Number 10

Cooperative Innovative High Schools – 2023 Application Cycle Launch!

The 2023 Cooperative Innovative High Schools (CIHS) Application Cycle begins this month. This memo announces the opportunity for LEAs and their higher education partner to indicate their intention to apply to open a new CIHS and has been shared with Superintendents. 

All LEAs and higher education partners seeking to develop a new CIHS must submit a letter of intent by June 15, 2023. This letter of intent notifies the Joint Advisory Committee of the intent to submit an application. There will be an Orientation as well as technical assistance available this summer as applications are developed. Applications are due to NCDPI by October 4, 2023.

Number 9

Registration for NCBOLD 2023 Now Open

NCDPI's Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Team is excited to announce that registration for NCBOLD 2023 is now open! 

NCBOLD is a day long, face to face digital teaching and learning conference. NCBOLD events will be held in each of North Carolina’s eight regions to facilitate access for all public school educators. The highly-engaging sessions are led by DTL's amazing ambassadors. 

Learn more and register here.

Number 8

North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) has Named Their 2023 E-Learning Advisor of the Year

The NCVPS E-Learning Advisor award is given annually to someone who has shown exemplary support, innovation, and a dedicated commitment to students. Nominations came from districts and schools all across the state, as well as from NCVPS teachers and staff. The results came in and Melissa Boswell was named the winner!

Melissa is the E-Learning Advisor for Davie County High School in Mocksville, NC, where she has been the E-Learning Advisor for 15 years. She demonstrates a high level of commitment to her students, and her innovative practices have served as a model for other schools and districts, contributing to the success of students taking NC Virtual courses. She is highly communicative and responsive and shows appreciation for NCVPS teachers, which is a testament to her professionalism and collaborative spirit.

Congratulations, Melissa, on this well-deserved award!

Number 7

2023 High School Essay Contest Sponsored by U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is seeking submissions for its 2023 essay contest.

High school students are invited to consider and respond to a prompt or question. Students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes: first place, $2,000; second place, $1,500; and third place, $1,000. Essays are limited to 1,000 words and must be submitted by Wednesday, May 31. 

For additional information and instructions on how to submit an essay, click here.

Number 6

High School Athletes in NC Can Soon Cash in on Name, Image, Likeness, NCHSAA Says

"High school athletes across North Carolina will soon be able to profit off of their names, images and likenesses.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association on Wednesday approved a measure that would allow players to earn money for activities like sponsorships, appearances and autograph signings.

The setup would be similar to the NIL policies in place for college athletes. NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker calls the policy a 'work in progress' and a starting point."

Read the full story and learn more here.

Number 5

Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) Learning Series: Literacy in English Language Development

The NCDPI Office of Academic Standards is offering state-wide professional learning with a focus on integrating the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) into standards-aligned content area instruction. 

There's still time to register for the fifth and final session of the LIS Learning Series: Literacy in English Language Development, May 11, from 3:45-5 p.m.

Learn more and register here.

Number 4

School Nutrition Hero Day is May 5!

Help us celebrate our NC School Nutrition Heroes for National School Nutrition Hero Day tomorrow, Friday, May 5! 

North Carolina's School Nutrition professionals provide nutritious meals, offer nutrition education, promote school wellness and farm to school, and support social emotional learning and academic achievement. 

Thank you to our NC School Nutrition Heroes for nourishing our students' bodies, minds and souls daily!

Number 3

State Superintendent Tours Iredell-Statesville Schools’ Workforce Development Programs

"Iredell-Statesville School administrators and board members welcomed N.C. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt and officials with Department of Public Instruction Friday morning for a tour of a few of the district’s Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. 

Truitt talked with students and teachers and observed the district’s programs in action.

'When you are in Raleigh at the state level, you have to know who you are serving, what their needs are and what their successes and what their challenges are,' Truitt said. 'In particular, I’m interested in what Iredell-Statesville Schools is doing in preparing kids for after high school. It is something that folks like me need to come and see for themselves.'

Truitt said that one of the areas she is working on at the state level is having legislation that requires all seventh graders to have a career development plan that follows them into a high school."

Read the full story and see photos from the visit here.

Number 2

First Ever ‘Bring Your Legislator to School Day’ Announced

"North Carolina’s legislators are heading back to school.

The entire General Assembly has been invited to participate in the inaugural Bring Your Legislator to School Day on May 15.

The initiative is a joint effort between N.C. Regional Teachers of the Year and Principals of the Year, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and a multitude of legislative co-sponsors. The goal is to push legislators beyond talking policy and into the classrooms in their district."

Read the full story here.

Number 1

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on reducing the stigma that surrounds mental illness. If you, or someone you know is struggling with mental health, substance use crisis, or emotional distress, call, text or chat to 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline-24/7.