REMINDER: School Performance Grade Redesign: Interest & Involvement Form
Dear Charter School Leaders,
As a reminder, the School Performance Grade Redesign Phase II Interest & Involvement Form closes this Wednesday, April 19. Please see the below message sent April 5 for more details.
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Thank you for your continued interest and involvement in School Performance Grade Redesign. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction engaged with multiple statewide stakeholders, including superintendents and charter leaders, during Phase I of the process, to research and refine a long list of academic and non-academic indicators that could anchor a refreshed approach to North Carolina school performance grades.
Now as we embark on Phase II of the North Carolina School Performance Grade Redesign process, we are seeking your participation. Starting now and lasting through March 2024, we are studying the narrowed list of indicators and would like your help with the process to ensure we have feedback to build a model that is valid and reliable. Please consider either participating yourself or assigning a designee(s) to help lead from the field, during this phase.
To get involved, please complete the School Performance Grade Redesign Phase II Interest & Involvement Form, by April 19, 2023. You or your designee will be able to select the academic and non-academic indicators that your LEA or Charter school is most interested in contributing to.
If you have any questions about participating in the indicator work groups, please contact Dr. Michael Maher, Michael.Maher@dpi.nc.us, or Dr. Andrew Smith, Andrew.Smith@dpi.nc.gov. Should you have questions or need assistance completing the form, please contact Hayden Kelley, Hayden.Kelley@dpi.nc.gov.
Should you decide to participate, please mark your calendar for a kickoff meeting scheduled for May 1, 2023, 11 a.m.to noon. We will provide an overview of the work, discuss committee logistics and scheduling, and collaborate with leaders throughout the state who share a commitment to developing an even better accountability model for our schools. A meeting invitation and virtual link will be forthcoming.
Thanks so much for your consideration and continued support of the North Carolina School Performance Grade Redesign process.
Annual Charter School Health Services Report and Section Two-Worksheet
The Annual Charter School Health Report will open May 1, 2023, and must be completed no later than June 20, 2023.
A preparation worksheet is provided with the reporting criteria. All schools are encouraged to download the worksheet and mark the appropriate responses before beginning the online report survey. You may click here to access the worksheet. Once you have prepared your responses, save the document to your local computer. This worksheet cannot be accepted as your report requirements. You will use it as a tool to enter your information into the online survey system once the report opens.
North Carolina’s charter schools are required to comply with the Care of Students with Diabetes and with the School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors laws. Annually, charter schools report on compliance with each law, providing information that identifies staff educational and support needs related to compliance and student safety.
The Charter School Health Report is designed to assist schools in addressing the healthcare needs of students. Responses will be used to inform future training topics and to report on compliance with required legislation and policies such as Care of Students with Diabetes (§ 115C-375.3.) and School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (§ 115C-375.2A ). The survey will open May 1, 2023, and should be completed no later than June 20, 2023.
Please contact annette.richardson@dhhs.nc.gov or amy.t.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov with questions or concerns.
CTE Information for Charter Schools
Charter school staff who are responsible for overseeing the administration and reporting of CTE state assessments must attend a state test training session conducted by the Office of Career and Technical Education annually. CTE state assessment training is separate and in addition to the online test training required by the Office of Accountability. CTE state assessment training will cover administration and reporting processes specific to CTE course enrollments. New charter school staff or those who are administering CTE state assessments this spring for the first time during the 2022-2023 school year should plan to attend one of the test training sessions listed below.
Charter school test training options (choose one):
Questions about the administration and reporting of CTE proofs of learning may be directed to Misty Wolfe (misty.wolfe@dpi.nc.gov).
Important MEMOs:
Summer opportunity for Charter Students
NCVPS has fantastic news about their summer program! The State Board of Education approved $1,350,000 in ESSER III funding for the NCVPS summer school program, making their online courses even more accessible to students across North Carolina. This funding will be shared with each district and charter school based on their ADM.
