OCS Weekly Newsletter for October 25, 2022

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Office of Charter Schools

October 25, 2022

Some upcoming dates of note:

  • 10/26/22 - RTO Planning Year Session 2
  • 10/27/22 9am - A5-EL/ML Training
  • October 28th–29th AIM Conference! 
  • 11/1/22 - Immunization and Health Assessment Report Due
  • 11/7/22 - EL Headcount due
  • 11/10/22 - World Languages Charter School Focus Group

AUDIT INFORMATION – IMPORTANT

Our office is aware that many auditors are running behind on audits for various reasons. We have reached out to School Business to communicate concerns. School Business plans to prioritize the review of the audit reports for the  schools that are up for renewals. OCS has communicated the urgency for these schools to auditors that have contacted the office. While the renewal process will continue as communicated to those schools, School Business cannot give its opinion of the finances for renewal until it has been received. The financial renewal presentation is scheduled for January 9 or 10th.

As you know, audits are due October 31st, per the normal submission date. There is a 30 day grace period following 10/31. After December 1 School Business will ask any school which hasn’t submitted to get a letter from the auditor explaining the reason for the delay. The letter will need to be addressed to the State Board and DPI should be copied. And the letter should indicate the expected time to complete the audits. Depending on the reason, School Business will consider whether or not to put the school on a cautionary status which gives them an additional 30 days. If your school’s audit is not received by December 1st, School Business will reach out with more detailed information and instructions, but OCS wanted to give you an update so you know what to expect in the coming months.


A Message from Superintendent Truitt

 

Charter School Leaders,

I am excited to share the final North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate with you. The Portrait is our collective vision that captures our community’s aspirations to better define the skills students need for success after high school.

The Portrait of a Graduate process has been unfolding since March. Developed and informed by 1,150 North Carolinians across our state, we intentionally sought input from employers, business leaders, district leaders and educators, families, students, and key stakeholders across all eight of our educational regions.

The work to create a statewide Portrait of a Graduate is in response to the ever-evolving workforce, which has shifted the skills employers seek. Our statewide Portrait is an important way we better reflect the knowledge, mindsets, and skills that students should possess upon graduation so they may succeed in our rapidly changing and complex world.

How the Portrait can be used in your schoolYou can use the statewide Portrait to support conversations in your district around designing learning experiences that prepare students for an ever-changing world. It gives school leaders and teachers the ability to design instruction that promotes real-world competencies and job readiness. Some of you already have a local Portrait of a Graduate in place; please use this statewide Portrait to complement the work you are already doing as you continue to bring your Portrait to life for students.

How to learn morePlease read our FAQ and click here to visit our newly-created Portrait of a Graduate website.

Thank you for all you do every day for our students, our educators, and our communities.

POG

competencies

Signature

 

 

Catherine Truitt

Superintendent

NC Department of Public Instruction


CAO/Academic Leader Meeting at AIM - Additional Spaces Available!

 

You are invited to attend a CAO/Academic Leaders gathering on Wednesday, October 26th from 1-4:30 as a pre-meeting to the AIM Conference. 

 

Topics during this time include school performance grade redesign, CCRG, standards’ updates, new CCP policy, and more.

 

If you have not signed up, there is still time!  Due to the room size, we are also able to open up the registration to 2 leaders per PSU. 

  • Registration:  Each attendee from your PSU should complete this registration form.
  • If you are only attending the CAO/Academic Leader meeting, you do not need to register and pay for the AIM Conference. 
  • If you are attending the CAO/Academic Leader meeting and the AIM Conference, please complete the full conference registration. 
  • For those unable to attend, we will provide the slide deck after the October 26th meeting.

For questions, please contact Dr. Michael Maher (michael.maher@dpi.nc.gov), Sneha Shah Coltrane (sneha.shahcoltrane@dpi.nc.gov), or Kristi Day (kristi.day@dpi.nc.gov).


Immunization and Health Assessment Compliance Reporting

Final reminder 

School leaders, compliance reports are due no later than November 1, 2022 but may be completed at any time prior to that date. The charter school nurse Consultants sent an email to schools Monday morning reminding them if the report is not complete, the charter school will appear on this year’s Performance Framework A-17 as non-Complia. Don't wait until the last minute!

Each year, all schools are required to report the immunization status of their kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade students, according to G.S. 130A-155(c) and G.S. 130A-440. The purpose of these reports is to ensure that all children enrolled in North Carolina schools are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases and to determine the number of children who meet state immunization requirements. Additionally, all North Carolina public and public charter schools are required annually to report on the status of Health Assessments for those students who are enrolling for the first time in a North Carolina public or public charter school (G.S. 130A-441(c)).

