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Weekly Newsletter- May 7, 2021

Graduation Requirements – Keep these up to date!

OCS recommends that each charter school serving high school grades levels review the state graduation requirements each year and make sure all school requirements are aligned. State graduation requirements are changed periodically as a result of statutory or SBE policy changes. Graduation requirements are based on the entrance year of students into 9^th grade.

You can find the state requirements here. Our office recommends two years of foreign language as the University of North Carolina schools require two years of a foreign language during high school for admission. We also recommend mirroring your course names exactly as listed in the graduation requirements so there is no confusion. All schools are required to offer the Occupational Course of Study diploma.

Please be sure to keep EDDIE up to date!

• OCS Guidance on CPR Graduation requirement, Occupational Course of Study course changes and work requirement.pdf
• OCS Guidance on Title IX-New Compliance Requirements
• OCS Guidance SB199 Sex Trafficking Prevention Training and SB476 Mental Health Plans
• OCS Guidance for Charter Schools SB681/Session Law 2020-78 Enrollment Priorities, Assessments Memo, and CARES Act additional funds available 7/17/2020 
• OCS Website Guidance for Charter Schools

Upcoming Events and Reminders!

Save the Date!

Pursuant to SL2021-7 (HB82) and SBE approval, each Charter School is encouraged to submit a School Extension Learning Recovery and Enrichment Program Plan. You will use a Qualtrics survey to facilitate the submission of your 2020–2021 plan.  This survey is now open for submissions. Please click here for the program submission survey. SUBMISSION TIPS Submit ONE survey per PSU. You may leave and return to the survey at any time before the final submission of the plan.  However, you cannot edit survey responses once you press submit. If you accidently press submit before you were ready, email lynne.barbour@dpi.nc.gov and ask for your submission to be reopened. Once in Qualtrics look for the blue buttons in the bottom right to navigate through the survey. After you submit the plan through Qualtrics, NCDPI and the Office of Charter Schools will review your plan. Supporting documents can on be found on our Office of Learning Recovery & Acceleration webpage, here.

NC Charter Schools Advisory Board Meets Monday, May 10

The NC Charter Schools Advisory Board will meet remotely Monday, May 10, at 9 a.m. for its regular monthly meeting.

The agenda for this meeting is available online. The meeting will be live streamed. 

Questions regarding this meeting should be directed to NCDPI Communications at 984-236-2000.

OCS OFFICE HOURS Will Return Monday, May 17th at 11:30 a.m.

Join Us for Office Hours on Monday, May 17th at 11:30 a.m.

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

Principal of the Year nominations deadline extended

We hear you!  The 2021 Charter One NC OCS Principal of the Year deadline for submissions has been extended to May 14^th at noon. Please see this linked message that was sent to Board Chairs on April 11^th with submission and process clarifications.  We already have a few amazing submissions!  Let’s get yours in…

Homeless Data Collection Submission Workshops Offered

Charter schools will be able to submit homeless data prior to the last school day during the 2020-2021SY.  Optional, virtual homeless data collection submission workshops will be offered by NCHEP during May and June to support homeless liaisons in charter schools with their submission of homeless data in PowerSchool. 

• Workshops are not required but are offered as a support to any homeless liaison wishing to participate.
• No registration is required to participate; simply join the session during the stated time using one of the links provided below.
• Once the liaison successfully submits data he/she may leave the session.
• Questions about the workshops should be directed to Patricia Lentz, NCHEP Program Specialist for Charter Schools.

English Language Learners

The 2020-2021 ACCESS for ELLs data validation window for Public School Units (PSUs) opens May 18th and closes June 1st. Data validation is the time after testing and before reporting when PSUs can review student data in WIDA AMS. Please open and save the Data Validation Information Guide for:

• A link to a prerecorded presentation on steps for completing data validation (password is Datavalidation2021)
• A link for Q&A sessions that will be held May 4th (2:30 - 3:30 pm) and May 7th (8:30 - 9:30 am) to ask any questions that may come up after viewing the recorded webinar
• A link to the slides used in the presentation with tips for successful data validation
• A link to Office hours that will be held Monday-Friday from 8:30 am - 9:30 am during the week of May 24th - 28th

Please email Susan Walz for any additional information.