NCVPS summer school kicks off on June 27, with the deadline to utilize special summer funding set for June 16. After this date, any remaining funds will be redistributed to other districts and charter schools in need. This remarkable opportunity offers students who might not typically have access to summer classes a chance to excel.
NCDPI Spring Webinar for High School Leaders on the new National Student Clearinghouse data
Dear Secondary/High School Charter Leader,
NCDPI will be hosting a series of webinars in the spring for all our high school leaders (i.e. principals, assistant principals, counselors, dean of students) focused on understanding how to use a data set that is brand-new to North Carolina from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).
We are providing three options for a webinar in the late spring to give an overview of a new (and exciting) data set for our state. Our goal is that representatives from every high school in our state participate in these webinars.
Come to this session to explore your high school's NSC StudentTracker Report and see how the data can be used to facilitate best practices and spur innovation.
The same webinar will be repeated three times to accommodate your schedules: Register Here
- Tues April 25 at 9am
- Wed April 26 at 11am
- Thurs April 27 at 3pm
NC has a new partnership with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) StudentTracker® for High Schools, funded through a new recurring budget item. This partnership provides reliable information on your high school graduates’ college transition rates that also allows you to compare your rates to those of similar schools across the country, including those serving low income and minority students and compare your high schools to national averages. For more information about NSC in NC please see our January 2023 presentation to the State Board of Education.
This data can help high schools and school districts more accurately gauge the college success of their graduates by answering such key questions such as:
- How many of our high school graduates enroll in college?
- Do they persist and graduate from college?
- How long does it take for them to get their degrees?
- Do they go in or out of state for college?
- Do they attend a two- or four-year school?
- Which colleges do they most commonly attend?
As a result of this partnership, each year, every North Carolina traditional and charter high school will receive a comprehensive StudentTracker report. This report will provide more than 30 color graphs and charts outlining the postsecondary enrollment and achievements of high school graduates.
Accessing your high school-level reports from NSC:
The StudentTracker report for each of your high schools was placed on the Accountability secure shell on October 11, 2022; The reports are located in the following folder - 2023 / Pickup folder. It is a zip file. Just right click to open the file. Your Accountability Director should have access to the files.
School Business
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The FBS website continues to be updated with information related to School Business and our ongoing operations. Please check the FBS homepage regularly for updates.
House Budget (HB259)
We will provide separate correspondence and an update related to the House Budget (HB259) next week after all amendments and final approval by the House has been completed. We have attached our DRAFT summary to help get everyone started. The current documents can be found on the NC General Assembly website: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)
From the Office of Exceptional Children
IDEA American Rescue Plan (ARP) for PRC 185, PRC 186, and PRC 187
ARP funds allocated through PRC 185, PRC 186, and PRC 187 have a period of availability from 7/01/2021-9/30/2023. All ARP funds must be encumbered by 9/30/2023 and liquidated by 12/31/2023. There is currently $50.405,046.90 in PRC 185, $3,328,605.34 in PRC 186, and $952,294.88 in PRC 187. These funds, if not liquidated, will be reverted to the federal government.
The Office of Exceptional Children is currently reviewing each PSU's current carryover to determine next steps which may include a reversion of funds and re-allocating to districts who have utilized their funds.
Please work with your EC Director/Coordinator to create a plan for spending these funds. If you need assistance, please have your EC Director/Coordinator reach out to your fiscal consultant and/or your regional consultant.
Applicant Tracking and Onboarding Systems Implementation Opportunities for Charter Schools
DPI is happy to announce we are ready to begin implementations once again for Applicant Tracking and Onboarding systems for PSUs through our Office of Systems Modernization. If you took advantage of this opportunity last year and implemented Applicant Tracking, you may want to implement Onboarding this year. The Onboarding system integrates with Applicant Tracking and allows you to send your newly hired candidate their onboarding or new hire ‘paperwork’ electronically using the Onboarding system. This frees up time in your office of someone having to sit with each new hire and have them complete forms in the office and then hand deliver them to the appropriate department or staff person. The Onboarding system not only allows you to create your forms in an electronic format, but also allows for the creation of workflows so that as forms are returned they are distributed through the designated workflow and delivered to the assigned staff.
