OCS Weekly Newsletter for December 11, 2020

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 12/11/2020 05:27 PM EST

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logoOffice of Charter Schools

6307 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6307  

Weekly Newsletter- December 11, 2020

Please be sure to keep EDDIE up to date!

 

Upcoming Events and Reminders!

Save the Date!

 

  • OCS Office Hours Returns Monday, December 14th

    Guests:  My Future NC – quick session

    Special Guests:  YOU!!!!

    Please join us for this Monday’s Office Hours, OCS would like to share a little seasonal cheer with each of you and hear some of your sharing around the following:

    1. Special Moments from a Virtual World this Fall
    2. Check-in strategies for our missing or most marginalized students over break
    3. Any adjustments / lessons learned for return to school in January

    We are going ALL IN on “not so easy on the eyes” sweaters and seasonal cider – BYOC!!!

    Here is the NEW OCS Office Hours LINK: https://ncgov.webex.com/webappng/sites/ncgov/meeting/download/184509c605b64005a0671c573f999fe7?siteurl=ncgov&MTID=m63130db7d3357c89a7332d38b6921c79

  • Please mark your calendars for our last biweekly call of 2020…Tuesday, December 15 at 8:00 a.m.  As always, a recording will be provided in a follow-up email if you are unable to attend.  We welcome all communications leaders, superintendents, and any other interested district staff to join our biweekly calls.

     

    Here’s a sneak peek:

    • (Re)+Building Your District's Kindergarten Enrollment Numbers: Using District Data to Create A Custom Enrollment Campaign
      At Forthright Advising, we know that North Carolina district officials are facing major concerns and hurdles when it comes to Kindergarten enrollment. In this session, we will help you think through the key questions to ask yourself to build an evidence-based campaign that uses communications best practices to address parents' Kindergarten enrollment concerns. *Note: This is a great opportunity to invite your district’s K enrollment leader to join the call.
      • Katie Test Davis, Founder, Forthright Advising
      • Lauren Empson, Senior Advisor, Forthright Advising
      • Ashley Peterson-Deluca, Consultant, Forthright Advising
    • TeachNC.org
      • Haley Pittman
    • NCDHHS Updates-Q&A
      • Rebecca Planchard
    • Idea Exchange
    • Deputy’s Update

     

    PLEASE USE THIS LOGIN
    https://ncvps.zoom.us/j/81625363474

  • 2021-22 School Year Expansion and Enrollment (above 30%) Requests will go before CSAB at the January 11th Meeting. ALL required documents are due by January 2, 2021 in Epicenter. Please contact ashley.baquero@dpi.nc.gov ASAP if you plan to make a request and need those Epicenter tasks assigned. Requests not made in the CSADM system will not be processed – you must complete this process properly in order for OCS to bring before the CSAB and SBE for approval.
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Planning Year Session Three: Charter School Accountability & Operations

Wednesday, Jan. 27th 2021 at 8:30am-4pm

This is an online event.

Target audience: Board members from charter schools that are opening in 2021, as well as acceleration applicants, are required to attend 5 virtual Planning Year Sessions from September to March; this year we have spaced the sessions out more throughout the year.  Schools in a delay year are not required to attend but are welcome to. The school leader and some of the board members are also required to attend the New Charter School Leaders Institute in June 2021.  As a customer service, the Office of Charter Schools continues to open up these sessions to all charter schools; however, the target audience is new school leaders and baords.  If you have a new school leader and/or a new board member interested in attending any of the sessions, he or she must register to attend. 

IMPORTANT: COVID State PRCs will close as of December 30, 2020

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.  

*Note, due to the holiday, there will not be a Top Ten issued next week.

Here’s a preview:

10.  Action Required-Survey on Cursive Writing and Multiplication Tables
9.  IABS Leadership Spotlight
8. Virtual Town Hall for Spanish-Speaking Families/Caregivers
7.  SEL Standards Mapping
6.  New Message from Prevent Child Abuse NC
5.  NCDHHS Updates-12.4.20
4. Help Support Student Success in Career and College Promise (CCP)
3. Option for Students Failing a High School Course: Repeating a Course for Credit
2. CCRG Information
1. Winter Holiday Flyer and Vaccine Information from NCDHHS

Please note that the state COVID WEEKLY TOP TEN is not compiled with charter schools primarily in mind, or written by OCS. Charter schools retain flexibility by law, including but not limited to the issuance of emergency leave. If you ever have any uncertainty about a requirement, please reach out to the Office of Charter Schools.

