State Board of Education approves start of K-12 Standards Review process
Greetings,
As you may know, last week the North Carolina State Board of Education granted permission for NCDPI to move forward with the review and revision of the K-12 Healthful Living and K-12 Science standards. Linked is a brief overview of the review and revision cycle.
The standards review/revision process will be guided by the NC Standard Course of Study Manual, which was approved by the State Board of Education in February of 2022.
The K-12 Science Team will be sending regular communication to all stakeholders and will post updates on the Academic Standards page of the NCDPI website. You can expect communication next week as we will be sending out surveys asking for input on the current standards and seeking applicants who may be interested in serving on a K-12 Science Standards Data Review Committee.
We look forward to engaging all stakeholders in this process.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me or a K-12 Science consultant:
Charles Aiken – Section Chief for Math/Science/STEM
Email: charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov
Phone: 984-236-2837
Alexis Wood - Regions 1 and 2
Email: kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov
Phone: 984-236-2849
Debra Hall - Regions 3 and 5
Email: debra.hall@dpi.nc.gov
Phone: 984-236-2845
Gavin Fradel - Regions 4 and 6
Email: gavin.fradel@dpi.nc.gov
Phone: 984-236-2836
Benita Tipton - Regions 7 and 8
Email: benita.tipton@dpi.nc.gov
Phone: 984-236-2843
Respectfully,
Dr. Charles A. Aiken
Section Chief for Math, Science and STEM
Division of Academic Standards
NC Department of Public Instruction
Annual Charter School Health Report Is Open
The Annual Charter School Health Report link is now open. Reporting must be completed no later than June 20, 2021. The report is designed to assist in identifying resource needs for healthcare of students in charter schools. Responses will be used to inform future training topics and to report on compliance with required legislation and policies such as Care of Students with Diabetes (§ 115C-375.3.) and School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (§ 115C-375.2A). You may click here to access the report link or copy and paste the link below into your browser.
A preparation worksheet is provided with the report questions. All schools are encouraged to download the worksheet and mark the appropriate responses before beginning the online report survey. You may click here to access the worksheet or copy and paste the link provided below into your browser. Once you have prepared your responses, save the document to your local computer. This worksheet cannot be accepted as your report. You will use it as a reference tool to enter your information into the online survey system.
Charter school Health Services Report and Section Two Report
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6525551/2021-22-Charter-School-Health-Services-Report-and-Section-Two-Survey
Charter School Health Services Report and Section Two-Worksheet
http://surveygizmolibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/library/12181/202122_CharterSchoolHealthServicesReport_Section2_Worksheet.pdf
If you have questions or concern regarding the report, please contact annette.richardson@dhhs.nc.gov or amy.t.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov
New Applicant Tracking System replacing TeacherMatch
TeacherMatch will be discontinued as of July 30, 2022 so anyone currently using that system will no longer have access after that date. We are offering to migrate them to the new system, Applicant Tracking, at no charge but they must sign up as soon as possible for this. There are only three more trainings for charter schools – one per month (May, June and July). This system is available to ALL charter schools, current and new for next year. If they do not take advantage of this opportunity now during the migration period and then decide later, they will have to pay for their individual training, which can be as high as $1800. They can click here to sign up for the new system and choose which month they would like to attend training – this will be their implementation month – May, June or July.
Applicant Tracking integrates with TeachNC/SchoolSpring, which is the statewide job board, so their jobs will get more visibility across the State. This is in addition to each school having their own individual job board with a url they can post to their school website.
We also offer, free of charge to the schools, the Onboarding module of Records which integrates with Applicant Tracking. This is a separate implementation and allows the online completion of onboarding/new hire paperwork. They can indicate on the sign up form if they are interested in implementing the Onboarding module.
If you have any questions about whether or not someone from your school has already signed up, email wendy.hinson@dpi.nc.gov.
Important MEMOs:
Signs of Abuse Memo
Please see the memo below with guidance to comply with SL 2021-132 and forward, as appropriate, to student services personnel. These materials are being released now so that you can better prepare for the upcoming school year and organize beginning of the year requirements. This applies to all grade 6-12 schools and students.
SL 2021-132: Signs Of Abuse Memo
NCDHHS/DPI
Follow-Up for Monthly NCDHHS Joint COVID Call
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Good morning and thank you to all who participated in last Tuesday's call.
For those who couldn't join the call, click here to access the recording with integrated chat and transcript.