If you haven’t taken advantage of Applicant Tracking yet, you may want to do so now before you are in the thick of hiring season for the 2023-2024 school year. This system comes to you setup with the basics of what you need, but allows you to setup your Candidate Portal individually for you school and allows for each PSU to review the items that have been setup in the base system and make changes to them to suit your needs. This system is integrated with the TeachNC SchoolSpring statewide job board for more visibility for your job postings to bring you more applicants. The training is a one-day virtual training session, materials and your session will be recorded so you can continue to use the recording as you work through your review and setup on your own.
Onboarding training is the same with a one-day virtual training, materials and recorded session and then you continue to work on your own.
Both of these systems are offered to you at no cost to your school.
If you are interested in implementing either of these systems, please email Wendy Hinson at wendy.hinson@dpi.nc.gov with the following information:
· Name of your school
· Assigned LEA #
· Which system you wish to implement (you can choose both) – Applicant Tracking or Onboarding
· Name of Primary Contact
· Email of Primary Contact
We are hoping to start our first training sessions in late March/early April so please get your information turned in as soon as possible. If your school has already contacted Wendy, there is no need to email again unless you have additional questions. Thank you!
Google Admin Bootcamps
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Digital Teaching and Learning is excited to offer Google Admin Bootcamps across the state this spring! Through the Digital Learning Initiative, we are partnering with Amplified IT to offer Amplified Level 1 Certification to our public school units with Google Workspace. Please refer to the Amplified Level 1 Certification information for the training description, appropriate audience, prerequisites, and outcomes. Upon the completion of the bootcamp, participants will take the Google EDU Workspace Admin Level I Exam.
Registration, Attendance, and Costs:
- PSUs may register one (1) participant through April 1, 2023 at bit.ly/GABRegistration.
- After April 1, 2023, PSUs may register for any open slots.
- The cost of the bootcamp and exam are provided by the Digital Learning Initiative.
- Space is limited to 45 slots per date and location.
- If someone registers, but does not cancel at least 2 days prior to the session, they will be responsible for a $120 “No Show” fee.
- To cancel your registration, please visit bit.ly/GABCancelation.
Dates and Locations:
April 24
Beaufort County Schools EdTech Center
820 Bridge St
Washington, NC 27889
April 26
Rowan-Salisbury Schools Wallace Ed Forum
500 N Main St
Salisbury, NC 28144
April 27
Burke County Schools
509 W Concord St
Morganton, NC 28655
Other Information:
- The event will begin at 9:00 AM. It will not be catered, but we will have a working lunch. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks, beverages, and lunch so that time can be optimized for the bootcamp and certification exam. We hope to finish up the exam by 4:00 PM.
If you have any questions, please contact Jill.Darrough@dpi.nc.gov.
If you need to cancel your registration, please visit https://bit.ly/GABCancelation.
Summer Bridge Camps and Read To Achieve Summer 2023
RtA Reading Camp funds will be provided in PRC 016. These funds should be available Spring 2023. PRC 016 funds are to be used for RtA Reading Camp only, per Legislation. If you have any RtA reading camp questions, feel free to reach out to Tonia.Parrish@dpi.nc.gov.
ML/Title III Program Quality (PQ) Updates
Stay informed and on top of the latest Multilingual Learner (ML)/Title III Program Quality updates with our new monthly update document! This valuable resource is tailored specifically for charter leaders and will include the latest updates and best practices to help you stay ahead of the curve.
Bookmark and explore now to stay informed and make the most of your school's program to support multilingual learners.
ML/Title III Monthly Program Quality Updates for Charter Schools
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One-Day Summer Camp for Charter Schools Serving Multilingual Learners
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NCSTAR Spring 2023 Professional Development
The Office of District & Regional Support within the Division of District & School Support Services is excited to announce the Spring 2023 NCStar & School Improvement Planning Professional Development!
