Number 10

StrongSchoolsNC School Testing Webinar

NCDHHS will host an informational webinar for school leaders to answer questions about new funding opportunities available through the 2022-2023 StrongSchoolsNC COVID-19 Testing Program.

Schools participating in at least one of the no-cost testing options will have access to state-contracted testing vendors providing individual PCR testing and access to the state supply of rapid antigen tests. Additionally, schools can order at-home tests from the state to distribute to students and staff. Participating schools will be eligible for additional funding including support for school health staffing, mental and behavioral health funding and support opportunities, and other allowable expenses described in the testing program’s opt-in form.

The webinar will be Tuesday, August 16th from 8-9 a.m. Learn more and register here. 

Number 9

Schools that Lead Network Improvement Community: Cohort Three Applications Open

Schools That Lead, in partnership with the NC General Assembly and NCDPI, is excited to announce it will launch its third cohort of North Carolina Networked Improvement Communities for district and charter public schools seeking to improve learning outcomes for their students. The Network is open to all NC K-13 district and charter schools.

Applications are now open until September 2. Schools will be selected by lottery (if necessary) and notified of selection by September 12.

Learn more and apply here.

Number 8

Districts Put 'Science of Reading' into Practice

"Educators will soon be getting some help as the state of North Carolina transitions into a new way of teaching reading in the classroom. It’s an initiative that will place literacy coaches in every district.

The NC Department of Public Instruction is following the footsteps of Mississippi’s literacy coach deployment, which helped the state make some major headway in reading scores.
Now the rollout here will help North Carolina teachers get the support they need to put the science of reading technique into practice."

Read the full story here.

Number 7

Aquarium Scholars Grant Program

The Aquarium Scholars program is a partnership between the three North Carolina Aquariums, Jennette’s Pier, North Carolina public schools and the nonprofit North Carolina Aquarium Society, through which private donors help fund access to science, technology, engineering and math based Aquarium education programs for underserved students across the state. These grants are only available for Title 1 eligible schools.

To learn more about Aquarium Scholars and submit an application, click here.

Number 6

District Highlight: Pitt County Schools - Program Helps Students Make Transition to Middle and High Schools

"Considering fear-inducing, popular middle-grade titles such as “How I Survived Middle School,” “Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life” and “Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf,” it’s no wonder that many students approach their sixth-grade year carrying a backpack-load of apprehension.

But a new summer program aims to help Pitt County Schools students separate fact from fiction when it comes to moving up to another school. Transition to Middle and High School, being held this week, invites rising sixth- and ninth-graders in for a preview of what they will see when they return to classes on Aug. 29."

Read the full story here.

Number 5

TeachNC Scholarship Deadlines Extended Through August 31

TeachNC scholarship deadlines have been extended through August 31. Find scholarships and financial assistance to meet your specific needs here.

Number 4

Science of Reading Essential Playbook for School Leaders

The Science of Reading (SoR) Essential Playbook for School Leaders sessions will be hosted regionally in Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington. 

Participants attending the SoR Essential Playbook for School Leaders session will learn the research behind the science of reading, learn the essential components of early literacy instruction, be shown examples of evidence-based literacy instruction in action, be given time to review their current literacy schedule and evaluate current systems alignment and literacy decision making as it pertains to scheduling, and be given look-for tools and resources to immediately put into use in schools to support teachers in implementing evidence-based literacy instruction.

Learn more and register here.

Number 3

NCVirtual Virtual Open House

Join NCVirtual for their virtual open house and learn about NCVPS' programs, meet teachers and students, hear about support initiatives, and have your questions answered!

The open house will have two sessions on Tuesday, August 16 at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 18 at 11 a.m. Learn more and register for the session that works best for your schedule here.

Number 2

Workforce Toolkit Now Available

Download the Workforce Toolkit assets here or by visiting the “Future Focused, Career Ready” website and scrolling down to the Workforce Toolkit tab. Social media copy ideas can be viewed here.

Use the hashtag #NCFutureWorkforce when posting to your social channels so we can share them also!

Number 1

DPI Updates State Board on Literacy Coaches, LETRS Training

"The State Board of Education got an update Thursday on the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) plan to deploy literacy coaches into districts. It also heard from a leader of Mississippi’s science of reading implementation, offering a comparison to the state whose science of reading law North Carolina’s is loosely based.

The update to the Board comes amid persistent questions as North Carolina traverses its new literacy journey: Why follow Mississippi’s lead? Why focus on Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS)? Was it necessary to do this right now, given what teachers and schools are dealing with? Was it necessary at all?

On Thursday, leaders of the initiative for DPI took a moment to revisit the state’s 'why,' set expectations, and clarify where the state is headed."

Read the full story here.