DUE SEPTEMBER 15: 2022 School Mental Health Policy Report
Dear Charter School Leaders,
All charter schools are required to report their progress on meeting the guidelines set forth by the NC State Board of Education's SHLT-003:School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) Policy. We have included the required reporting questions in the Healthy Active Children's (HAC) policy report, and you will be able to complete your report online. In the online reporting portal, you will indicate that you are a charter school, and you will be directed to the SBMH policy questions. To make it easier for you to assemble your report information prior to going online, a Word version of the online survey is linked. Please complete the online survey to submit your report.
The information needed to complete the SBMH progress report will come from your School Mental Health Improvement Plan, which is required to upload and must include the mental health training program and suicide risk referral protocol.
Please note the deadline to complete the HAC Progress Report / School Mental Health Policy Report is September 15, 2022.
You can access the reporting portal through the link below.
If you have questions or challenges in completing this online survey, please contact Les Spell at Les.Spell@dpi.nc.gov.
We appreciate the time and energy spent in completing this report and look forward to reading each submission. The Healthy Active Children Report / School Mental Health Policy Report is a valuable tool in efforts to provide quality school health systems that will raise academic achievement and promote physical and mental health among North Carolina’s schoolchildren.
Thanks for all you do.
Les
Les Spell
Data & Policy Consultant
Division of Academic Standards
NC Department of Public Instruction
(W) 984-236-2815
Les.Spell@dpi.nc.gov
Some important resources from our DPI partners working in School Mental Health and Counseling. 988 Is Now Live!
988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
- Thoughts of suicide
- Mental health or substance use crisis, or
- Any other kind of emotion distress
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
Printable PDF handouts in English and Spanish explain the basics about 988.
More about 988
School Mental Health Plan
Year Two PSU Q&A
Will we need to submit our SMH plan this year?
- Yes, you will be required to report to DPI by September 15th, 2022. The reporting portal is now open, and only one contact per PSU will have access to the reporting portal. You will answer the reporting questions as part of the Healthy Active Children's Report, the same as last year (charters bypass the HAC portions and only complete the SMH report). You will also upload a copy of your SMH plan.
- New charter schools opening this school year will need to report to DPI and submit their plan.
Has anything changed about what we are required to do?
- There are no major changes. You will notice on the reporting page that we have added questions about prior years' compliance. These are based on the 2021-2022 school year.
- Your plans do not have to change. You can upload the same plan as long as it is still what you plan to use. You also can make any adjustment and changes to your plan prior to submitting. You must include your detailed training plan and suicide risk protocol and ensure it is up-to-date.
- You will see the requirements for abuse and neglect resources that are now included in the School Mental Health Policy. These materials must be distributed at the beginning of each school year.
What does the 2-hour subsequent training have to include?
- The 2-hr refresher addresses at least 2 of 6 MH training program areas, and on even-numbered years, 2 hours of sex trafficking and child sex abuse content must be provided.
- The 6-hr initial training (for new employees) must address all 6 areas, regardless of year.
Where do I find all the SMH Policy materials?
Questions can be sent to pachovia.lovett@dpi.nc.gov
OCS Office Hours September 19th at 11 a.m.
You are invited and encouraged to join our OCS Office Hours on Monday, September 19th at 11 a.m. We will be joined by the Office of Digital Teaching and Learning to answer questions regarding the Digital Learning and Media Inventory (DLMI) required of all public school units September 30th. Additional info on that below.
When it is time, join our office hours through the following:
Join ZoomGov Meeting
https://dpi-nc.zoomgov.com/j/1617289963?pwd=aGFBdkc3SDNJRzZwU3RIbmZNU3RlQT09
Meeting ID: 161 728 9963
Passcode: 695282
One tap mobile
+16692545252,,1617289963# US (San Jose)
+16468287666,,1617289963# US (New York)
DLMI due September 30th. This is a hard deadline.
The Digital Learning and Media Inventory (DLMI) is required to be submitted yearly by all PSUs in North Carolina, including charter schools and lab schools. Normally the DLMI is due June 30 each year, but this year has been delayed until September 30, 2022 due to revisions last spring as we updated the DLMI to be associated with users' NCEdCloud accounts.
This report helps inform local and state leaders about the state of digital learning in North Carolina. Information from the DLMI is also used for the NC School Report Card, the US Dept of Education Office of Civil Rights Report, and the newly legislated Digital Learning Dashboard that is now required by NC Senate Bill 105.