This two-day training will be offered in six different locations across the state during the months of March through May. These sessions will cover the same material and resources shared during the Fall 2022 sessions.
Day 1: Participants will learn about school improvement using NCStar and how to navigate the platform to assess, create and monitor school-based practices. Participants will also learn about the components of Set Direction in NCStar, including the use of Performance Measures to monitor the progress of school improvement goals.
Day 2: Participants will continue to learn about school improvement using NCStar with a focus on the Continuous Improvement Cycle (Assess, Create, Monitor) to create robust school improvement plans. Participants will also learn about best practices for school improvement teams, including how to run an effective SIT meeting, effective forms of distributive leadership and the critical role that SIT leaders and committees play in moving the school achievement needle forward, and the evaluation of a school’s School Improvement Plan.
To register, please click here.
The NC Digital Learning and Media Inventory (NCDLMI) is opening soon for the 2022-2023 school Year and will be due Friday, June 30, 2023.
ALL NC PSUs including, LEA, Charters, Regional, and Lab Schools are legislatively mandated to complete the DLMI each year. As in previous years, all schools complete the school level DLMI, and PSUs complete the PSU level DLMI. PSUs with only one school, such as charter, regional, and lab school, complete both the PSU and School level.
This 2022-2023 DLMI DLMI requests most of the same data points as last year; However, the survey questions have been reorganized to align with the new Digital Learning Plan. 
The Student Digital Learning questions have been added to the 2022-2023 collection to fulfill session law "§ 115C-102.9, which requires collection and reporting of quantity and type of student access to digital devices and home internet.
To assist PSUs in collecting the questions required in session law "§ 115C-102.9, an optional parent survey is available in the student information system in the Parent Portal. Use of the survey is optional and provided as a support. Each PSU will need to determine the best method to collect and report this information. If PSUs and schools use the Parent Survey in the Student Information System they will NOT need to complete the Digital Learning Dashboard section on the school DLMI. The data will be automatically imported into the school DLMI from the Student Information System.
If PSUs choose not to use the Parent Survey in the Student Information System, each PSU at the school and grade level will need to distribute the Digital Learning Dashboard survey items and the accompanying Quick Reference Document for Parents to collect the data. After collection of the Digital Learning Dashboard questions, the data will need to be aggregated by grade level and submitted into the Digital Learning Dashboard section of the School DLMI. DPI recommends using the DLD Import Template spreadsheet to organize the data for aggregation and submission of the Digital Learning Dashboard questions. PSUs and Schools may also choose to upload this data from the spreadsheet rather than entering it manually. Reference the first tab of the sheet for detailed directions.
2022-2023 DLMI Training & Support Opportunities
The DTL team will host 6 webinars to guide PSU and School DLMI administrators through the DLMI and all the support materials. All Webinars & Office hours can be joined using this JOIN LINK.
- Wednesday April 19 9:00 am-10:00 am
- Friday April 21 11:00 am-12:00 pm
*One webinar recording will be added to the DLMI Training Materials for future reference
We will also offer drop-in office hours 3 times weekly from April 24-June 30
Office Hours- drop in for question and answer session (same join link as webinars)
Thank you...Think Positive, Be Positive,
Rob Dietrich, Ed.D., CeCTO, IPT, CETL
Senior Director
Office of Digital Teaching and Learning
Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
The Office of Early Learning provides weekly updates on resources that OCS believes can be very helpful to Charter Schools. You can subscribe directly!
Help Us Celebrate Nurses' Week: Share Your School Nurse Stories
National Nurses Week (May 6-12th) is quickly approaching! NCDPI’s Healthy Schools, in partnership with Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Division of Child and Family Well-Being, will be featuring school nurse stories through the week of May 6-12th on Twitter. They have asked us to pass along this information to help celebrate school nurses by submitting a story to show appreciation for school nurses and all the amazing work they do.
