OCS Weekly Newsletter for November 9, 2021

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Office of Charter Schools

November 9, 2021


Upcoming Events

November 15, 2021  11:30am

OCS Office Hours with 2021 MEETING LINK

November 21st, 2021

Phase 0 in CSADM is set to close November 21st. This is a required submission by all charter schools in order to make initial projections for 22-23 enrollment/grade levels. Details below.

November 30 Grace Extension from October 31, 2021

ACTION ITEM DUE: Charter School Audit to be submitted in Epicenter

November 29 - December 1, 2021

A.I.M. Conference

If you have general questions about the conference, contact barbaraoneal@dpi.nc.gov or dave.machado@dpi.nc.gov. 

 

11/9/21 CSADM Phase 0 note:
We are aware that school leaders are unable to access the 2022 Phase 0 interface at this time.
The planned closing of Phase 0 is November 21st, and OCS will provide follow-up information as soon as it is available. Please be patient as the Financial Business Division works to restore the window opening in the system.

Important CSADM and Enrollment/Grade Expansion Information – Read carefully and completely

  • Phase 0 in CSADM scheduled to open November 8th and closes November 21st. This is a required submission by all charter schools in order to make initial projections for 22-23 enrollment/grade levels.
  • If your school anticipates making an enrollment request (over 30% for non-LP schools) or grade level revisions outside statutory allowances and/or charter application, the turnaround for materials will be very tight. You must submit all materials through Epicenter to OCS Consultant Ashley Baquero by COB November 30th. This is the only way a request will have enough time to get on the CSAB agenda for December 6-7. Following CSAB, the request will go to SBE for discussion in January with a final approval or denial in February. There is no way to speed up these type of requests as it requires SBE approval.
  • If your school DOES NOT submit by the November 30th deadline, your school will go to CSAB in January with approval in March.
  • OCS will receive a list of requests made through CSADM throughout the 11/8 – 11/21 Phase 0 period. Once that request is made, tasks will be assigned in Epicenter. Reach out to Ashley.baquero@dpi.nc.gov if you do not see the tasks (listed as “charter amendment”).
  • Please review the linked PDF for more information and read the amendment instructions below
  • Enrollment Increases over 30% (LP schools may not make this request) Instructions linked
  • Grade Expansion Instructions linked

Amendment Check List_0821.pdf

Please contact Ashley Baquero (Ashley.baquero@dpi.nc.gov) with questions.


Truenorthlogic

School Business Division

 

 

RLIS UpdateThe planning allotments for RLIS have triggered the RLIS section to open in CCIP in the consolidated application and are ready to be completed by qualifying PSUs. Please reach out to Alex Charles or James Popp if you have any questions.

 

The Federal Programs Monitoring and Support (FPMS) division in collaboration with School Nutrition and the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration hosted a technical assistance webinar on ESSER II PRC 174 and 176-177 applications in CCIP 9/23/21.  Please click here to access the recording of the webinar and use password: eKfweJA7, and here for the PowerPoint presentation to use as resources to complete the applications.

 

Please contact Dr. Lynn Harvey with questions in regards to PRC 174, and Lynne Barbour for PRC 176-177. FPMS will be processing the applications. 

 


Important Information From Outside DPI

NCDHHS

Important Resources for Charter Schools (Please Read):

Charter School Epinephrine Memo

Charter School Diabetes Memo

HA/Immunization Memo

 

Revised DHHS COVID-19 Control Measures in Schools

DHHS has revised the COVID-19 Control Measures in Schools. This updated guidance can be found here. For questions, please contact: StrongSchoolsNC@dhhs.nc.gov.

Follow-Up for November's Monthly DHHS/DPI Joint COVID Call


Charter School directors, please read this RethinkEd survey bulletin sent by Melissa Davis, Director of Rethink Education.


School Resource Officer Census

Attention Charter School Principals and Directors,

As required by legislation (Session Law 2019-222, House Bill 75; § 115C-105.57), the NC Center for Safer Schools shall conduct an annual census of School Resource Officers.

This year, there are 32 questions in the survey. Most are multiple choice questions, so it should only take a few minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous.

INSTRUCTIONS

Please forward the link below to all School Resource Officers serving in your school(s) and request that they complete the survey by 11:59pm on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Click here to take survey

 

THANK YOU for all that you do to help keep our schoolsand the children of North Carolina safer and secure!

