Nominations for Presidential Awards for Excellence in STEM Teaching Now Open

The National Science Foundation (NSF) administers Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), created by Congress in 1983, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of STEM, including Computer Science.  This year's (2022-2023) awards will honor science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teachers working in grades 7-12.  Recipients of the award receive the following:

• A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
• A paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
• A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.
• An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation.

Nominations close on January 9, 2023. Applications must be completed by February 6, 2023.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the North Carolina Presidential Awards Program, please contact the State Coordinators for PAESMT:

Joseph Reaper, at joseph.reaper@dpi.nc.gov

Alexis Wood at kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov

Professional Learning Opportunities

NCDPI A.I.M 2022 Conference Raleigh Convention Center Oct. 26 - 29, 2022 The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is hosting the second annual A.I.M. Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center Oct. 26 - 29, 2022. The Conference theme is "Accelerate, Invigorate, and Motivate."  District and school teams will attend the conference as a way to celebrate amazing educators across the state, as well as collaborate with local, regional and state educational leaders to explore and engage with the tools and knowledge needed to implement promising practices for the betterment of every student’s education in North Carolina. Goals of the Conference:  Collaborate with regional/charter/lab school teams throughout the three-day uplifting and inspiring conference Align district/school initiatives with state-wide initiatives. Create opportunities to collect authentic feedback from schools and districts on Operation Polaris and state-wide initiatives.   Where: Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601 When: Oct. 26 - Oct. 29, 2022  Who: District Teams (District Leadership, School Leadership, Classroom Leadership)   We’re thankful for the inaugural A.I.M Conference sponsorship through Lexia Learning. We can’t wait to see everyone back here in October 2022 for the second annual A.I.M. Conference. REGISTER NOW!

2022 NCCTM State Math Conference.  November 9: Leadership Seminar November 10-11: Conference Sessions The conference will be held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem.  The theme for this year's conference focuses on celebrating 50+ years of NCCTM as well as the fact that all of us are learners of mathematics and support ALL students' learning of mathematics.   Conference Schedule [download flyer] Wednesday, November 9:  Leadership Seminar, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Thursday, November 10 8:30 - 11:15 am Concurrent Sessions 11:30 - 1:00 pm Vendor Hall Focus Hours 1:00 - 3:45 pm Concurrent Sessions 4:00 - 5:00 pm Celebrating NCCTM's 50+ Years and Honoring our Members (Awards) Friday, November 11: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Concurrent Sessions   REGISTER NOW! Book Hotel Now!

This school year marks PSUs' initial implementation of the NC ELD Standard Course of Study. Our team is currently in the process of planning state-wide professional learning for the 22-23 school year. More information about state-wide professional learning will be made available via our listserv.

To request professional learning specific to your region and/or PSU,

Please contact your Regional Director. 

Should you have any standards questions or need technical assistance,

Please email ESLTitleIII@dpi.nc.gov

Professional Development Opportunities with NCCAT The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching  (www.nccat.org) (NCCAT) provides professional development to NC  educators in residential, online, virtual, school, and regional settings. Our professional learning is designed to help you gain knowledge and skills to support student learning. Make plans today to join us for timely, research-based professional development!   Click this link to apply now for NCCAT Programs.

FREE Online Professional Development for Teachers! Amplifying Statistics and Data Science in Classrooms   Our world is rich with data sources, and today’s media is flooded with graphs  and data that require data literate citizens. Technology makes data more accessible than ever before, and statistics and data science skills can help students be ready for data-intensive STEM careers.   Amplifying Statistics and Data Science in Classrooms is a new set of FREE online modules that help educators in grades 6-12: ● Develop strategies for using an investigation cycle to teach statistics and data science ● Ignite students' interest in real world data investigations with technology ● Emphasize inferential reasoning through posing different types of investigative questions ● Earn certificates for up to 40 hrs to apply to CEUs.   Activities and strategies can help you meet the NC statistics standards in grades 6-8, Math 1, 2, 3, AP Statistics, and the new Math 4 course!   Learn more and register at http://go.ncsu.edu/amplifystats Use this flyer to share the opportunity with colleagues. Once registered, you will always have access to learn at your own pace.   If you have questions or may be interested in having a team of teachers work together with the online modules, contact lead instructors from NC State: Dr. Hollylynne Lee: hollylynne@ncsu.edu Dr. Gemma Mojica: gmmojica@ncsu.edu

NC ELD Standards Resource Hub  

*NOW AVAILABLE*

Sample Language Features

This document is organized by grade level and content area along with a corresponding set of sample language features. Language Features are examples of various language resources that carry out particular Language Functions, such as different types of sentences, clauses, phrases, and words. 

WIDA Standards Correspondence Tool Overview

An overview of and introduction to the WIDA Standards Correspondence Tool.

