTSS in high schools is to focus on student engagement.  Student engagement is the bridge or link between academic achievement and appropriate student behavior.

 

As charter leadership, you likely recognize that engaged students do not typically demonstrate behavioral problems. Additionally, your school environment may reflect the belief that academic achievement is largely dependent on how engaged students are in the learning process. These are only a few of the reasons why student engagement is so vital to successful MTSS implementation which contributes to success for all students.  If you would like more information on student engagement, see this document.

 

Your MTSS Team has access to additional resources to support PreK- 12th-grade implementation of an MTSS. The Cohort 5 Coordinator Meeting dates are here. If you have questions about the MTSS Cohorts, please contact your Regional IABS Consultant.

 


Apply Now For The 2019 Student Leadership Institute

 

In its eighth year,  the institute, is designed to prepare students to take active roles in their schools and communities through service experiences that are aligned to the curriculum.  It is divided into three cohorts:  (1) rising fourth and fifth graders, (2) rising sixth through eighth graders, and (3) rising ninth through twelfth graders. Prospective participants register as a team of 4-6 students with at least one adult mentor from their school or district.

 

Selected teams will  receive:

  • Team building experiences;
  • Hands on, minds-on learning from experienced trainers in character and leadership development;
  • Experiential learning experiences
  • Service-learning action-planning,
  • Evening activities that are fun, reflective, and impactful,
  • Tools and materials to support service learning, character building, and leadership development beyond the Institute.
  • All expenses are paid for participants to include; meals, lodging, and transportation to and from the experiential learning site.
Student Leadership Institute

CCES Conference Overview

 

The conference overview has been posted to the CCES website. Review to learn dates and times for the Keynote Address, Champion Awards, and Equity Panel. Click here to download your copy

 

 

CLICK HERE TO SAVE MONEY WITH EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION!

 

CCES

URGENT REVIEW: Technical Assistance - Support Description and CECAS Codes Data Migration

 

URGENT

As a result of multiple questions from the field, please find the attached Technical Assistance document that includes: (1) Clarification of the 1/25/19 Memo; (2) Frequently Asked Questions about RSSD; and (3) Directions for How to Embed the RSSD in the IEP.

There is NO expectation for LEAs to "fix", change or amend any existing IEP that includes an RSSD prior to February 8, 2019. The information provided affects future IEPS created AFTER February 8, 2019 and prior to ECATS going live.

 

EC Division Header

North Carolina Reading Conference

 

The 50th NC Reading Conference for teachers and administrators will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center March 31 – April 2, 2019. This year's conference features sessions by Wiley BlevinsMatthew R. KayRalph FletcherMichael Bonner, DPI, and NC classroom teachers & college professors. Session topics include:

 

  • EQUITY: LEADING MEANINGFUL RACE CONVERSATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM
  • DIGITAL LITERACY
  • NEW, ALIGNED RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE 2018 NC STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY
  • FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING; MAKING DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR INSTRUCTION
  • DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION FOR DIVERSE CLASSROOMS
  • READING AND UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX TEXTS; BUILDING FLUENCY
  • DISCIPLINARY & CRITICAL LITERACY
  • PROJECT-BASED INQUIRY
  • PHONICS AND WORD STUDY
  • NAVIGATING NON-FICTION
  • HELPING RELUCTANT READERS SUCCEED    
  • Teachers earn up to 2 reading CEUs. Discounted early bird registration is available before February 15! Find online registration and detailed program information at http://www.ncreading.org

Nominate Teachers of the Year (TOY) for FLANC Award

 

TO: All World Language Listservs

 

RE: Nominate Teachers of the Year (TOY) for FLANC Award

 

The message below is being shared at the request of the Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC).  Questions can be directed to Dr. Ana Cecilia Lara, FLANC Awards Chair, at awards@flanc.org or Kc. Kasserman, Executive Director, at kc.kasserman@flanc.org.

Please feel free to forward this message.

 

FLANC K-12 and Higher Education TOY Nominations Now Open!

The Foreign Language Association of North Carolina (FLANC) invites you to nominate a special teacher for the 2019 K-12 Teacher of the Year and/or the 2019 Higher Education Teacher of the Year. A Teacher of the Year is a teacher who you see that goes above and beyond normal duties for his/her students and who stands out as a leader among his or her peers. These two awards serve to acknowledge the fantastic work that these teachers dedicate to their students and to the profession on a daily basis.

