OCS Weekly Newsletter for July 31, 2020

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Weekly Newsletter- July 31, 2020


 

“The Office of Charter Schools is extremely proud to announce that Ms. Shaunda Cooper, OCS Educational Consultant, successfully defended her dissertation this week and is the proud recipient of an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University! Way to go, Dr. Cooper!”

Thank you for updating Epicenter!

 

NC OCS Guidance SB199 Sex Trafficking Prevention Training and SB476 Mental Health Plans

 

FYI: Please email us your questions!

 

We are working remotely, and cannot always access our new phone system voicemail.

 

COVID TOP TEN:

To help recap important news of the week, we are pleased to bring you the NCDPI COVID-19 WEEKLY TOP TEN.   The link does not change.  New content is added to the top of the document weekly.  


 

Join NCDPI for Beginning of the Year Round Tables!

The NC Department of Public Instruction invites educators to participate in another set of Round Tables titled, Planting SEADS: Tending to the Social, Emotional, and Academic Development of Students. The Planting SEADS Round Tables will focus on re-entry and provide opportunities for discussion.  Based on years of experience and/or role, please register for the appropriate Round Table. Recipients of this message are welcome to forward this invitation to others. 

 

For questions, please contact Dr. Angie Mullennix, Director of K-12 Academics (SC&I) and Innovation Strategy, at angie.mullennix@dpi.nc.gov.  We look forward to “seeing” you!

Planting SEADS (social, emotional, and academic development of students)

 

WEBINAR - How can school principals meet students' socio-emotional needs?

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gk7SkwniTyegM4n3mxSugQ?mc_cid=5b58729fbe&mc_eid=3dcff9e6aa

 

NC Wins Federal Grant to Improve Instruction During School Disruptions

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCSBE/bulletins/297eede

 

North Carolina Textbook Commission Subcommittee on Digital Resources Meets Thursday, Aug. 6

The NC Textbook Commission Subcommittee on Digital Resources will meet Thursday, Aug. 6, from 2 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be virtual only and can be accessed using this link to register.

During the meeting, the subcommittee will discuss modules in a Canvas course for advisor training and a timeline for the work.

An audio recording of the meeting will be uploaded on the Textbook Commission meetings web page at a later date. Questions regarding the meeting should be directed to the NCDPI Communications Division at 984-236-2000.

 

Please note the following updates to the Lighting Our Way Forward-Guidebook.  The Summary of Document Revisions is located on pages 3-4 of the Guidebook for your continued reference. 

 

 

7.20.20

Handling Suspected, Presumptive or Confirmed Cases 

Added note about NCDHHS guide:

Reference Guide for Suspected, Presumptive, or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 (K-12)

(Note:  This is as of July 14.  NCDPI is anticipating an updated document with the new guidance for fever-free timeline from NCDHHS.)  Pg.29  THIS IS NOW UPDATED SO NOTE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

7.21.20

Handling Suspected or Presumptive Cases 

Added new tool for LEA use

See this optional Tracking Template as a possible tool to use. Pg. 30

7.23.20

Water and Ventilation Systems

Align with new NCDHHS guidance

Discontinue use of drinking directly from water fountains, post signs requesting water fountains be used for bottle filling stations only. Pg. 47

7.23.20

Transportation

NCDHHS recommendation added that was overlooked.  Pg. 60

 

 Key updates to the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12):

  • Plan B social distancing and density requirements now offer more flexibility for districts to limit the number of people inside school buildings to the extent needed to meet 6 feet social distancing requirements
  • Cloth face coverings are required for all students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade in school and on buses, and for all teachers, school staff, and adult visitors
  • How teachers and staff should interact with each other in the safest ways possible
  • Recommendations provided for physical education, music, and band
  • Remote learning options must be provided for students who are at high-risk for severe disease due to COVID-19, or whose family members are at high-risk

 

 

Click here to see the updated StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)

 

Click here to view all public health guidance documents for K – 12 schools 

 

Download the social media toolkit (English | Spanish) including images and language for social media posts. Help share this important information with students and their families across North Carolina!