Report submission can take place after the 30th calendar day from the school’s official first day. A combined compliance report is available this year, by school name, and must be completed on-line at this link: Annual Health Assessment and Immunization Report. You may use the link to access instructions as well as worksheets to gather your responses prior to entering the online report. Compliance reports are due no later than November 1, 2022 but may be completed at any time prior to that date.


Get Ready to Submit your English Learner Headcount Monday, November 7th!

Who: All PSUs with one or more students identified as Multilingual Learners must submit an EL Headcount.

 

When: All PSUs must submit by Monday, November 7th.

 

Where: EL Headcount is submitted to NCDPI through PowerSchool.

 

Why: Every year, we must prepare a headcount and report it to the NC State Board of Education and Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

 

How: Review the EL Headcount Slides. Please note: RCRs for EL headcount are due October 15th. 

 

As a reminder, the "Submit" button appears on the EL Counts Tab on November 1st. Be sure you are ready to submit, as you can only submit once. Submit any time between November 1st and  November 7th.


World Languages Charter School Focus Group

The NCDPI World Languages Team would like to formally invite your PSU to be part of the World Language Regional Focus Groups. These focus groups are part of the standards review phase and will be conducted virtually to maximize participation from across the state and minimize disruptions to individuals' schedules. These online events are scheduled to run for up to 3 hours for each region and will be recorded to facilitate data collection.
Two representatives from each district will be designated to attend, and participants will earn a Certificate of Attendance for 3 contact hours. The World Languages team will provide copies of the current standards to the focus group participants so that they can review details in advance of the sessions. They respond to a predetermined set of questions, which can be viewed on page 13 of the North Carolina SCOS Internal Procedures Manual.
Representatives need to be practicing World Language educators who have experience implementing the North Carolina World Language Essential Standards, as a classroom teacher, an instructional coach, a professional development coordinator or director, etc.
The focus group for Charters will be held Thursday, November 10; 5:30 - 8:30. Please complete the Qualtrics Form by October 20, 2022 to submit the names and emails of those chosen to represent your PSU.
Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Ann Marie Gunter at ann.gunter@dpi.nc.gov.

Now Open: All-Stakeholder Surveys and Data Review Committee Applications for K-12 Arts, Guidance, and World Language Standards

 

In August, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of Academic Standards’ team kicked off the review phase for K-12 Arts, K-12 Guidance, and K-12 World Language Standards.  This cohort of standards will follow the NC Standard Course of Study Manual in terms of process and timeline.

 

Surveys:

Per the Internal Procedures Manual, the review phase consists of data collection and analysis, as well as research.  The NCDPI team is seeking input on the current K-12 Arts, K-12 Guidance, and K-12 World Language standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies. 

These surveys are being shared to gather thoughtful input and comments from stakeholders familiar with the Arts, Guidance, and/or World Language Standard Course of Study in order to inform revision decisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions, or replacements to the current standards.

Any individual who wishes to provide input on the Standard Course of Study may complete this survey.  This survey is estimated to take about 10 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on how many grades or courses you choose to review.

We thank you for your time and input. Your feedback is extremely valuable to the standards review and revision process. 

To complete the All-Stakeholder survey for each of the areas above, visit the Office of Academic Standards’ webpage.

Data Review Committee Applications:

Applications for the K-12 Arts, K-12 Guidance, and K-12 World Language Standards Data Review Committees (DRC) are now open through Friday, November 18.  DRC members review the data collected and compiled from Standard-by-Standard surveys, regional focus groups, and interviews, as well as research, policies, and legislation.

 

Note: The DRC analyzes the feedback and makes recommendations that help drive both the review and revision phases, so individuals chosen for the DRC cannot serve on the Standards Writing Team (SWT) that is convened during the revision phase.

 

Applications can be submitted through November 18, 2022. The DRC will consist of a range of external stakeholders, including: K-12 educators, educational leaders, university professors, content professionals, experts from partner organizations, and community members. The DRC members will be chosen from across the state’s eight regions and represent varying perspectives and experiences regarding the current Standard Course of Study for these areas.

 

Applicants will be notified of their selection at the end of November - early December, and DRC work will begin in late January - early February of 2023.

*Please note these dates are tentative and subject to change.

 

To complete the DRC application for each of the areas above, visit the Office of Academic Standards’ webpage.