 

There are many incredible teachers across the state of North Carolina who dedicate their lives to the success of their students. Take a moment to reflect on that and then click HERE to complete the quick nomination form to recognize these outstanding teachers for FLANC Teacher of the Year!

Please note that the links do not work well with Internet Explorer. Please use Google Chrome or another browser.

 

Nominations will be accepted until April 1, 2019. Questions can be directed to Ana Cecilia Lara, FLANC Awards Chair, at awards@flanc.org and details like the the past Teachers of the Year can be found on the FLANC Scholarships and Awards page.

 


Feb. 7, 2019 - Home Base Bulletin

Home Base Bulletin

 

home base bulletin

Other News

 

Transportation Webinar for Charter Schools

 

The NC Homeless Education Program will offer a webinar titled, “Transporting Students Experiencing Homelessness: What Charter Schools Need to Know” on Monday, February 18, 2019, starting at 10:00 a.m.  This 45-minute webinar will provide participants with transportation requirements within the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as well as strategies for implementing the federal requirements.

 

Register for this free webinar today.

 

Transporting Students Experiencing Homelessness:

What Charter Schools Need to Know

Monday, February 18, 2019

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

 

Questions regarding the webinar should be directed to your Program Specialist:

 

Paullett Wallpwall@serve.org or 336-315-7407

Northeast, Southeast, North Central and Sandhills

 

Patricia Lentzplentz@serve.org or 336-315-7402

Piedmont-Triad, Southwest, Northwest, Western

 

Visit the NCHEP website for more information about meeting the requirements of the

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

New

In Case You Missed It

Job Vacancies

 

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy

Information Technology Director

 

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy is a public charter school, offering a college-preparatory education to students in grades K-12. We are seeking an IT Director to serve our two campuses located in Mooresboro and Forest City, NC. 

 

For more information about this position and to learn more about TJCA, please visit http://tjca.teamcfa.school.

 

 

Pine Springs Preparatory Academy

Middle School Principal

 

Pine Springs Preparatory Academy, a K-8 charter school in Holly Springs, NC is seeking applicants for our new middle school principal position. 

 

For specific information about this position, and to learn more about Pine Springs Prep, please visit: http://pspa.teamcfa.school/

 

KIPP Eastern NC is hiring K-12 Teachers for 2019-20

 

KIPP ENC Public Schools is currently looking for K- 12 grade teachers  for the 2019-20 academic year.   We are seeking candidates with strong content knowledge and a love for students.  Successful teachers will implement feedback and are committed to our mission of empowering all of our students with the skills, knowledge, and character necessary to succeed at the college of their choice, strengthen our community, and fight for social justice.  Our teachers are talented and committed educators who will aid in the establishment of curriculum and culture as they develop a world-class education program from the stages of vision to execution.  Teachers are expected to work closely with our school leadership and as part of an interdisciplinary team and be accountable for students’ mastery of academic standards. The ideal teacher will find joy and purpose in teaching children the habits necessary to be successful in school, and will relish the opportunity to imbue our students with a love for learning, and have a "do whatever it takes" attitude.

 

Qualifications

  • Experience and success with historically under-served populations of students
  • Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues
  • Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP ENC's mission and community
  • Receive and respond appropriately to formal and informal feedback from teammates, principal, students and parents and view this as a tool to improve and grow
  • Strong desire and commitment to teach in an academically intense curriculum and extended school day
  • Strong content knowledge in area applying to teach
  • Strong work ethic and stamina to work extended hours (instructional hours: 8am - 4pm)
  • A "do whatever it takes attitude" to help our students reach academic excellence
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the philosophy that every minute of every day is learning time by preparing and executing engaging lessons
  • Critical thinker
  • Valid NC certification  
  • Bachelor’s degree (required)

Compensation: KIPP Eastern NC Public Schools offers a generous compensation package.  All teachers are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including weekly professional development, collaboration with peers and other KIPP network teachers, full health, dental, vision and retirement benefits, leadership pathways, laptop computer, support with NC teaching certification and renewal, and competitive salaries.  

 

TO APPLY: visit http://kippenc.org/careers/apply-now/