Common Follow-up System Collection
Reminder: Run the CFS Report in PowerSchool
Submission window Sept 1 - Sept 30, 2023.
Please ensure you run and approve this report no later than Saturday, September 30, 2023.
Start Page > Reports > Reports (State Reports)
Thanks in advance,
Jennifer Causey
Home Base Communications Specialist
Office of Digital Teaching and Learning
O: (984) 236-2381
jennifer.causey@dpi.nc.gov
NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWC)
The NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) needs your feedback and input to improve the validity and reliability of the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWC). Your participation will help us understand the needs of teachers across the state, improve work environments, and shape policies that directly impact educators and education stakeholders like you.
To learn more about our survey revision process, please:
- See our 1-pager available here and additional information included below.
- Join NCDPI staff at our "Overhauling the NCTWC" Session at the AIM Conference on Tuesday, October 10 from 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM.
To complete the NCTWC feedback form, please click on this link. Your responses will be anonymous and only used for NCTWC survey improvement.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Jeni Corn, Director of Research and Evaluation at the NC Department of Public Instruction at jeni.corn@dpi.nc.gov
Thank you for your dedication to education and your commitment to improving the teaching and learning experiences of our public school educators and students in North Carolina. Your insights will contribute to creating a more supportive and conducive working environment for all educators.
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NCDPI needs your feedback and input in our efforts to improve the validity and reliability of the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey while reducing the number of items and data collection burden on our educators, schools, and districts.
We have divided the survey into 12 domains, each focusing on different aspects of the teaching experience. You will have the opportunity to provide feedback on one domain at a time. Your responses will be anonymous. Your participation is instrumental in helping us understand the needs of teachers across the state, improve work environments, and shape policies that directly impact educators like you.
Purpose of the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey:
The NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey is a critical tool for assessing the various aspects of the teaching profession, including classroom environment, school leadership, professional development, and more. Its primary purpose is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the conditions under which teachers work, allowing us to identify areas of strength and areas that may require improvement. The insights gathered from this survey enable us to tailor policies and initiatives that better support teachers, enhance their work experiences and ultimately contribute to improved educational outcomes for our students.
We value your perspective as a member of the NC education community, and your feedback on the individual items within the survey is crucial to our continuous improvement efforts. We have divided the survey into 12 sections, each focusing on different aspects of the teaching experience. You have the opportunity to provide feedback on one section at a time. Each section includes all related items for your consideration.
Access the Survey: To ensure a clear and organized process, we have created this Feedback Form.
In this form, you can review each item within a section and choose from the following options for each item:
- Keep: If you believe the item accurately represents your experience and is important for assessing working conditions.
- Edit: If you think the item needs modifications or adjustments to better reflect your reality.
- Delete: If you believe the item is irrelevant or should be removed from the survey.
Additionally, we encourage you to provide a brief explanation for your choices. Your reasoning will provide us with deeper insights into your perspective and guide any necessary changes.
Please note that to provide feedback on multiple sections, you will need to complete the survey more than once.
Improving Validity, Reliability, and Fairness:
With efforts to enhance the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, we are dedicated to refining the survey's validity and reliability while maintaining its established structure. We strive to gather insights that accurately represent the diverse experiences of educators statewide, ultimately leading to well-informed policy decisions that positively impact teacher work environments. Your participation and feedback are integral to this continuous improvement process.
Jeni Corn, Ph.D.
Director
In-person Regional Training for the 2023 K-12 Science Standards
Greetings colleagues!
We are excited to announce that we have scheduled a full day of in-person training for each region this Fall to share explore the newly adopted 2023 NC K-12 Science Standards. We will share an overview of the new standards, including the Science and Engineering Practices (SEP) and the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy (RBT). Participants will engage in strategic conversations and work collaboratively to plan for local implementation in 2024-2025.
Please see the link below, with more details, date/location for each regional training and a link to the registration. We are encouraging each district to send teams of 5 and for each charter school to send teams of up to 3.
We are excited to be able to be in-person with you and your staff! Please let me know if you have any questions. A copy of this email will also be shared with each districts CAO.
We hope your school year has started off as smoothly as possible. Thanks for everything you do to support science instruction in our classrooms!
Respectfully,
Charles Aiken, Ed.D. Section Chief Mathematics, Science and STEM Office of Academic Standards NC Department of Public Instruction P: (984) 236-2837 charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov
Superintendents & Charter School Leaders,
As the 2023-2024 school year kicks into full swing, many public school units (PSUs) are experiencing new and continued vacancies in critical areas, such as exceptional children. We understand the complexities of coordinating services, supporting existing instructional staff, and attending to the concerns of families are significant. To help support the problem-solving process, we wanted to ensure you had the following available:
Exceptional Children Teacher Vacancies: Guidance Document
This document is a compilation of resources and technical assistance on the following topics:
- Recruitment and Retention
- Short-Term Solutions While Recruiting
- Compensatory Education Services
- Contracting Services
- Onboarding New EC Staff
- Virtual Instruction
- Licensure
If you have questions that are not addressed in this guidance, please contact your designated EC Regional Coordinator or Dr. Carol Ann Hudgens, Senior Director for the Office of Exceptional Children (carolann.hudgens@dpi.nc.gov), for further assistance. We are happy to be thought partners with you as you navigate circumstances unique to your PSU. Best wishes for a safe and productive year!