 

SURVEY DEADLINE11:59pm, Friday, December 10, 2021

 

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Recent Memos and Need to Know

OCR/CRDC - PowerSchool CRDC Preview Report Opens October 25, 2021

Note: PSUs that were not open in the school year 2020-2021 are not required to participate in this collection. All links and documents referenced here can found on the NCDPI CRDC Documentation and Webinars Events page.

 

The first step toward Successful CRDC Submission is Downloading the Federal LEA and School Forms

The CRDC answers specific questions posed by the Office of Civil Rights.  All PSUs are required to submit data at the LEA and School level. Download both the LEA Form and School Form to understand definitions and instructions for the data required for reporting.  These documents will be necessary to Validate and Certify data when the Federal Submission Tool opens in December.

The CRDC Preview report in PowerSchool opened on Monday October 25, 2021.   To begin to facilitate the transfer of data on behalf of all NC PSUs, the report will close December 1, 2021.  If the report has not been run at the LEA Level in PowerSchool or is incomplete, PSUs must submit any remaining data to the Federal Submission Portal on their own.

As noted in the communication sent September 27, 2021; if setup is not completed first, the report will display unexpected results.

Note: There are two known issues that will be updated in November. These issues are specific to students who are cross enrolled for CRDC courses at a second school. The first is Algebra I Passing counts (grades 7-12), the second is IB program enrollment (grades 9-12).

 

Non-PowerSchool Data Files

Remember, the CRDC collects more than SIS data. To review data which resides outside of PowerSchool and is included in the CRDC Survey, visit the Non-PowerSchool Data Files tab on NCDPI CRDC Documentation and Webinar page.

Please review these data files and be prepared to make any updates to the Federal Submission Tool in December.  The previous year files will not be regenerated.

The CRDC Federal Registration Process was Completed for all PSUs

As a reminder, the registration process of the Federal Submission Tool has been completed by NCDPI on behalf all PSUs.  CRDC Contact information and the LEA/School Directory have been submitted.  The files are located under the Non-PowerSchool Data Files tab on NCDPI CRDC Documentation and Webinar page.  Please disregard any communications from CRDC Partner Support regarding registration. 

 

A Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) Webinar Events

This two-hour session will be repeated three times during the PowerSchool Preview period.  The webinar will provide a PowerSchool demonstration specific to the CRDC, tips for successful validation and an opportunity to discuss the NCDPI schedule for data upload to the federal submission tool. Users will also have the opportunity to ask about PowerSchool functional processes.

Please submit questions or issues as soon as possible to Terra Dominguez.

ESSR Reminder

As a reminder, the 2021-2022 Eligible Schools Summary Report (ESSR) must be submitted in PowerSchool for all local education agencies (LEAs) and charter schools in North Carolina. All charter schools are required to report these data regardless of whether they accept any federal funds and the report is used to meet several requirements, such as School Report Card, CEDARS and Teacher Loan Forgiveness.  Thank you in advance for your support.

Information regarding the data collection can be found at  https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/federal-program-monitoring/federal-program-data-collection

Announcing Learning Innovations: Fall Webinar Sessions for Educators

10 Tips to Make Canvas Work for You

November 18th, 11:00 am EST

Presented by Rob Caldwell, NCSSM Instructional and Information Designer 

Register here.

New Cybersecurity Standards: Why You Should Care 

December 9th, 11:00 am EST

Presented by Charlotte Dungan, NCSSM AI Program Architect  

Register here.  

Other Important MEMOs from DPI:


Child Count Transfer System

The Child Count Transfer System is now open for transfers. We appreciate your patience while we prepared the system for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year. We ask that you please submit your transfers promptly to avoid missing the deadline.

Please be advised that the deadline for submitting transfers is November 30, 2021.

While the system has been open later than usual only those students that transferred within the first 60 days from the start of the school year can be transferred.

To access the HC Transfer system please click the link below:

Welcome (nc.gov)

Should you have trouble signing into the HC transfer system please contact Melissa Dearman at Melissa.dearman@dpi.nc.gov.

Only individuals listed as Data Managers can submit the transfers. If you need to update the individual listed as your data manager please click the link below and add or change them under your PSU. Should you have trouble accessing the document please contact Khalilah O’Farrow-Boulware at Khalilah.ofarrow@dpi.nc.gov.

