Number 10

District Highlight: Roanoke Rapids Graded School District -  Middle School Students Win 2022 KidWind Competition

The Chaloner Middle School KidWind team from Roanoke Rapids Graded School District brought home the “gold” from the 2022 National KidWind Competition in the middle school category!

Prior to Nationals, the team won at the local level in April, and the regional State Wind and Solar Challenge on April 24th in Petersburg, Virginia, representing Virginia and North Carolina. After winning at both, the Chaloner Middle School team advanced to represent the Virginia/North Carolina region at the National KidWind Competition. After competing against 53 student teams from 15 U.S. states and Mexico.

Congratulations to this group of Chaloner Middle students! Read more and see photos here.

Number 9

2022-23 Read to Achieve Implementation Guide

The 2022-23 Read to Achieve (RtA) Implementation Guide was approved during the July 7, 2022 State Board of Education meeting.

If you are interested in knowing the updates and additions to the guide, the state board presentation can be accessed here.

The 2022-23 RtA Implementation Guide can be found here.

Number 8

20 NC Schools Receive NC GreenPower Solar Educational Grant

NC GreenPower is pleased to award 20 North Carolina schools each with a solar educational package, valued at approximately $42,000. In addition to a solar array, the schools will receive donated SunPower solar modules, STEM curricula, teacher training and more.

The NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools program is open to all public and private K-12 schools in NC. The installed photovoltaic systems, which are 5 kilowatts, serve as educational tools and provide an energy impact, likely producing enough renewable energy to power a school’s main office. Collectively, NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools have saved an estimated $68,400 in electricity expenses since the program’s
introduction in 2015. For updates about the program, click here. 

Read more and see the full list of grant recipients here.

Number 7

Rethink Education Virtual Networking Session for 6-8 Grade Teachers

If you're a grades 6-8 teacher who wants to hone your blended learning skills, join the Rethink Education networking session with peers from across the state. The discussion will focus on solving practical opportunities and successes. 

This virtual networking session will be held Tuesday, July 12 from 1:00-3:00pm. Learn more and register here.

Number 6

Stakeholder Survey on Science and Health Education Standards Deadline Extended Through July 15

The NCDPI K-12 Science and K-12 Healthful Living teams continue to move forward in the standards revision process. A critical component to the process is collecting feedback from all stakeholders, including educators, parents, business/industry representatives, and community members. 

In order to ensure the greatest opportunity for stakeholder input, the window for All-Stakeholder and PSU surveys below has been extended until 11:59pm on Friday July 15th. 

• NCDPI K-12 Science All Stakeholder Survey
• NCDPI K-12 Health Education All Stakeholder Survey
• NCDPI K-12 Physical Education All Stakeholder Survey

Number 5

Group that Teaches Students to Refurbish Laptops has New Space and Expanded Mission

"A Davidson-based program that teaches students to restore laptop computers has a new space in Charlotte’s South End and an expanding mission. It’s part of a broader coalition working on digital equity.

E2D, short for Eliminate the Digital Divide, started in 2012, when 12-year-old Franny Millen of Davidson told her parents that middle school classmates who didn’t have computers at home didn’t have a fair shot at doing their work.

The quest to refurbish donated laptops for students in need started small, with a few students from Hough High School working in a basement. The program moved into a bigger space in Cornelius, and eventually opened shops at West Charlotte, Garinger, South Mecklenburg and Olympic high schools. Computers were distributed through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

E2D recently tallied 30,000 computers handed out since 2013."

Read the full story here.

Number 4

Strategies in STEM: Engaging Students in Academic Discourse Professional Development

This session will provide low-prep, easy to use strategies that educators can implement in any lesson to support positive student interactions. Participants will leave with an academic discourse toolkit that will support student discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative learning.

Learn more and register here.

Number 3

US Department of Education TEACH Grant Program

Current & future teachers - ED's TEACH Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year to students completing course work needed to begin a teaching career.

Learn if you’re eligible and how to apply here.

Number 2

District Highlight: Alamance-Burlington School System Middle School Class on Fox 8

Southern Middle School students in Ms. Taylor's social studies class created games to test their knowledge!

Watch the video here.

Number 1

State Board of Education Asks NC Supreme Court to Transfer $785 Million to Schools

"Lawyers for the state and several school districts are asking the N.C. Supreme Court to order the transfer of $785 million from the treasury to fund the Leandro education plan. In court filings dated Friday, the State Board of Education and the plaintiffs in the long-running Leandro school funding case say it’s necessary for the high court to intervene to ensure students have a right to a sound basic education."

Read the full story here.