Share local stories of how school nurses have made an impact or a difference in your school this year, successful projects/initiatives they have led, or reasons why you appreciate them as a school nurse. Be sure to include any pictures or videos to make your story stand out! To interact and engage with the stories, make sure to follow @DPIWellness & @HealthierGen.
Use this Google Form to submit as many stories as you have! The deadline to submit stories is Wednesday, April 26th.
We also encourage you to show some love on School Nurse Day, Wednesday, May 10th.
2023 Yass & STOP Prizes in Education
Competition launched Thursday, including $20M in grants
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On Thursday afternoon, the Yass Foundation for Education announced the launch of the 2023 Yass and STOP prizes in education. The competition includes 64 education awards, providing over $20 million in grants. See the press release about the 2023 awards launch here.
The 2023 application is now open, and the deadline to apply is July 15. Apply for the 2023 awards here.
Here's the summary from the Yass Foundation about the prizes:
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Each year, the Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative recognizes the nation’s top education innovators who outperform for underserved students. In addition to the grand prize, finalists receive $500,000 and quarter- and semi-finalists will vie for $100,000 and $200,000 awards, respectively.
The Yass Prize is sector agnostic, meaning that there is no preference for any type of education other than it be Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless.
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Save the Date-
New Charter School Leadership Institute
When: June 7-8, 2023
What: RTO School Boards & New School Leaders will come together for learning and networking before launching their 2023-2024 SY
Day 1- Guest Speakers from NC DPI Share requirements for the Keys to a Successful 1st Year
Day 2- Guest Speakers from the Field, DPI, and OCS
Where: 8:15 AM -4:30 PM Room #150, 301 N Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Who: New Charter School Leaders and CS Board Chairpersons
Contact: natasha.norins@dpi.nc.gov
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Counselor Cohort Opportunity
School counselors are invited to fill out this Google Form indicating whether they'd like to be included in communication and professional development with other charter school counselors in the state and their local area:
Counselors that fill out the form will hear from our School Counselor Liaison, Brooklyn Winters via her email winters@longleafschool.com and you may email her with questions about this professional network. ----------------------------
OCS Office Hours Upcoming Events
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May 15th
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CTE Credentialing and Funding – Marty Tobey with CTE
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Please Join Us for Earth Day 2023!
On Friday, April 21, 2023, Reaching All Minds Academy will be celebrating Earth Day. During this event, our students will be presenting science experiments they have worked on this quarter, releasing butterflies they are working to grow, and working to meet our goal of planting 1,000 plants. We will start the day with the ribbon cutting for our NCGreenPower Solar Panel at 8:30 a.m., then have events with students from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We would love to have you join us for this event.
Can't join us? You can still be part of the day by sharing your Spring planting photos on Instagram to @GreenOurSchool23 to help us reach our goal of 5,000 plants.
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Take It Outside! conference at Pioneer Springs
When's the last time you climbed a tree? Stepped in a puddle? Stood in the rain? The connections between nature and cognitive growth, creativity, emotional balance, and overall wellness have been well documented but, despite this knowledge, school settings and many programs intended for children, adolescents, and young adults are still limited to traditional classroom settings. Take it Outside! at Pioneer Springs is a celebration of nature education and integration in K-12 and other public settings. The conference, led by educators for educators and nature enthusiasts, promotes the integration of nature as part of a whole child approach.
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OPEN NOW: 2023 NC Charter Applications
The 2023 North Carolina Charter School Application is now open, as of Friday, January 27th at 5 pm. The 2023 charter application window will close on April 28, 2023 at 5pm. Applicants who are interested in opening a charter school in 2024 under the accelerated timeline, or in 2025 under the standard timeline must submit their charter applications on or before the April 28, 2023 application close date.
Both the online application and $1,000 application fee must be submitted on or before April 28, 2023 at 5pm.
For questions about the charter application process, please reach out to Melanie.Rackley@dpi.nc.gov.
Please forward
School leaders, we encourage you to forward this newsletter on to your staff so they can subscribe to DPI bulletins directly through this link. They will enter their email and then it will bring them to another page where they can select “Charter School Comms Contacts” and any other public listserv to sign up for.