Please take a moment to complete this brief survey on school nursing services in charter schools. The questions are normally a component of annual compliance reporting done by charter schools each May, which is waived this year due to challenges that were created by the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020-2021 school year. Your responses are helpful to the Office of Charter Schools in supporting the need for nursing services.

Please complete one survey per school no later than May 28, 2021. Questions can be directed to Annette.Richardson@dhhs.nc.gov or 252-339-3009.

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6268193/c239e3b531c4

New Charter School Leaders VIRTUAL Institute 2021

Weekly Top Ten-May 6, 2021

Follow-Up for Monthly NCDHHS Joint COVID Call

            Effective April 30th, per Executive Order 209, Schools may lift mask restrictions when outdoors.

NCDPI COVID Updates Webinar Tuesday, April 20

Superintendents and Charter School Directors, 

Please find the attached memo on Testing and Accountability Training. 

Dr. Catherine Edmonds, Deputy Superintendent
Office of Educational Equity

Dr. Tammy Howard,  Director
Division of Accountability Services

Dave Machado, Director
Office of Charter Schools

• Testing_Accountability Training_CE_TH_DM_050321.pdf

State Mental Health Policy Resources

The policy webpage, linked here has a recorded session that walks though the policy, website, and real-life examples from districts at the end of the video.  At the bottom of the page is a blue button that loads the video. 

• SEL and MH Implementation Plan Outline 2021-2022

4/22/21 Charter Leader's Call Recording

MEMO - Alternative Schools’ Modified Accountability System Options

2021-2022 Home Base Opt-in Process Update

The NC DTL Home Base team is preparing to open the 2021-22 Home Base Opt-in Process during the month of May. The opt-in tool has been taken offline and will be returned to service by mid-May.  Finance officers and charter school directors will be notified when the tool is returned to service and available for opting into Home Base.

Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems May 7, 2021  The IABS Team is available to guide your school in learning  more about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).  We are increasing statewide support by participating in the work  of the NC  Social and Emotional  Implementation Team that represents multiple divisions within DPI as well as additional agency partners. As you get started in your SEL work, our  recommendation  is that you explore the SEL 3 Signature Practices, through the use of these resources that will enable you to: adopt the 3 Signature Practices as part of your meeting culture/norms utilize these practices in both student and adult learning environments Within our team, we have committed  to the regular use and support of these 3 Signature Practices. We would be delighted to support you with installation of these practices that when carefully chosen, effectively facilitated, and thoughtfully debriefed create a solid foundation of safety, consistency, and joy in adult and student learning environments. Please contact your IABS Consultant for support.

Charter school leaders,

Please thoroughly read the memo, Justification Required for Exceeding 1.0 Percent Participation in the Alternate Assessment, from Dr. Catherine Edmonds, Dr. Tammy Howard, and Ms. Sherry Thomas.

Conference Information - Dual Enrollment: Accelerating Educational Attainment

The North Carolina Community College System, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the SERVE Center at UNC-Greensboro, and the RAND Corporation, is hosting the Dual Enrollment: Accelerating Educational Attainment conference. This virtual conference will focus on lessons learned from both practitioners and researchers about expanding access and equity and preparing students for success in dual enrollment courses. Space is limited and the first 1000 registrants are free, so register now!   We encourage you to spread the word to the appropriate individuals in your district.

Resources Galore

School Business – May 7, 2021

NC SIS Weekly Email Bulletin

Upcoming PD webinar - Setting Students Up for Success: Engaging Practices for Course Design

NC Center for Safer Schools NEWSLETTER - May, 2021

STEMtastic News - May 2021

Monthly Update: NC Healthy Schools

DTL Insider - April 23, 2021

April 15, 2021 - Home Base Bulletin

AP/IB Update - April 2021

April 2021 From the Board Room

2019-2022 Allotment Policy Manual for Funding that is Pandemic Related

Announcing the First Annual Student-Led Computer Science Virtual Summit May 15th- Student Registration

Resources for GLE, NC's Seal of Biliteracy

Let’s Get Ready! A Family’s Guide to Support Kindergarten Readiness

25th Anniversary Art Contest Entries Due May 1st

Digital Learning Standards Course for 2021

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