Listed Data Managers:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tQFdgbqV1kqhMXN9PIGR38JrYbvR8UuZ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112781408886934371476&rtpof=true&sd=true


NCEES ChangeCentral Office View Only / DA Access Rights Summary

NCDPI and PowerSchool have implemented the process with District Administrator Access Rights that will allow LEAs to assign the DA Admin Type to those with a Superintendent role in NCEES and they receive View Only Access rights to all plans in their location. All DA assignments on all roles will be set to Cannot Assign Access Rights and Cannot Assume Identity in supporting this View Only access role.
PSUs (LEAs, Charters, Lab, Innovative Schools) Please fill out the NCEES System District Administrator Access Rights request form as needed for approved staff that are set with a System Admin Type of District Administrator in NCEES to request they have "Can Assign Access Rights" and/or "Can Assume Identity". These requests will be filled within 3 business days. Please do not submit Site Administrators in this form. Only those with current setting of District Administrator can receive those two access rights. Note: All Site Administrators have Can Assign Access Rights for setting access to plans in My Staff.
Current DAs with Can Assign Access Rights can follow the steps on page 3 of District Administrator Guide 082018 to assign others to have District Administrator or Site Administrator rights.
If the PSU does not have a NCEES District Administrator, please request this by submitting a ServiceNow Ticket. NCDPI must set the first DA for a district and then that DA is responsible for setting other staff to have District Administrator Admin Type as needed. It is recommended to have a Lead DA and a Back-up DA.
Two fixes have been scheduled by PowerSchool Support for for the following two issues with recent updates to NCEES District Administrator Access Rights:
  • FIXED: Per NCDPI testing it was found that the My Staff > Administration Staff Management > Add Administrator button remained accessible to NCEES District Administrators that had "Cannot Assign Access Rights". This was corrected by PowerSchool on Sunday, November 7th - 8th with version update version 21.10.1.0.
  • Newly Assigned DAs (District Administrators) are not set to "Cannot Assume Identity" and "Cannot Assign Access Rights" - All newly assigned District Administrators should default to "Cannot Assume Identity" and "Cannot Assign Access Rights" and it was found that those settings are staying at "System Default" - meaning they can assume identity and assign access rights. This is planned to be fixed in Feature Update 21.10.2.0 slated for Nov. 21, 2021.
NCDPI is also updating the NCEES District Administrator Guide which will be posted soon.
----

NCEES Tuesday Webinars 

NCEES Webinars are held most Tuesdays from 4-5PM.Click on the Titles to Register. 

Navigate to Webinars 2021-22 to view webinar descriptions. 


EC Division

Please see the attached parent newsletters.


Interested in identifying and providing services for gifted students? 

The Division of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education is excited to announce the 2022-2025 local AIG Plan cycle. If you are interested in developing an AIG program to serve students in your school, please take a few moments to view this recording where Stephanie Cyrus and Beth Cross, NCDPI State Consultants, explain the process: https://youtu.be/deI7DbG_bQQ  

If you have questions after viewing, contact both consultants, or Join us for a Live Q & A November 18, 2021 at 3:30 pm

Click here to register and attend the event:  https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/onstage/g.php?MTID=e5577f36197800d27ffc60bbf07cfe84b


NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Message for Charter Schools

NCVirtual hosts a series of webinars for educators and students. The free Digital Transition webinar series helps traditional classroom teachers bring their classes into the digital world. Visit our Digital Transition page for registration details. Our IworkNCVirtual Speaker series is open to all North Carolina students. In the series, experts in the field deliver presentations about career paths and future job opportunities. Visit the IworkNCVirtual page for upcoming events. 


OCS

Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

10/18/21 EDS guidance with Karl Pond in Epicenter


AB November Spotlight

Teammate in the Spotlight 

With the new school year, each month we are putting a face to the name of one of the amazing staff at the Office of Charter Schools. For November we are featuring Ms. Ashley Baquero!

Ashley began her work at OCS in April 2018 and considers it a privilege to work with NC charter schools. Prior to OCS, Ashley spent over eight years teaching middle school in a variety of Title I schools in Atlanta and Durham. She has experience teaching and designing curriculum for traditional public schools, charter schools, and a private (grant funded) school for refugee students. Having switched careers from practicing law, and entering education through Teach for America, she believes strongly in alternative routes to the classroom and the recruitment, retention, and support of high-quality teachers. She grew up in Florida and received her B.A. (International Relations) from Eckerd College and her J.D. from the University of Florida. Her most important job is mom to her amazing first grader, Eliana Grace. She has too many hobbies and interests including cooking, writing, yoga, gardening, running, fostering dogs, hiking, and star-gazing. Ashley reads at least 52 books per year and dreams of living in a library with a beach view.

 


The Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee

The Carolina Panthers invite you to register your school for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and your chance to qualify students for the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee presented by Bank of America!