HR Webinar Information - Licensure requirements, resources, and more for Charter School leaders
Once a month, Dr. Tom Tomberlin and his team provide State Board of Education and legislative updates to the human resources contacts in Public School Units (PSUs) across the state.
All sessions are 10:30-11:30AM
May 5
June 2
July 10 (Monday)
August 7 (Monday)
September 8
October 6
November 3
December 8
Link to Join:
Kim Evans' Personal Room
https://ncgov.webex.com/meet/kimberly.evans
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Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.
ncgov.webex.com
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Join by phone
+1-415-655-0003 US Toll
Access code: 619 435 814
Kim Evans Program Coordinator, PEPSC Office of Educator Preparation and Licensure Division of Educator and Student Advancement NC Department of Public Instruction P: (984) 236-2116 M: (240) 498-5111 kimberly.evans@dpi.nc.gov
Save the Date July 14th for Office of Learning Recovery & Acceleration and The SAS Institute
We look forward to continuing our conversations from last summer and introducing you to the latest data available from The SAS EVAAS Team!
You will hear about innovative promising practices, evidence-based and data-supported strategies, as well as opportunities to network with colleagues from across the state, and much more!
Keep an eye on your email for updates from our office as the date approaches. So, remember to SAVE THE DATE 😊, & email me at: richard.lewis@dpi.nc.gov with any questions.
Richard W. Lewis, Ed.D.
Education Program Administrator I
Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration
Division of Standards, Accountability, and Research
NC Department of Public Instruction
Cohort 4 July 14th.pdf
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT NC GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL:
The NC Governor’s School is the oldest program of its kind in the nation and has inspired similar programs throughout the United States. Bright and talented high school students from across the state undergo a competitive application process to be selected to attend.
The summer session will be from June 12-July 15 for staff (June 18-July 15 for students) and will be at two campuses: Meredith College (East campus) and Winston-Salem State University (West campus). We currently have openings for Fellows and Instructors (see more information under the headings for Fellows and educators below).
Being on staff at NC Governor’s School will allow you to play a role in a life-changing summer for these amazing students. It’s an opportunity to work with high school students in a residential environment where creativity and curiosity are valued and learning takes place without the pressures of grades or tests.
NCDPI will be reviewing applications and conducting interviews through an on-going process until all positions are filled.
Position availability, job descriptions, and application are available Governor’s School Employment Information.
Please contact Rodney Allen with your questions: ncgovschool@dpi.nc.gov.
Announcing the NC Governor’s School Fellows Program:
NC Governor’s School Fellows is a summer program for young adults from ages 20-26 who want to develop their leadership skills and gain valuable experience working with talented high school students in a classroom and residential setting.
Fellows will supervise and lead high school students through the residential and classroom aspects of life on a college campus. Fellows will also have opportunities to attend weekly leadership seminars with state educational leaders and gain classroom and administrative experience with educators from around the country. Click to view more information: Introducing the Governor’s School Fellows
Are you in the medical profession? A physician’s assistant, nurse?
We need you at Governor’s School East.
Are you interested in helping to create a healthy community with exceptionally talented, intellectually engaged high school students this summer? If so, come join us at the NC Governor’s School.
NCDPI currently has one remaining position open for the Wellness Team at the Governor’s School East at Meredith College, the Medical Coordinator/Day Nurse. Please contact Coordinator Rodney Allen directly if interested at ncgovschool@dpi.nc.gov.
Are you a teacher? Graduate student? Instructor at a college or university?
We need educators, especially in math, science, and Spanish! We need you!
Are you interested in working with exceptionally talented, intellectually engaged high school students in a thriving learning community this summer? If so, come join us at the NC Governor’s School.
NCDPI currently has openings in a variety of teaching positions:
- Instrumental Music at GS East
- Mathematics at GS East
- Science at both campuses
- Spanish at both campuses
- Area II/Philosophy at both campuses
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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