Additional links and resources referenced in the call:
5.3.22 DHHS Slide Deck
Please reach out to Sharon Bell with any questions on Youth Mental Health First Aid.
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Office of Learning Recovery info
Charter school leaders, as discussed at Monday's office hours, we have provided the slides from the Office of Learning Recovery Meeting, Thursday March 31st: OLR HB196 Regional Charter Meeting March 2022.pdf
Impact of Lost Instructional Time Report
A note from Dr. Michael Meyer, Executive director for the office of learning recovery and acceleration:
Regarding the report, we do not have district level reports for charter schools (the n sizes are too small leaving much of the data redacted). However, all charters do have access to a new drop-down option on the Scatterplots tab of each district's EVAAS portal for "Difference Between Actual and Pre-Pandemic Projected Scores (DBAPPS) measures" that include student-level measures as well as aggregated student measures for districts, schools, and student groups. This data will be available to users of the EVAAS restricted site depending on their account permissions, and they help users understand the extent of lost instructional time for groups of students in their schools and districts by assessed content area.
To access this data, go to REPORTS > SCATTERPLOTS > (Then use the dropdown menu to access "Difference Between Actual and Pre-Pandemic Projected Scores (DBAPPS) measures"
Additionally, we are working on finalizing a summer convening of all PSUs (by ESSER III appropriation size) with one day dedicated to Charter Schools. The convening will cover data availability and use, evidence-based interventions, and an opportunity to share promising interventions. We should have the date finalized soon and will send you the details as soon as possible.
FAFSA Tuesday Tracker: What Graduating Seniors Need to Know About Financial Aid
A wide range of financial aid, scholarship and loan programs are available for high school seniors as they pursue their post-secondary options.
A large number of the federal and state opportunities for money rely on the students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Schools can help graduating seniors by:
- Including FAFSA completion on graduation checklists and conversations.
- Sharing financial aid resources with students and their families
Want to do even more? Authorized school professionals can access the Finish the FAFSA for individual student level data. Last year high school graduates in North Carolina who were unable to complete the FAFSA left $126 million in Pell Grants on the table. Pell Grants are just one type of financial aid that requires FAFSA completion. The FAFSA is also an important first step in securing the NC Long Leaf Commitment Grant, which for many of our students could mean FREE community college.
Between now and June 30th, North Carolina’s schools are pushing toward the state’s FAFSA completion goal of 65% We will keep you up to date on our progress and continue sharing resources.
Don't forget, you can track your district's FAFSA completion progress using the NC First in FAFSA Tracker.
Jessica Swencki
Deputy Director
2022 Virtual BT Summit
Greetings,
The Regional Education Facilitator Team is excited to announce registration for the 2022 North Carolina Beginning Teacher Virtual Summit: Reaching for the Stars is open!
This virtual summit is a state-wide FREE professional development opportunity specifically designed to address the needs of new teachers. The past few years have both challenged us and taught us the importance of being flexible, maximizing our resources, and practicing reflection.
Therefore, this year’s virtual summit will feature sixteen excellent, pre-recorded sessions from last year’s conference that statistically align with the most common needs of BTs across the state. Participants choose from topics on classroom management, equity/diversity, tech tools and tips, differentiation, social/emotional/self-care, teacher leadership, professionalism, and parent communication.
Through a blend of live opening and closing sessions, live Teacher of the Year Panels, and pre-recorded breakout sessions, beginning teachers will be able to self-select sessions on essential instructional practices to impact student learning positively.
Register now using this Google Form link to receive live session updates and information on the summit via email: https://forms.gle/swApMk9La8eKumX89.
*Please note that CEU credits for the live and pre-recorded breakout sessions may be given at the discretion of your Public School Unit (PSU) or non-Public School Unit.
We’re looking forward to an amazing Beginning Teacher Summit experience!
Regards,
The Regional Education Facilitator Team
Upcoming 2021-2022SY McKinney-Vento Deadlines
Please note the following McKinney-Vento end-of-year deadlines. This NCHEP compliance deadline document will provide further details on the upcoming McKinney-Vento deadlines listed below:
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Homeless Data Collection Submission Deadline: May 30, 2022
_McKinney-Vento Posting Elements_21-22SY.docx
- Online submission workshops are being offered in May. Details included in the compliance deadline document provided.
