Number 10

Portrait of a Graduate Rubric Design Team Application Deadline Extended Through February 15

NCDPI is inviting teachers and instructional leaders to join the agency in creating rubrics for the NC Portrait of a Graduate. This is the second of three phases to support educators, administrators, and students as they build these durable skills that prepare them for an ever-changing world.

As an update, the Rubric Writing Team Kickoff will be held virtually on March 7, 2023, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and the deadline to apply has been extended through February 15. 

Learn more about the rubric design process and apply here.

Number 9

Center for Safer Schools Announces Rave Panic Button

When an emergency happens at a school, minutes can make a world of difference. To reduce the time it takes for an emergency response, the Center for Safer Schools announces the launch of the Rave Panic Button, which the N.C. Department of Public Safety has made available to all public K-12 school districts and K-12 charter schools across the state.

The Panic Button – an app created by Framingham, Mass.-based Rave Mobile Safety – alerts authorities to an active shooter, medical emergency, fire or other crisis. The app simultaneously sends out a notification to other teachers and staff on campus.

Learn more here.

Number 8

Outcomes-Based Contracting Webinar Hosted by the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration

Join the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22nd for a webinar focused on Outcomes-Based Contracting (OBC), used to help reshape the relationship between school districts and vendors. The webinar will be joined by Dr. Brittany Miller, with the Southern Education Foundation, who will guide participants through the vision, benefits, and implementation of OBC to increase positive student outcomes and better utilize districts' dollars!

Join the webinar here.

Number 7

Alternative Learning Programs and Supports (ALPS) Updates and Supports

As a part of the plan to support alternative learning programs and schools, please share this memo with Alternative Education district and school-level administrators within your PSU.

Please remember to

• Add/update the ALPS Contact in EDDIE as soon as possible. The ALPS Contact will get access to the ALPS Support Plan with monthly virtual events, including:
• Administrator Community of Practice
• Staff Community of Practice
• Professional Development Sessions

Initial Office Hours were provided in January. Access the content by going to the Alternative Learning Programs Webpage and clicking on the “Alternative Learning Programs and Schools Support” Section.

Number 6

Quarterly PIO Call Follow-Up

LEA and Charter Communication Leaders, if you were unable to attend the Quarterly PIO Call on February 8 and did not receive the follow-up email, please reach out to communciations@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 5

School Bus Driver Appreciation Week February 13-17

February is Love the Bus Month, and next week is School Bus Driver Appreciation Week!

School bus drivers provide students with safe transportation to and from school. The drivers who carry out this essential support for our students and parents are difference-makers in the lives of so many. 

Help celebrate Love the Bus Month and Bus Driver Appreciation Week with these American School Bus Council resources. 

Number 4

Kindergarten Readiness Resources for Families

A number of schools and districts across the state are gearing up for kindergarten registration, and some have already started!

NCDPI's Office of Early Learning has created a resource guide for families of 4-and 5-year olds to help make transition to kindergarten successful. Districts are invited to share these documents as they plan registration, orientation, and end-of-Pre-K events.

Find the resources here.

Number 3

NC TOWER Office Hours

NC TOWER is an online tool using information from the Common Follow-up System that goes live this month! This tool provides aggregated information on students who attended public high school, universities and community colleges in North Carolina.

The data includes:

• programs, school district, gender and race, school year
• advanced higher education enrollment
• employment and wage outcome information

NCDPI is offering office hours with key staff with the Labor and Economic Analysis Division of the NC Department of Commerce this month. Register below.

Wednesday, February 15, 10-11 a.m.
Thursday, February 16, 2-3 p.m.

Number 2

Introducing Launch: Equitable and Accelerated Pathways for All

NCDPI is excited to announce our selection as one of 11 states participating in Launch: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All. Launch is a national college and career pathways initiative that strives for every learner to have access to and succeed in high-quality and equitable pathways.

Learn more about Launch and North Carolina's involvement here.

Number 1

North Carolina Teachers Continue to Lead the Nation in National Board Certification

"North Carolina continues to lead the nation in numbers of teachers who have earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, with 486 additional teachers earning the endorsement during the 2021-22 school year."

Read the full press release here. We are so grateful to have so many board-certified educators in the state of North Carolina!