 

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document (English | Spanish) for additional support.

"Lighting the Way Forward" FAQs

https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/education/Strong-Schools-NC-FAQs.pdf

 

State Legislative Update:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCSBE/bulletins/292cf0c

 

 

Education Leaders,

We are pleased to share the following information from the UNC System Office with our NC public schools to support our students and their transition to post-secondary education. This is great news for our upcoming graduates during this time of COVID-19.

UNC Board of Governors – Testing Waiver for Admissions

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on testing availability and the likelihood of additional cancellations, the UNC Board of Governors waived the standardized test requirement for first-year students applying for admission in Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021.

Students have the option to submit test scores to the 16 public universities in the UNC System, but test scores will not be required for admissions decisions. Students who do not submit an ACT or SAT test score must meet the minimum weighted GPA requirement of 2.5 to be considered for undergraduate admissions.

Please see attached memo from Dr. Bethany Meighen, Vice President for Student Affairs, for more details.

With continued appreciation for your service and dedication during this particularly challenging time,

Sneha Shah-Coltrane

Director, Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education

NC Department of Public Instruction

 


School Financial Reporting:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCSBE/bulletins/2939ab6

 


 

Charter leaders, please take a look at the timeline and requirements for the Second Annual NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year Award! Recognize your amazing beginning charter leaders. All the details are right here!

 

Second Annual NCCAT BTOY Award

 

 

The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year  timeline has changed due to these unprecedented times. Please find a link here to the new timeline. https://drive.google.com/file/d/19cGanTnK5KwiXlKe2BNp2mgtn7Eb5Xgr/view

 

Click for latest DHHS Guidance

Upcoming Events and Reminders!

Save the Date!

Charter School Leadership Institute 2020

Charter School Leadership Institute 2020 will be postponed until Spring 2021.

 


NC DPI COVID19 WEEKLY TOP TEN


Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

logo

 


Professional Learning & Renewals Newsletters

OCS Huddle West Interest Survey


Did You Know?

Charter Schoolhouse
Online Resources from Finance & School Business Division
Topics with links to our most recent information:
Federal CARES Act
Funding and Allocations
PRC154 COVID-19 Supplemental Funds - State
Emergency Leave
Other

DPI Logo

NCDPI Updates

Attendance Reporting in PowerSchool:

Grants

 


Leadership Opportunities:

Lake Lure Classical Academy Classroom Teacher K-12Curriculum Resource Teacher (CRT), and Assistant K-12 Principal

Socrates Academy Elementary school teachers, middle school ELA teachers, and middle school band teacher

The Experiential School of Greensboro: 5/6th grade Teacher, 7/8th grade Teacher, EC Teacher, Part-time Social Worker

 

Please note that response times to voicemails left on our phones will be much slower than usual due to the COVID-19 response efforts. Sending us an email is ideal.  Clicking the link on our names will bring up an automatic email prompt. Thank you!


Whom Should I Contact at the Office of Charter Schools?

OCS Main number: 984 236 2700 ocs@dpi.nc.gov

Dave Machado         984 236 2702

Director of the Office of Charter Schools

 

Georgia Maimone       984 236 2701; Please use email: Georgia.maimone@dpi.nc.gov

Program Administrative Assistance, Communications

 

Shaunda Cooper      984 236 2707

Consultant, Renewals & Performance Framework

 

Claire Porter              984 236 2709

Consultant, Professional Learning & Ready to Open Process

 

Ashley Baquero         984 236 2708

Consultant, Amendments & Compliance

 

Joseph Letterio       984 236 2703

Consultant, Epicenter Tech Support & Performance Framework

 

Darian Jones           984 236 2705

Consultant, Applications & Renewals

 

Jay Whalen              984 236 2711

Program Administrator, NC ACCESS Program

 

Barbara O'Neal        984 236 2706

Program Coordinator, NC ACCESS Program