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McKinney-Vento Needs Assessment Deadline: June 30, 2022
_CHARTER SCHOOL Needs Assessment Template_2022SY.docx
- An alternate submission deadline is offered to charter school homeless liaisons who have been in the role for less than 1 year. Please see overview document for further details.
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McKinney-Vento Dispute Policy Deadline: June 30, 2022
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McKinney-Vento Web Posting Deadline: As Soon As Possible (If not already in place.)
If clarification or assistance is needed on any of the upcoming deadlines, please contact Tricia Lentz, NCHEP Program Specialist for Charter Schools (336-681-7561).
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EC ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Attached is a Public Notice of Participation and Comments on the NC Application for IDEA Part B Grant Award. Please display the Public Notice and proposed State Application in the main lobby of your Central Office from March 25, 2022 - May 25, 2022.
If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Sinclair at Nicole.sinclair@dpi.nc.gov or 984-236-2597.
Please see the attached newsletters.
Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
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Meet our newest staff member - Jenna Cook
Jenna Cook is the newest Education Consultant with the Office of Charter Schools. She has 10 years of experience as a K-12 teacher and administrator. She began her career in education as a 2021 Teach for America Corps member in the Mississippi Delta teaching middle school math. After 3 years in Mississippi, Jenna obtained her Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College in Public School Administration through the Summer Principal’s Academy. She was a middle school Dean and then School Director in her home state of Ohio at a charter middle school, Columbus Collegiate Academy - Dana Ave. As the School Director of CCA-Dana, Jenna was also part of the United Schools Network Leadership team, a small charter management company in Columbus, Ohio. In the fall of 2021, Jenna and her husband, Matt, and two boys, moved to Raleigh. Jenna was the Dean of Middle School at Southern Wake Academy before joining OCS in April 2022. Outside of her work in schools, Jenna enjoys exploring her new city with her family, baking, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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A MESSAGE FROM MYFUTURENC
Hello! We need your help. As of April 8, the current FAFSA completion rate in North Carolina was 44% which is 21% below our state's 2022 goal of 65%. You can track your district's FAFSA completion progress using the NC First in FAFSA Tracker.
Why is this important?
Completing the FAFSA is a critical step in the process of going to college, especially for students who need financial aid, including the Pell Grant or NC Assist Loan, to pay for college. Last year high school graduates in North Carolina who were unable to complete the FAFSA left $126 million in Pell Grants on the table. (NCAN.org)
You can help us! There are 9 weeks left in this year's "official" FAFSA campaign. Each Tuesday you will receive an email reminder from me asking for your assistance in spreading the word through your district's communication channels. To assist, the myFutureNC team has created a copy/paste ready toolkit with simple messaging and graphics. The toolkit link will not change and new content (including Spanish resources) will be added weekly.
NC First in FAFSA Social Media Toolkit
Sample Post
Ready for graduation day? Class of 2022, don’t forget to complete your #FAFSA and check financial aid off your list! https://www.cfnc.org/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/ #NCFirstInFAFSA
64 New Students Inducted into NCVirtual Japanese Honor Society
On April 28, 2022, the NC Virtual Japanese Department held its second annual Japanese National Honor Society induction ceremony. They were honored to have Consul Kazuyuki Takeuchi, Consul General of Japan stationed in Atlanta, and Kumi Kobayashi, Director of AATJ (American Association of Teachers of Japanese) say a few words at the ceremony. A total of 64 new members were inducted at this ceremony, which could possibly make the NC Virtual charter the largest in the nation. The number of students taking Japanese this semester is 435, which is an increase of approximately 100 students since spring 2021.
OCS Consultant Sites
Need student desks? We've got 2 offers!
- We have close to 100 student desks available. They are gently used, however they had plexiglass affixed to them last year which has since been removed. We are asking $5 per desk or best offer. Please contact Gina Newell at Achievement Charter Academy 919-567-1234, gnewell@achievementcharteracademy.org.
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At Pine Springs Prep, they have approximately 200 white desks that are available to be donated to another charter school who may benefit from them. The desks do have some usage that shows on the tops (not pure white anymore) but they are certainly serviceable. Used in grades 3 and 4, they would be a bit too big for K and 1st grade. They are willing to donate them to a school willing to come to Holly Springs to pick them up. If interested, contact bfriend@pinespringsprep.org.
Other Resources from DPI
Leadership Opportunities
Whom Should I Contact at the Office of Charter Schools?
OCS Main Number: (984) 236-2700 / Email: ocs@dpi.nc.gov
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