 

The Carolina Panthers are excited to announce registration is open for the Scripps National Spelling Bee program and your opportunity to qualify students for the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee presented by Bank America. The Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee will be held on a TBD date on either March 12, 13, 19 or 20, 2022 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Final date confirmation will be provided by January 1, 2022. The top four North Carolina spellers and top two South Carolina spellers from the Carolina Panthers Bee will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in June 2022. Interested schools/districts can learn more and find registration information by clicking here

 

Click here for a special message from Carolina Panthers Head Coach Matt Rhule!

 

Key dates to consider:

January 31: Deadline for schools to register with Scripps for this year's Bee program.
February 18, 2021: Deadline for school districts to submit winning students who have earned the opportunity to advance to the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee.
March 12-13 OR 19-20, 2021: Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee for designated NC/SC school district winners. Bee will be held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.


2021 A.I.M. Conference Registration Reminder 

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is hosting the A.I.M. Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center November 29-December 1, 2021. The Office of Charter Schools would like for all NC Charter Schools to send some representation the conference. There is no registration cost for attending conference, however schools will be responsible for hotel fares, transportation, and meals. The conference is requesting that each charter school select a working team of only three (3) persons to attend the conference. The registration for each school team will take place through the Office of Charter Schools. You will email the names of the three attendees to anita.holbrook@dpi.nc.gov. Please designate one person as the team lead in your email and make sure there is an email address for the team lead person. When you arrive at the conference the team lead person will have received an email to tell them where to go and pick up the conference packets for the entire team. If you have any questions about registration, please contact anita.holbrook@dpi.nc.gov. If you have general questions about the conference, contact barbaraoneal@dpi.nc.gov or dave.machado@dpi.nc.gov. 


Planning Year Calendar 2021-2022

All schools (boards and school leaders) in the Ready to Open process are required to attend five planning year sessions as well as the New Charter Leaders Institute in June 2022, as part of the successful completion of the Ready to Open and Planning Year process. While these sessions are mandatory for brand new charter schools, we invite those who may be new to a leadership role at an established charter school to join the virtual sessions, or access the materials online, under the Planning Year tab of the Office of Charter School's website. View the calendar here.


OCS Consultant Sites:


NC ACCESS

NC ACCESS ASPIRING MINORITY SCHOOL LEADERS PROGRAM

SEEKING INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS FOR A FALL 2022 COHORT

The NC ACCESS Program is looking to potentially offer two cohorts of the Aspiring Minority School Leaders Program with only 20 slots available! One track for applicants WITH a master’s degree to complete a MSA Add-on Licensure program AND one track for applicants WITHOUT a master’s degree to complete a Masters in School Administration program. Learn more about the Add-on Licensure Program here. The full MSA program would be a new offering.

 

PLEASE SEND THE NAMES AND EMAIL ADDRESSES OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE PROGRAM TO DR. BARBARA O’NEAL.

OCS NC ACCESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2021-2022

Session 1 - Creating a Culture of Collaboration: Professional development from the teacher next door - September 14, 2021, 4-5pm

Session 2 - Digging the Data: Assessing students abilities in a way that cultivates and motivates growth  - September 28, 2021, 4-5pm

Session 3 - Teaching the Whole Child: Addressing the needs of each child in the classroom - October 19, 2021,  4-5pm

 

Session 4 - Embrace Your Space: Digital tools for the virtual, in-person, and hybrid classroom - November 16, 2021, 4-5pm

The past year educators spent countless hours learning digital tools to make their lessons dynamic and engaging. In this session we will dive into how to use different digital tools, no matter what your classroom space looks like. Come ready to share with and learn from other participants. This session is geared toward any educator who delivers instruction. 

 

Session 5 - Teaching Through a Literacy Lens - December 7, 2021,  4-5pm

We will dive into tips and tricks for teaching content area literacy. This session is for teachers of all grade levels and subjects. 


Sharing News About Our Charter Schools:

Student testimonial: Abigail Barbosa

Student testimonial: Abigail Barbosa

Student testimonial: Rasheka Darrisaw

Student testimonial: Rasheka Darrisaw

Student testimonial: Tim Taylor

Student testimonial: Tim Taylor

Student testimonial: Tyler Wikoff

Student testimonial: Tyler Wikoff


Other Resources from DPI:


Leadership Opportunities:


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 / Email: ocs@dpi.nc.gov

Dave Machado         984 236 2702
Director of the Office of Charter Schools

 

Shaunda Cooper      984 236 2707
Consultant, Renewals & Stakeholder Support

 

Claire Porter             984 236 2709
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