Number 10

Perspective Piece from Iredell-Statesville Schools Principal: A Letter on LETRS from a Principal who Leads with Positivity

"Dear North Carolina educators,

When our district received word that LETRS would be mandated for all classroom teachers in pre-K through fifth grade, I anticipated a mix of emotions amidst the layers of COVID protocols that already complicated our mission as educators. As the climate in the world grew more volatile, the loudest voices were those being heard by most educators. Unfortunately, the message wasn’t positive, and, once again, public education faced another uphill battle.

But there is something to be said about longevity within the scope of a career. My journey in education began in 1989, and I’ve seen my share of mandates and programs over the years. Despite the noise of negative rhetoric, I still have a positive outlook. Fortunately, I am not the only one."

Read the full perspective piece from Frank Saraco, principal of Celeste Henkel Elementary in Iredell-Statesville Schools, here.

Number 9

2023 Green Ribbon Schools Applications Now Open

The U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal outreach initiative structured as a recognition award that helps to promote effective school sustainability and collaboration. By highlighting schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions’ cost-saving, health-promoting, and performance-enhancing sustainability practices, the program seeks to encourage other institutions to adopt these practices as well.

Learn more about the application process and deadlines here.

Number 8

September 2022 Edition of the North Carolina Social and Emotional Learning Newsletter

On behalf of the NC Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Team, NCDPI is excited to share the September 2022 edition of the North Carolina Social and Emotional Learning Newsletter!

This edition includes:

• Key NC Social and Emotional Learning Resources
• Suicide Prevention
• NC Social and Emotional Learning Implementation Update
• Additional Resources

Check out the newsletter here.

Number 7

Survey Seeks Input on Model for Measuring School Quality

"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is beginning a process to overhaul school performance grades and is seeking public input through a new survey. The state’s A-F performance grades were developed so communities could better understand the quality of North Carolina’s public schools, but a growing consensus has led many to believe that the current model does not accurately reflect all aspects of school quality because it puts too much weight on student achievement as determined by high-stakes testing.

Launching today is a survey designed in partnership with Education NC (EdNC), an independent news and data source, to gather feedback from critical stakeholders including parents, educators, students, and community members about the state’s current school grading approach and how school quality might be better measured. This survey is the first step of a three-phase approach, which includes research, design and implementation. The public is encouraged to complete the survey."

Read the full press release here. Take the survey here. The survey will be open until 5 p.m. on October 10.

Number 6

More than $300 Million Awarded in Needs-Based School Construction Grants

"Nine North Carolina school districts stretching from Hyde County in the east to Cherokee County in the west will share more than $300 million in new state lottery-funded grant awards for school construction, renovation projects, and other capital improvements.

Among the projects to be funded by the grants, aimed at districts in economically distressed counties, are seven new or replacement school buildings, including three high schools, two schools combining middle and high school grades, an intermediate school for upper elementary and middle school grades and a Career and Technical Education Center. Some of these districts receiving the grants were hardest hit by natural disasters like flooding and an earthquake.

Several of the new schools will replace at least two existing schools with combined facilities.

In all, the Department of Public Instruction received 164 grant applications from 72 districts across the state totaling more than $2.4 billon."

Read the full press release here.

Number 5

Video: The Power of Rethink Education Professional Development

Watch this video to learn more about the Rethink Education Program, an initiative of the Office of Virtual Instruction Services at NCDPI. Rethink Education offers a rigorous professional development cohort model to train educators across the state in blended instructional models.

We are also excited to share that some of our Rethink Education team will be presenting at the Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC) in Austin, TX in February about the Rethink Ed program as it pertains to large scale implementation of blended learning models. This is a huge event and will provide North Carolina a national platform in which to share Rethink's successes and blueprint for implementation!

Watch the video here.

Number 4

Five NC Schools Earn National Blue Ribbon Recognition

"Five North Carolina public schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022 today by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. The five schools are among 297 schools nationwide recognized this year for their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

North Carolina public schools receiving this honor are:

• Weatherstone Elementary School, Wake County Schools
• Seventy-First Classical Middle School, Cumberland County Schools
• W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gaston County Schools
• East Robeson Primary School, Public Schools of Robeson County
• Southeastern Academy Charter School, Lumberton

'I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams,' Cardona said."

Read the full press release here. Congratulations to the five schools who earned National Blue Ribbon Recognition! 

Number 3

Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge

It is that time of year again when we prepare to spread some holiday cheer and support the Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge! In collaboration with the New Hampshire Department of Education and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is encouraging schools across the state to participate in this worthy endeavor to create holiday cards that will be sent to soldiers overseas.

Learn more about the challenge by watching this video. Learn more about how to send holiday cards and where to direct any questions here.

Number 2

EduRecoveryHub: North Carolina Launches Office of Learning Recovery + Acceleration

EduRecoveryHub's mission is to lift up and focus attention on practices that have the potential to help schools recover stronger and all students benefit. 

EduRecoveryHub recently published a write up shining a spotlight on DPI's Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) and the work happening in our state to help our schools navigate the challenges of the pandemic. 

Read the piece here.

Number 1

Office of Early Learning Director Amy Rhyne Reflects on 1-Year Anniversary of LETRS Statewide Implementation

In her message to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the statewide implementation of LETRS professional learning for educators, NCDPI’s Office of Early Learning Director Amy Rhyne praises teachers across the state for stepping up and leaning into the work to increase their professional knowledge, shift instructional practices and improve literacy outcomes for students.

Watch the video here.