Winter Holiday flyer and vaccine information from NCDHHS

Immunization assessments extended to December 30, 2020

The requirements to submit a certification of immunization and a school health assessment will be reinstated on December 1, 2020.  The 30-day grace period will end December 30, 2020, or 30 calendar days from the child’s first date of attendance, whichever is later, after which point a student would have to be excluded from in-person and remote learning until compliant with requirements. Schools will have until February 1, 2021 to file annual immunization reports. 

Monthly Update: SIS and NC Healthy Schools

CA Live

The Cultural Arts LIVE Conference is Next Week!

 The NC Business Committee for Education, in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction and the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources invite you and your students to The Cultural Arts LIVE Conference on December 15th and 16th – a free event.  Learn NC history by traveling across the state, meet NC artists, musicians, authors and dancers, participate in workshops and end the year on a high note on December 15th and 16th.

There are over 70 engaging and exciting sessions. Register HERE!

 
NCDPI Agency Horizontal Logo

A message from NC Superintendent Johnson: Required EOC Exams & 20% Requirement

Follow-Up-Charter/Lab/ISD Leaders' Check-In 12/10/20

Superintendents and Charter School Leaders,

Please see the attached memo, 2020-21 Testing & Accountability Update, from State Board of Education Chairman, Eric Davis.

Thank you for attending the 2020-2021 Purple Star Application Overview Webinar. Links to the recordings and other helpful sites are provided in this attachment. For questions, please email Angie.Mullennix@dpi.nc.gov.

IMPORTANT: Please see the attached memo regarding changes with automation of GPA and Grade-Scale beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Please send the attached memo, Summer Programs 2020–21, from Dr. David Stegall and Dr. Tammy Howard to all Charter School Directors.

Important Info Update from the School Financial Reporting Section

What’s New – FY 20-21

Please check out the What’s New section of DPI’s website at https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/district-operations/financial-and-business-services.  It will provide you the latest information about the COVID funding and Teacher and Instructional Support Bonus.

 

COVID Funding

Review the COVID Allotment Policy manual 2020-21, which reflects which COVID PRCs charters are eligible.

If you have COVID funding questions, please contact Sue Holly at susan.holly@dpi.nc.gov.

North Carolina Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan Addendum

 

Raleigh, NC

 

December 4, 2020

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is seeking public comment on a proposed addendum to the North Carolina Consolidated State Plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA State Plan). As required under ESSA, the ESSA State Plan addendum must be made available to the public for review and comment for 30 days.

The U.S. Department of Education has provided States the opportunity to make one-year changes to certain parts of ESSA State Plans for the 2020–2021 school year to address missing data from the 2019–20 school year.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is submitting an addendum to address missing data from the 2019–20 school year.  The addendum consists of four items:

  • Long-term Goals and Measures of Interim Progress
  • Indicator Adjustments—Growth
  • Identification of Schools for Comprehensive and Targeted Support
  • Exit Criteria for Schools Receiving Additional Targeted Support

Access the draft version of the template is available using the link, Draft ESSA Addendum.

Interested persons may submit their written comments by January 4, 2021 at 5:00 PM using the link below:

North Carolina Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan Addendum

Opportunity for EL Program Coordinators, Lead Teachers, and Testing Coordinators to participate in ACCESS for ELLs Roundtable Discussions

We are pleased to announce the ACCESS for ELLs Roundtable Discussions. These roundtables are hosted by EL Program coordinators and Testing coordinators across the state to share ideas, ask questions, find answers, and discuss ways we can safely and successfully administer ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLS assessments.

Our topics in these sessions will include discussions around preparing for the testing window, testing locations, communication with parent/family caregivers, student transportation, and other relevant information.

