Number 10

Important Survey on School Performance Grades: Closes October 10

NC DPI is engaged in creating new School Performance Grades (SPG) for North Carolina schools. Stakeholder meetings have provided feedback around new indicators/measures for SPGs and a survey has been developed for additional stakeholder feedback across the state.

Please consider completing the survey and feel free to share it with various communities. This survey will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, October 10. All results will be used anonymously in aggregate.

The survey can be found here. To support the communication of this work, a new webpage with additional information has been created on the DPI website which can be found here.

Number 9

ARP ESSER III - Continued Conversations Around Triage, Transition, & Transformation

Continue the conversation on ARP ESSER III strategic planning and spending. Participants will learn how to utilize evidence-based tools to evaluate the viability of programs within their districts in order to make informed decisions on whether to expand or remove initiatives.

When: Thursday, October 13th, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
What: Completion will include .25 CEUs
Who: Local teams who have influence over the design, implementation, and evaluation of ESSER-funded interventions.

Register here.

Number 8

Podcast - Education Empowered: Exploring Blended Learning with the Experts

"Rethink Education is a program supported by the Office of Virtual Instruction Services at the Department of Public Instruction. Rethink Education professional development provides educators with the tools and strategies they need to implement blended learning models in their classrooms.

Education Empowered is a podcast developed as part of Rethink Education. The podcast is designed to highlight North Carolina teacher voices and bring in experts in blended learning like Dr. Catlin Tucker and Jake Miller to address the needs of students and educators. Kristine Barberio and Betsy Hicks, regional ambassadors of this work, host the show, providing insight into how this program is transforming teaching and empowering students."

Read more and learn where the podcast is available here.

Number 7

Celebrate National School Lunch Week

The second full week in October is celebrated as National School Lunch Week (NSLW). This year NSLW will be celebrated October 10-14. The 2022 theme is “Peace, Love and School Lunch”. A free promotional toolkit is available from the National School Nutrition Association with artwork, social media graphics, activity sheets and more. Students who eat school meals have better attendance, more focus in class and improved academic performance.

Please help us lift up our North Carolina School Nutrition Programs! Share what you love about school lunch and our #NCSchoolNutritionHeroes on social media for #NSLW and tag @NCSchoolMeals!

Number 6

State Board Adopts Policy to Strengthen NC’s Career and College Promise Program

"The State Board of Education approved a new policy today aimed at boosting opportunities for high school students to enroll and succeed in community college courses under the state’s decade-old Career and College Promise program.

That program has allowed high school students who meet certain academic criteria to also take courses at their local community college to earn transferrable college credit or to take courses leading to a career-focused certificate or diploma. A study from the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro issued this summer highlighted the need to build awareness around CCP, as it found uneven participation in the program, particularly among minority groups."

Read the full press release here.

Number 5

Career Accelerator Strategic Planning Webinars

The Office of Learning Recovery & Acceleration is holding two webinars (same content, different times) to discuss strategic design options for PRCs 177 & 188. Learn how your PSU could leverage ESSER funds to design a workforce-aligned summer career sprint in early childhood education, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and the transportation sector.

Date: Wednesday, October 12th
Times: 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. OR 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

WebEx links to register can be found here.

Number 4

2022 AIM Conference Early Bird Registration Extended

We are three weeks away from our second annual AIM Conference on October 26-28 at the Raleigh Convention Center! Early Bird Pricing has been extended through October 10, 2022.

Click here to learn more about the AIM Conference and how to register.

Number 3

More than 200 NC Schools Selected for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

"A record-setting 232 elementary schools across North Carolina have been selected and approved by the State Board of Education to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the 2022-23 school year. This is North Carolina’s largest number of schools ever to participate in a given school year. Every school that applied was selected and approved to participate.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to children during the school day at eligible elementary schools. The goal of the FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, to include new and different varieties, and to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among children."

Read the full press release here.

Number 2

STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities

"The 10th annual STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities, a free event for learners in grades 6–12, is an opportunity to connect with role models with disabilities who have thriving careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). Learn from the keynote speaker and panelists about their personal journeys and their strategies for success. Attendees will gain practical knowledge that they can apply to their interests and future career paths. 

The showcase will be October 27 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Learn more here and register for the showcase here.

Number 1

Bullying Prevention Month

October is Bullying Prevention Month! Find resources linked here from the Center for Safer Schools. Bullying Prevention plays an important role in prevention and mitigation related to school safety. 

Please note two important dates within Bullying Prevention Month:

Wednesday, October 12: National Stop Bullying Day
Wednesday, October 19: Wear and Share Orange Day

Find more information within the resources linked here.