 


2022 NC Healthful Living Coordinators Meeting

Friday December 9th

Koury Convention Center

Greensboro NC

9 am - 4 pm

The NC Healthy Schools team is pleased to announce the 2022 Healthful Living Coordinators Meeting on Friday, December 9th at the Koury Center in Greensboro.

As we continue to adjust and move forward from the impact of COVID-19, we recognize an influx of new staff and shifts in responsibilities. The 2022 meeting will provide a “back to the basics” look at the role and responsibilities of a Healthful Living Coordinator. The day will include intentional networking and collaboration opportunities to explore the challenges and barriers faced across the state as well as hot topic issues in small group sessions. Topics may include: Healthful Living Standards, Graduation Requirements, the Healthy Active Children Policy, Strategies for Impact, Virtual Programs, School Health Advisory Councils, and other relevant issues. 

Those encouraged to attend include district and charter Healthful Living Coordinators, those who oversee Health and/or Physical Education teachers at any level, as well as roles that include oversight of the implementation of the Healthful Living standards and objectives.

To register:

https://ncdpi.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cUFiBOm2hv2ebk


Stakeholder survey for redesigning North Carolina School Performance Grades 

DPI leadership has developed a very important survey for all public school stakeholders to help guide the review and potential changes to the way public schools are assessed in the state of North Carolina.

The survey can be found here. We ask that you please complete the survey and share it with your various communities.  Additionally, to support the communication of our work, we have created a new webpage on the DPI website which can be found here.


UPDATED CLARIFICATION ON SCHOOL RISK MANAGEMENT PLANS

Please read:

Charter SRMP Information.pdf


School Business – October Updates

Financial Statement Audits – LEAs and Charters

The due date for the FY2022 Annual Financial Statement Audit is October 31st.  Please note that LEAs must submit to the Local Government Commission and charters must submit to DPI.  If your charter is up for renewal, please ensure that your audit is submitted by the deadline to allow DPI to present your school's information to CSAB.  See attached memo for more information.


From the Office of Federal Programs

Consolidated Application Deadline

We are fast approaching the final date for submission for the Consolidated application. The application was originally due on August 31, 2022. As of October 5, 2022, some PSUs still have a Consolidated Application with a status of Draft Started or Not Started. A final extension can be granted, if needed, until October 31, 2022. This timeline will enable staff to review and approve applications in advance of the required approval date. This is a hard deadline that is built into the State Board of Education Allotment Policy. In order to ensure that this deadline is met, all Consolidated Applications must be submitted on or before October 31, 2022. If an application is not submitted by this date, then it will be understood that the PSU has decided to waive all Consolidated funds.

If you have any questions or need assistance in completing the Consolidated Application, please contact your Consolidated Program Administrator or Melissa Eddy (melissa.eddy@dpi.nc.gov) if on the eastern side of the state and Alex Charles (alex.charles@dpi.nc.gov) if on the western side of the state.


From the Office of Exceptional Children

Maintenance of Effort

Maintenance of Effort Expenditures opened on October 1, 2022, for all PSUs with an approved 2023 IDEA grant and is due on October 31, 2022.  Training information is located in the NCDPI Resource tab of CCIP and on the OEC website.  See the MOE Expenditure Quick Reference document attached below for further information.   The EC Fiscal Consultants will be available via Webex on October 26th from 9:00 – 4:00 with a lunch break at 12:30. Please join our session: https://ncgov.webex.com/meet/adam.parent.  Finance personnel are welcome to attend.

Contact: Nicole R Sinclair, Section Chief, Special Programs and Data, OEC

 

Did you know? You can find all School Business newsletters on the website, organized by year. 


Child Count Transfer System -   

The FY 23 Child Count Transfer System is now open. We ask that you please submit your transfers promptly to avoid missing the deadline. Please be advised that the deadline for submitting transfers for students who enrolled from July through October is Nov 10, 2022.  

Keep in mind that only students transferred within the first 60 days from the start of the school year can be transferred.

For New Charter Schools opening in 22-23, please have your transfers for students enrolled from July through September submitted no later than October 21st. Students enrolled in October need to be submitted by November 10th.  We need this information earlier to calculate Federal Planning allotments for the Budget and Application process for New Charter Schools.

 

To access the Child Count Transfer System, please use the link below:

 

https://schools.nc.gov/ords/f?p=130:101

 

Remember Access to the System for input has been granted to Data Managers that were reported to the Exception Children Division. 