Note: NC no longer utilizes Common Core. We invite you to explore the mapping documents which serve as our "correspondence tool."

Digital Explorer of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, 2020 Edition

A digital version of the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework, 2020 Edition. It categorizes Language Expectations (e.g., ELD-LA.K.Narrate.Interpretive) in two ways: (1) Explore by ELD Standard Statement and Grade-Level Cluster and (2) Explore by Key Language Use and Communication Mode. Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLDs) can be explored by Grade-Level Cluster and Communication Mode. This Digital Explorer will be announced to educators via Monday Mail on August 15 and will be available on the 2020 Edition page of the WIDA website.

To access the Resource Hub, please use the short URL bit.ly/ELDStandardsHub or the direct link https://ncdpi.instructure.com/courses/6424 

Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG) Legislation 

The State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC) in consultation with the State Board of Education (SBOE) is required, to develop a program that introduces the college developmental math, reading, and English curriculum prior to high school graduation. High school seniors that are not career and college ready by the end of their junior year, will have opportunities for college remediation prior to high school graduation through cooperation with community college partners.  S.L. 2018-5, Section 9.4

Important Links: 

Enroll in the CCRG Canvas Resources Course. Please follow these instructions to join.  

DPI Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

CCRG Exemption Criteria

NROC CCRG Support Center

CCRG Office Hours

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Angie Mullennix at DPI:  Angie.Mullennix@dpi.nc.gov

Nicole McCabe:  nmccabe@nroc.org

Jessica Huffman:  jhuffman@nroc.org

Brigette Myers:  bmyers7799@stanly.edu

September Accountability Information

North Carolina’s Unique Test Development Process and Assessment Literacy

Did you know?

· North Carolina is one of a handful of states that does not use a testing company to create its assessments. Creating our own assessments allows us to closely align to our North Carolina Standard Courses of Study for reading and mathematics and North Carolina Essential Standards for science. The NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) partners with NC State University’s Technical Outreach for Public Schools (TOPS) for all our state content assessments.

· North Carolina educators are at the heart of test development. Each item that appears on an assessment started with an NC educator and was later reviewed by two more NC educators.

· Before any item can appear on a test (such as an NC Check-In, an End-of-Grade, an End-of-Course, or an NCEXTEND1), it goes through a rigorous 19-step process. This process includes reviews by several NC educators, various grammar and production specialists, and content specialists from TOPS, NCDPI Academic Standards, and NCDPI Test Measurement Specialists.

· Before an item counts on a test, it is field tested to see how it performs for NC students. Items that are too easy or too hard or that perform differently for different groups of students do not make it into the operational item bank.

Want to find out more?

· North Carolina’s Test Development Process

· NCDPI Test Development

Ready to become a part of the process?

· Write for NC

K-12 Science Standards Revision Updates

Completed Actions:

✓ PSU Survey

✓ Completed all focus groups

✓ Completed all interviews

✓ Complete data analysis and prep Data Review Committee (DRC) (Office of Learning Recovery)

✓ Finalized Standard Writing Team (SWT) members

Next Steps:

● Conduct Data Review Committee (DRC) orientation

● DRC continues work on report and recommendations

● Plan SWT orientation

North Carolina Aquarium Scholars Grants Available – Apply Now!   Would you like to provide exciting STEM programs from the North Carolina Aquariums or Jennette’s Pier at little to no cost to your school?   Aquarium Scholars is a partnership between the NC Aquariums, NC public schools and the NC Aquarium Society, through which private donors help fund access to Aquarium education programs for Title I eligible schools across the state.   Teachers from Title I eligible schools can apply to receive a grant for a:   ·         Class visit/field trip of your choice of the three NC Aquariums or Jennette’s Pier            Aquarium outreach program brought to your school ·         Virtual outreach program (live online program with Aquarium staff and animals)   The Application Period runs only until Sept. 30, so don’t delay, APPLY TODAY!   For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.ncaquariums.com/aquarium-scholars

NC DPI Math Consultants

Denise Schulz

K-5 Mathematics Consultant

919-807-3758

Denise.Schulz@dpi.nc.gov

Tammy Lackey

K-8 Mathematics Consultant

919-807-3931

Tammy.Lackey@dpi.nc.gov

Lisa Ashe

6-12 Mathematics Consultant

919-807-3856

Lisa.Ashe@dpi.nc.gov

Joseph Reaper

6-12 Mathematics Consultant

919-807-3820

Joseph.Reaper@dpi.nc.gov

Dr. Charles Aiken

Math, Science, and STEM Section Chief

Charles.Aiken@dpi.nc.gov

984-236-2837

Marilyn Johns

Administrative Specialist

Marilyn.Johns@dpi.nc.gov

919-807-3266

Disclaimer Statement: Any links on this newsletter that bring you to third party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.

Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.