Number 10

N.C. Instructional Leadership Academy to Support Hundreds of Principals Statewide

Hundreds of principals from schools across North Carolina are joining a new statewide initiative aimed at building instructional leadership in the state’s highest-needs schools.

Led by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s Office of District & Regional Support, the North Carolina Instructional Leadership Academy (NC ILA) is a partnership between the state agency and Relay Graduate School of Education, an institution with programs in cities nationwide, to help principals build their capacity and strengthen the quality of teaching and learning in their schools.

Read the full press release here.

Number 9

Leveraging NC Virtual: A Resource for District Leaders Webinar

Discover how to utilize the programs and resources offered by NC Virtual, your state-led virtual school. You are probably familiar with NC Virtual's high-quality instruction and QM-certified courses, but you may not be as familiar with our intervention program, Partnership Course Program, Peer Tutoring Center, flexible funding, or our whole-class enrollment option when you have teacher loss. The staff will share how to partner with NC Virtual as a solution to your enrollment needs.

The webinar will take place August 15 at 9 AM and August 16 at 11 AM. Learn more and register here.

Number 8

Back-To-School Supply Drive Point of Contact Form

The Governor's Office, in partnership with the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union (SECU), Communities In Schools, VolunteerNC, and TeachNC, are working together to host a Back-To-School Supply Drive. All supplies will be collected throughout the state in each branch of the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union (SECU) and donated to each school district across the state.

In an effort to help with making sure each district/LEA receives the donations collected, we would like to make sure that we have a point of contact that we can share with Community In Schools and VolunteerNC. Community In Schools and VolunteerNC will reach out to your designated point of contact to schedule drop off and pick-up times for the supplies connected at the end of August.

Public Information Officers, if you have not already done so, please fill out the point of contact form for the best staff member to assist with getting supplies from the supply drive to your district.

Number 7

2023 United States Senate Youth Program & Scholarship

The USSYP provides an educational opportunity for juniors and seniors interested in pursuing college coursework in history or political science to spend a week in Washington D.C. meeting Senators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and officials from various federal agencies and the White House.

Two student winners will be selected to represent North Carolina. The two students chosen will each attend the Washington Week program March 4-11 and receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

Learn more and get application materials here. Applications will be accepted until October 1. 

Number 6

School Meal Applications for 2022-23 School Year

Studies show that students who participate in school meal programs consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables, and have better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. School meals are a nutritious, convenient choice for families. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s waiver authority and federal funding for schools to continue to provide free meals was not extended. All students can participate in school meal programs. Families can apply to see if they qualify for school meal benefits for their children. Meal applications should be completed within the first 30 days of school.

Please encourage families to complete a school meal application as soon as possible to help assist districts with funding for schools.

Number 5

Workforce Toolkit

DPI is excited to share a new CTE Workforce with Public Information Officers, School Counselors and CTE Directors on August 5. The toolkit includes an FAQ sheet, infographic and social media graphics and copy in both English and Spanish. 

The toolkit will also be posted on the Future Focused, Career Ready page on DPI's website.

Number 4

DeafBlind Family Insitute

The NC DeafBlind Project is offering a DeafBlind Family Insitute August 12-14 in Greensboro.

Families will learn about services in NC for those with deafblindness, parent counseling and leadership, self-care, mental health and benefits of SSI/SSDI.

Due to the limited space available, this institute will be on a first come-first served basis. Learn more and register here.

Number 3

2022-2023 Future City Competition

Registration for the 2022-23 NC Future City Competition is open!

The Future City Competition is a project that transforms middle school students’ understanding of engineering and strengthens their teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Learn more and register here. 

Number 2

Take the #NCFarmtoSummerChallenge

Everyone is encouraged to take the #NCFarmtoSummerChallenge any time during the summer! See all the ways to participate below:

• Serve locally grown foods in meals and/or snacks
• Teach or learn about local food, agriculture and/or nutrition,
• Post or share about farm to summer activities,
• Sign up for the #NCCrunch for Farm to School Month.

Be sure to share about #NCFarmtoSummer activities on social media and tag @Ray4NCKids and @NCSchoolMeals with posts!

Find the NC Farm to Summer Challenge sign-up, a toolkit that includes social media graphics, a flyer, and bingo activity sheet and more here. 

Number 1

Dual Enrollment: State Looks to Improve Access to College Courses for High Schoolers

"A new study shows that high school students in North Carolina who are taking college courses are mostly White and less economically disadvantaged.

State lawmakers directed the State Board of Education and Dept. of Public Instruction (DPI) to contract with a third party to conduct a study on the state's Career and College Promise (CCP) Program. It's essentially a dual enrollment program through which high school students can enroll in college courses."

Read the full story here.