Please register for the session that reflects your school’s characteristics (e.g. a small population or a large population of ELs) - Space is limited.

 

ACCESS for ELLs Roundtable Registration Links

 ACCESS for ELLs Roundtable Discussions

Exceptional Children Division

 

Resources Galore:

 

Superintendent-Elect Catherine Truitt Announces New Hires to DPI Staff

School Business – December 4, 2020

NC SIS Weekly Email Bulletin 12/11/20

Advanced Courses December 2020 Update

NCDPI Arts Ed Newsletter - December 11, 2020

December World Language Webinars

December Monthly K-12 Math Newsletter Updates

STEMtastic Newsletter - December

December 2020: Social Studies Update

Global Education Newsletter -- December

Character Education News & Updates: December 2020

Reminders from our NC AP Partnership - AP Exam orders

New standards mapping resource for SEL from the NC SEL implementation team

Advancing Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) as a Lever for Equity and Excellence - Equity Insights Report

Monthly Update: SIS and NC Healthy Schools

CSI Connections Newsletter

NC Homeless Education Program

ADVANCED MATH COURSES LEGISLATION UPDATE

2021 NC Governor's School Announcement

NCDPI Webinar Series: Integrating SEL in the Content Areas

Fall 2020 NCStar Professional Learning Opportunities

Digital Learning Standards & ELA Standards Crosswalk - New Resource

November - December 2020: World Language Opportunities

DL/I Discourse: IHE- Strategies for Online Academic Language Learning for DL/I

Please Help Announce the Senate Youth Program Opportunity through December 6th

LinguaFolio: Middle of the Year (MOY) Webinars

NCDPI December Performances: Keep Sharing the Joy!

"Civil Rights in American History" presented by Hillsdale College

Please Share- Ready, Set, App! Mobile App Development Competition

Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

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2021 SECU Scholarship - Important Information Linked

2021-2022 Calendar Reminder

We have been receiving inquiries about the 2021-2022 school calendar. As a reminder, the remote learning days were required in law for the 2020-21 school calendar year only.  We will wait for the General Assembly session starting January to see if they make changes to the requirements for the 2021-22 school calendar.

Professional Learning, RTO, and Renewals Newsletters

Professional Learning 101

 

The Scoop With Coop-All Things Renewals 

 

Ready to Open/Planning Year

Other News about Our Charter Schools:

Coalition
The NC Coalition for Charter Schools hosted a virtual event with Superintendent Elect Truitt this past week, “Conversation with Catherine Truitt” 
If you go to this link you will be able to access the 50 minute Q&A with our Superintendent Elect regarding charter school concerns. 
Four More NC Charter Schools Add Diversity Measures To 2021 Admission Lotteries

WFAE Charlotte reports - Four More NC Charter Schools Add Diversity Measures To 2021 Admission Lotteries
T74 Achievement Gap Closing

T74 Reports - Charters Close Achievement Gap With District Schools, Study Finds, With Black and Low-Income Students Making the Greatest Gains
VA Tour

Voyager Academy in Durham shares a virtual tour.

Leadership Opportunities:

Charter Schools USA Regional Grants Coordinator for the Carolinas

MINA Charter School – Lead Administrator

Telra Institute K-5 Director of Instruction

Brevard Academy Elementary Teacher

Pine Springs Prep Exceptional Children’s Teacher

The Exploris School K-8 ESL Teacher

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

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

Island Montessori Charter School Instructional Coordinator

Whom Should I Contact at the Office of Charter Schools?

 

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!

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

Dave Machado         984 236 2702

Director of the Office of Charter Schools

Shaunda Cooper      984 236 2712

Consultant, Renewals & Stakeholder Support

Claire Porter              984 236 2707

Consultant, Planning Year & 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, Professional Development

Melanie Rackley     984 236 2712

Consultant, Charter Applications

Jay Whalen              984 236 2711

Program Administrator, NC ACCESS Program

Barbara O'Neal        984 236 2706

Program Coordinator, NC ACCESS Program

Davida Robinson   984 236 2878

NC ACCESS Subgrant Program Manager

Lakisha Robbins  984 236 2704

NC ACCESS Finance Administrator