If you have any questions about the HC transfer system, please contact melissa.dearman@dpi.nc.gov or 984-236-2444.


K-12 Guidance Standards Review

For individuals to complete by November 17th by 5:00 p.m.

In August, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of Academic Standards’ team kicked off the review phase for K-12 Guidance Standards.  This cohort of standards will follow the NC Standard Course of Study Manual in terms of process and timeline.

Per the Internal Procedures Manual, the review phase consists of data collection and analysis, as well as research.  The NCDPI team is seeking input on the current  K-12 Guidance standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies. 

This survey is being shared to gather thoughtful input and comments from stakeholders familiar with the Guidance Standard Course of Study to inform revision decisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions, or replacements to the current standards.

Any individual who wishes to provide input on the Standard Course of Study may complete this survey. This survey is estimated to take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Click here to begin the survey.


2021-2022 Academic Data is now available through this link


Medicaid in Education office hours and resources

Please see all options listed below to receive support for your PSU’s Medicaid program.

If you are just beginning or considering participation in a Medicaid program, we suggest you start with the NC DPI OEC Medicaid in Education On-demand Course.

Intention- Share ideas, procedures & policies, answer questions, clarify issues, network, brainstorm together

(Details for many virtual meetings/office hours, including Medicaid Office Hours, can be found here)

  • NC DPI OEC Medicaid in Education On-demand Course
    • These on-demand modules provide background on why public schools recover costs for health services from Medicaid, the three programs available for Public School Unit (PSU) participation, how each program works, helpful practices and considerations for all who participate (and much more…).
    • This course includes 4 modules; and will provide .3 CEUs (3 hours). Module 1 provides the context for Medicaid cost recovery. Modules 2-4, intended for school administrators, personnel and contractors cover Medicaid programs, documentation, and additional relevant information. We hope you find this course helpful.
    • If you have trouble with accessing the NCEES Medicaid in Education course Complete this form- Canvas/NCEES Access Request to troubleshoot you issue with accessing NCEES system for the Medicaid in Education on-line modules.

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


Important MEMOs:


Exceptional Children Logo

Please review the attached Exceptional Children communication updates and Guidance. 


OCS

Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates

School Business Services presentation at OCS Office Hours: AUDITS+

There was a lot of very important information shared with Charter School leaders on Monday October 17th, including the annual school audits which have an automatic grace extension to November 30th.

 

Please download the Presentation Slides and share with your team as appropriate.


Opportunity for Title I High Schools from Ed Equity Lab linked

Exciting Opportunity for Charter Schools

A message from Keegan Storrs, 2022 NC Charter School Teacher of the Year.

Big things are happening at NCstoriED!  NCstorED is a group of social media accounts (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) created by the 2022 Burrough’s Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teachers of the Year.  Its purpose is to share stories and solutions BY NC educators FOR NC educators.  This year, the 11 NC Teachers of the Year will be traveling all around the state, collaborating with schools in all 115 NC school districts to help schools spotlight promising practices in NC education.This is a fantastic opportunity for charter schools to get some positive PR about all the wonderful things they’re doing each day to support education in our great state.  If you’re interested in collaborating on this project and having the spotlight put on your school, please reach out to the 2022 Charter School TOY, Keegan Storrs (storrswk@roxborocs.org).  He’d love to try to plan a trip to your campus!Don’t forget to follow our social media accounts!

 

ACCESS

NC ACCESS Sponsored Professional Development for all Charter Schools – Fall 2022

 

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

Name

Email

Phone

Workflow

Ashley Baquero

Ashley.Baquero@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2708

Director; 

SBE/CSAB/Amendments/Risk Assess.

 

Anita Holbrook

anita.holbrook@dpi.nc.gov

984-236-2753

Executive Assistant/Communications

Joseph Letterio M.

Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2703

Performance Framework/ Epicenter/ Comms&Data

Lakisha Robbins

Lakisha.robbins@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2704

NC ACCESS Finance

Davida Robinson

Davida.robinson@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2878

NC ACCESS Program Manager

Barbara O’Neal

Barbara.ONeal@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2706

NC ACCESS Program Coordinator

Jay Whalen

Jay.Whalen@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2711

NC ACCESS Program Administrator

Jenna Cook

Jenna.Cook@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2707

Renewals & RTO

Darian Jones

darian.jones@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2705

Prof. Dev./Stakeholder Support

Melanie Rackley

Melanie.Rackley@dpi.nc.gov

984.236.2712

Applications