Therefore, it is extremely important that the data provided by PSUs is submitted by the September 30 deadline and all data is as accurate as possible. The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning has prepared several resources to assist PSUs with completing the DLMI. The 2022 DLMI Training presentation can be found here. It provides various screenshots and additional information to support users in requesting accounts and in completing the DMLI as well as links to additional resources (also below) You can also access a video of a training webinar.
We recommend and encourage individuals completing the DLMI to review the user manuals and complete the associated worksheets prior to entering data in the system. Upon completing the worksheets, users can quickly transfer the data to the DMLI.
School Level DMLI User Manual
PSU Level DMLI User Manual
School Level DMLI Worksheet (will force copy into your Google Drive)
PSU Level DMLI Worksheet (will force copy into your Google Drive)
Questions for the DMLI can be posted here.
Should you have additional questions or need assistance, the DTL team is also hosting another round of office hours. ALL DLMI Office Hours can be joined with this LINK
CLARIFICATION ON SCHOOL RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS
Charter Schools are not required but encouraged.
See more details below and contact Karen Everett if you have questions.
According to legislation (NCGS 115C-218.75) (b) School Risk Management Plan. – Each charter school, in coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies, is encouraged to adopt a School Risk Management Plan (SRMP) relating to incidents of school violence. In constructing and maintaining these plans, charter schools may utilize the School Risk and Response Management System (SRRMS) established pursuant to G.S. 115C-105.49A. These plans are not considered a public record as the term "public record" is defined under G.S. 132-1 and are not subject to inspection and examination under G.S. 132-6. Charter schools are encouraged to provide schematic diagrams and keys to the main entrance of school facilities to local law enforcement agencies, in addition to implementing G.S. 115C-105.52.
Karen Everett
Assistant School Safety & Program Director
Office of the Center for Safer Schools
NC Department of Public Instruction
(W) 984.236.2243
Karen.Everett@dpi.nc.gov
We are excited to share that the 2022 AIM Conference registration is now OPEN!
What to Expect: Assemble your team and prepare for an exciting opportunity to learn about current policy and legislation and glean insights into best practices through a variety of concurrent sessions. All breakout sessions are aligned to Operation Polaris and details will be posted on the AIM Conference site by early September. Regional Lunch and Learn events will provide you and your teams a chance to dig into district and regional problems of practice. District team work time is also provided in the agenda. Participants will also enjoy time to network during special unstructured events throughout the conference.
Schedule: Check out our Schedule-At-A-Glance!
Pricing and Perks: Early-Bird pricing is $100 per participant until September 30, 2022. Registration includes continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and a heavy hors d’oeuvres reception on October 27 as well as a continental breakfast and boxed lunch on October 28. Internet will also be provided for multiple devices.
District Team Registration (Administrators and Non-Teaching Staff): Register now, Early Bird Registration ends September 30 when fees will increase from $100 to $150 per participant. PSUs may register at bit.ly/AIM22Registration.
Teacher Registration: We also encourage PSUs to bring teacher leaders to the main conference on October 27 & 28, 2022 as a part of their PSU team! All teacher registration fees have been provided by our sponsors, but space is limited! Teachers may register at bit.ly/AIM22TeacherRegistration.
FREE AIMazing Teacher Conference: Please encourage teachers to register for the FREE AIMazing Teacher Conference beginning the evening of October 28 with breakout sessions on October 29. All teacher registration fees have been provided by our sponsors, but space is limited! Teachers may register at bit.ly/AIM22TeacherRegistration.
We are recommending that charter schools bring teams of 3.
Important Communication- Diabetes Care Law and Epinephrine
Important Resources for Charter Schools: (Please Read)
Please click on each link.
Charter School Diabetes Memo
Charter School Epinephrine Memo
CRDC Contacts in EDDIE Due October 1
The Office of Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) will be conducted in the 2022-2023 school year. Data for the collection is from the previous year (School Year 2021-2022).
To date, the Federal government has not published an official start date. The NCDPI will notify PSUs once an announcement has been made.
NCDPI would like to make sure that we have the most accurate contact information for your PSU’s Civil Rights data coordinator. Please update EDDIE with two CRDC Coordinator contacts by October 1, 2022. PSUs are also strongly advised to verify or update the Student Information Coordinator contact as well.
