Number 10

NCDPI Releases “COVID-19 Impact Analysis of Lost Instructional Time”

"A new report analyzing the performance of North Carolina students during last year’s far-reaching COVID-19 disruptions finds that learning progress slowed across all grades and subjects. The report from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) showed that students made less progress, on average, than students in the same grades and courses in previous years. Results presented today to the State Board of Education show also that students who experienced more face-to-face learning in the classroom, and where specific and targeted resources and supports were implemented immediately, made stronger gains than students who learned only virtually."

Read the full press release, including the full report and supplemental documents, here.

Number 9

NC Teacher Workforce Remained Largely Stable Through 2020-21

"About 8.2% of North Carolina teachers were counted as leaving employment in the state’s public schools during the 2020-21 school year, according to a report presented today to the State Board of Education. This represents an increase of only two-thirds of one percentage point from the prior school year, which state education leaders said is a remarkably stable rate in light of the massive disruption forced by COVID-19."

Read the full press release here.

Number 8

Arts in Education Artist Residency Grant

This grant application opened March 1st and provides funding for in-school, virtual or hybrid artist residencies. The residency must be a minimum of 10 days, but can take place consecutively or anytime during the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters. Schools are required to provide a 1:1 cash match unless they are in a Tier 1 county. Schools in Tier 1 counties are eligible to receive 75%-100% of the funding/do not require a match.

Read more and apply here.

Number 7

MEMO: Transportation Mask Guidance

Find the full memo from NCDPI's Transportation Director here.

Number 6

Monthly NCDHHS-DPI Joint COVID Webinar Follow-Up

If you were unable to make this month's DHHS-DPI Joint Call, please reach out to communications@dpi.nc.gov for follow-up call materials.

Number 5

Three NC District Education Leaders Recognized as 2022 "Leaders to Learn From"

Congratulations to Jones County Superintendent Ben Thigpen, Union County Superintendent Andrew G. Houlihan and Union County Director of Innovation and EdTech Casey Rimmer who were recognized as Education Week's 2022 Leaders to Learn From! 

"Our 2022 Leaders spent weeks and years assembling the foundations to tackle the 2021-22 school year’s unparalleled challenges. Amid the conflicts at school board meetings, shifting guidelines over masking, and debates over curriculum, district leaders drew on their teams, their professional expertise, and their own wellsprings of resilience to keep learning on track. They kept their eyes on the prize: their students."

Learn more about Leaders to Learn From and read about all of the 2022 Leaders here. Read about Jones County's story here, and Union County here.

Congratulations and thank you to Superintendent Thigpen, Superintendent Houlihan and Ms. Rimmer for your leadership in your districts! We are so appreciative of your dedication to the students of North Carolina.

Number 4

NOW OPEN - NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey

The 2022 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey will be open until March 31. All schools should have received their information packets with all the anonymous codes to take the survey. If your school has any questions or needs additional codes, please contact SurveySupport@adi.org or call 1-888-404-9704.

Visit nctwcs.org to take the survey and view live participation rates.

Number 3

EdNC Perspective Piece: Teacher Attrition Remains Relatively Stable, but Improvements are Necessary

"Every year, the Department of Public Instruction analyzes teacher attrition in our state using rigorous data standards. The reason is obvious: when experienced, qualified teachers leave, they must be backfilled with candidates who are often less experienced and, in too many cases, not fully qualified or prepared for the jobs they fill. The result is that students suffer."

Read this piece from State Superintendent Catherine Truitt.

Number 2

Xavier Adams named NCCAT 2022 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year

"Xavier Adams, an Orange County High School teacher in Orange County Schools, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2022 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony at the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University Thursday, February 17, 2022.

The award was presented for the third time with finalists from across the state in attendance.

Adams believes investing in relationships with students is the most significant part of his job. His most important piece of advice to beginning teachers – 'you are enough.'"

Congratulations Xavier, and thank you for all you do as an educator in North Carolina!

Number 1

Read Across America Week

This week is Read Across America Week! Also known by many as "Dr. Seuss Week," Read Across America Week was established by the National Education Association in 1998 to promote a love of reading in school age children. 

This week is the perfect time to pick up your favorite children's book and share the love of reading!

Check out #ReadAcrossAmericaWeek to follow along with activities happening across the country.