Instructions for creating Staff Entries (Roles) in EDDIE are in the Help Using EDDIE section of the NCDPI website.
Note: PSUs which were not open in the school year 2021-2022 are not required to participate in this collection.
Please contact Terra Dominguez at terra.dominguez@dpi.nc.gov with any questions you may have.
School Business – September Updates
Bonuses and TSERS – PSUs which are part of TSERS
This is a reprint of information previously provided in a section from the October 1, 2021 School Business Newsletter.
In order for a payment to be reportable to TSERS, it must be considered by the employer to be compensation for retirement purposes. This generally means that the employer must consider it to be pay for the performance of work in the employee’s full-time position. It is up to the employer to determine if the bonus is considered to be compensation.
An employer might consider the following:
- Recruitment bonuses are not compensation and therefore not subject to TSERS because no work is performed.
- Retention bonuses may be subject to TSERS depending on the nature of the bonus.
- Employers may reasonably reach a different conclusion based on their own facts and circumstances. Regardless of the decision of the employer, consistency in application is strongly recommended.
- PSUs should consult with their legal counsel to make the determination related to whether the bonus is compensation as defined by General Statute and is therefore subject to TSERS.
Please also see the attached “Withholding Requirements Guidance on Supplemental Pay Revision”.
Reminders
Smart School Bus Safety Pilot Replacement PSUs is due September 7, 2022
Details are in the August 26, 2022 newsletter *
ESSER I and GEER Grants expire September 30, 2022
Details are in the August 19, 2022 newsletter *
* View prior newsletters online: Newsletters and Guidance | NC DPI
Have questions about student health requirements? Counseling? Healthy schools in general? The NC Healthy Schools staff can help …
Sarah Blanton, Healthy Schools Consultant
Kisha Bryant, School Counseling Consultant
Ellen Essick, Section Chief
Burt Jenkins, Healthful Living / Athletics Consultant
Pachovia Lovett, School Social Work Consultant
Lillian Pinto, Reproductive Health Consultant
Susanne Schmal, School Health Partnerships & Policy Consultant
Les Spell, Data and Policy Consultant
Discipline, Dropout, and ALPS data coordinator contact information
DISCIPLINE DATA
With the start of the 2022-2023 school year, NCDPI would like to make sure that we have the most accurate contact information for your PSU’s discipline data coordinator.
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PROGRAMS & SCHOOLS (ALPS)
With the start of the 2022-2023 school year, NCDPI would like to make sure that we have the most accurate contact information for your PSU’s ALPS data coordinator.
With the start of the 2022-2023 school year, NCDPI would like to make sure that we have the most accurate contact information for your PSU’s dropout data coordinator.
Register for Fall Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) PD!
To assist districts and schools in implementing the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS), the NCDPI ELA Team will provide regional train-the-trainer sessions for instructional leaders that include:
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Building a deeper understanding of the LIS and practices
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Utilizing the "Literacy Look-Fors" tool to observe and coach
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Planning next steps for improving literacy in their PSU
We are inviting up to 3-5 leaders per charter to attend. Suggested participants:
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K-12 representation; Vertical representation
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Content area representation
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Instructional leaders who will support/provide PD locally
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Literacy and/or Instructional Coaches
The charter session will take place October 5th from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
The NCDPI ELA Team encourages charter teams to work with their school leadership to ensure registration accurately reflects needed charter representation. While each team member should register separately, charter leaders should follow up with their team members to ensure individual registrations are completed.
Register for your session!
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To learn more about the support the ELA Team will provide for the 22-23 school year, view our public-facing timeline. If you have any questions, please let us know!
Thanks,
Stacy Daniel, Ed.D. Section Chief for ELA & Languages English Language Arts and Languages Office of Academic Standards NC Department of Public Instruction P: (984) 236-2829 stacy.daniel@dpi.nc.gov
Important MEMOs:
MEMO RE: School Risk Management Plan & SY 2021-22 School Safety Grant Program Updates
Please read.
Superintendent Letter September 2022.pdf
Please review the attached Exceptional Children communication updates and Guidance.
Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Update
New Director for the Office of Charter Schools Named
I am pleased to announce that Ms. Ashley Baquero has been named the new Director of the Office of Charter Schools starting September 6, 2022. Ms. Baquero is no stranger to the Office of Charter Schools as she has served within office for over 4 years, most recently serving as the interim director following Mr. Dave Machado’s transition from the department. In Ashley’s time as a consultant within the office, she has supported various charter school workflows including the liaison to the Charter School Advisory Board, Risk Assessment, ready to open processes, reviewing applications, and annual reporting to the State Board of Education and General Assembly.
Prior to her experience at DPI, she served as a middle school ELA teacher, team leader, and project manager for schools in North Carolina and Georgia, including time with Teach for America. Prior to her experience in the classroom, Ashley served as an attorney representing municipalities in land use and employment matters. Ashley’s background as an attorney provides a unique and valuable perspective for the Office of Charter Schools. Outside of education, Ashley is a proud mom to a 2nd grader attending a charter school. She enjoys running, travel, and fostering dogs.
We are excited about the various experiences and background Ashley brings to the Office of Charter Schools and look forward to her leadership.
Please join me in welcoming Ashley in her new role as Director of the Office of Charter Schools.
~ Andrew Smith, Ed.D., Assistant State Superintendent for Innovation
From the desk of Ashley Baquero, Director of OCS:
Charter leaders,
I’m extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead the Office of Charter Schools. Over the four-plus years at the office, I have seen the growth of the charter school community, its many strengths, and its challenges. We have all been impacted by the last few years of a global pandemic; our public education system was the bedrock ensuring that children and families could access everything from food, devices and internet, mental health services, and so much more, all while implementing large scale remote learning. As we make our way into this post-pandemic phase, recognizing there are currently and will continue to be pandemic-related challenges, I hope that OCS can serve as a partner and support so that you may focus on the most important people in the charter community – our students. I look forward to making my way across the state this school year to see the wonderful things happening on campuses from east to west, and to hear about your most pressing concerns and areas of needed support. Reach out at any time – OCS is here to support you!
To a wonderful school year, Ashley
Read more:
https://nc.chartercoalition.org/2022/09/02/ashley-baquero-named-as-director-of-the-office-of-charter-schools/
 NC ACCESS Sponsored Professional Development for all Charter Schools – Fall 2022
Theme: Using Technology to Increase Classroom Effectiveness
Visit ncaccessprogram.com/learn for more information and to register.
September 14, 2022 | 3:30-5:30pm
Dr. Vickel Darby, Instructional Technology Specialist
Register
Cruising LIVE with Canva - Discover how you can lead LIVE with simple Canva Tools to engage your students! Canva for Education connects to all your classroom tools. Canva for Education integrates with core classroom tools, including Schoology, D2L, Moodle, Blackboard, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams. Easily connect work back to your LMS. Create engaging assignments with Canva and share and review student assignments from your LMS. Create and personalize lesson plans, infographics, posters, video, and more.
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Increase engagement with original content: Choose from a library of copyright-free resources, from lesson plans to reports and posters. Spark engagement with gifs, videos, animations, and music.
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Help students build critical skills: Students can use Canva to demonstrate learning through different formats — group projects, videos, posters, and more.
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Deliver impactful feedback in one place: Reach and motivate students wherever they are with real-time feedback. Share work as assignments directly through Canva or via your LMS.
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October 19, 2022 | 3:30-5:30pm
Dr. Vickel Darby, Instructional Technology Specialist
Register
Flipping with Flip Grid - Are you ready to engage students to answer questions openly and confidently? Have no fear! Let's flip the classroom with Flip Grid! Welcome to Flip, a place to create, share, and learn together! We've got everything educators need to bring the magic of Flip to students and share it with peers!
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November 16, 2022 | 3:30-5:30pm
Dr. Vickel Darby, Instructional Technology Specialist
Register
Are you ready to try something different with your students? Let's unite and learn about Quizaliz.
The best quiz platform for remote or face-to-face classrooms. Engage your class with fun, standards-tagged quizzes. Get instant data on student mastery. Automatically assign differentiated follow-up activities. Delivers game-changing results.
- Save time by instantly identify student learning gaps
- Conduct targeted instruction for students with shared strengths and weaknesses
- Quickly obtain data on student performance
- Have data-based discussions with students on their progress and learning
- Improve student engagement
Other Resources from DPI
Charter School Job Postings
If you have current teaching/leadership positions open and wish to share them in this newsletter, reach out to Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov and provide a link to the posting/s.
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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