Center for Safer Schools
National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month. This yearly observance raises awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
This year’s theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3,” which empowers everyone, especially older adults, to 1) assess their needs, 2) make a plan and 3) engage their support network to stay safe when disaster strikes.
Older adults can face greater risks in extreme weather events and emergencies, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability or live in rural areas. By 2035, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that there will be more Americans over 65 than under 18. Over the next decade, it is imperative that the growing older adult population becomes more aware of their risks and better prepared for them.
For more information about National Preparedness Month, visit Ready.gov.
Great Southeast ShakeOut
The Center for Safer Schools and N.C. Emergency Management invite school districts and charter schools across the state to participate in the 2023 Great Southeast ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m.
The ShakeOut is an annual public earthquake drill where millions of people in schools, organizations and homes simultaneously practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On,” which is the recommended action for people to take during an earthquake to reduce the risk of injury.
Although Oct. 19 is the official ShakeOut date this year, school districts and individual schools can choose their own date (or multiple dates) to accommodate as many people and schedules as possible. The drill can be completed together in person or at home via videoconferencing and offers your schools and community an opportunity to consider how they would respond to an earthquake while identifying potential refinements to your district’s emergency response plan.
Visit https://www.shakeout.org/southeast/register/ to register and perform a “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill on Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m. (or a date and time that works best for you). Once registered you will:
- Learn how your schools can be more prepared for earthquakes.
- Be counted in the world’s largest earthquake drill.
- Receive ShakeOut news and other information about earthquakes and preparedness.
- Make a difference by motivating others to participate and be prepared.
The ShakeOut website includes drill planning resources, general preparedness information, mitigation guidance and educational activities including lesson plans. The Great Southeast ShakeOut is organized by the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium and its member and associate state emergency management agencies. While infrequent, damaging earthquakes can occur at any time across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
If you have questions, contact Laura Silver with N.C. Emergency Management at laura.silver@ncdps.gov or 984-272-7002.
Executive Director Tours
During the fall semester, Center for Safer Schools Executive Director Karen W. Fairley will continue her tours of North Carolina school districts and charter schools. She would like to see anything public school units want to showcase regarding school safety. For school districts, include stops at an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Fairley also would like to take time to talk with a small group of students. To request a tour, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
School Business
School Business – September 15, 2023
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.
Retro Pay Related to ESSER II Salaries – All PSUs
If there is no State budget in place by the last day to request cash for September, which is September 22, 2023, any retro-pay related to salaries paid out of ESSER II will have to come from another source of funds as payroll cannot be encumbered. ESSER III may be considered as an alternative source of funds.
Once DPI has the final State budget further instructions will be provided related to the object code, if the object code has to be something other than base salary.
Expiring Federal Grants & The Liquidation Period – Charter Schools Only
Several Federal grant funds, including the ESSER II PRCs 171-180, are expiring on September 30, 2023. PSU’s must liquidate all financial obligations incurred under the award no later than 90 calendar days of the end date of the period of performance as specified in the terms and conditions. A PSU may continue to receive services and charge expenses that were properly obligated by September 30 during the liquidation period. The liquidation period is the 90-day period after the end of the period of performance for a grant, December 29, 2023.
Charter Schools have not historically used the liquidation period for Federal funds. However, there may be a need for a Charter School to use the liquidation period going forward. The purpose of the memo is to ensure Charter Schools are aware that they may establish procedures to allow the encumbrance of obligations, related to Federal grant funds, and use the liquidation period. The memo will also provide a general understanding of the liquidation period and related processes. Please review the attached memo to minimize unallowable costs and repayments.
Contact Kristie.Weber@dpi.nc.gov or Shirley.McFadden@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions.
Federal Grants - Fiscal Obligations, Liquidations and Reversions FAQ – All PSUs
Guidance for Federal Reversions has been updated to ensure compliance with Federal requirements and ensure efficient processing is in place. A Federal Grants - Fiscal Obligations, Liquidations and Reversions FAQ can be found here and on NC DPI’s website.
Highlighted changes include:
· The allowance of encumbrances in object code 312, except for participant travel costs, which would not be an allowable encumbrance under the Federal regulations. The PSU is responsible for complying with the allowable obligations.
· Indirect costs, that correspond to expenses encumbered, will also need to be encumbered.
Other significant items to consider:
· Only eligible obligations may be encumbered, payroll expenses and travel are not eligible and that other object codes may be excluded from allowable encumbrances based on the definition of an obligation outlined in U.S. Department of Education requirements in 34 C.F.R. 76.707.
· During the liquidation period, if any expenditures are reported to NC DPI outside of the specific account codes that were used to set up encumbrances reported at the end of the period of performance they will be flagged as unallowable costs and those funds will be pulled in the final reversion process. The account code related to the encumbrance cannot be changed during the liquidation period.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS – All PSUs
Local Education Agencies and Charter Schools are required to submit their financial statement audits by October 31st.
Charter schools that are up for renewal should get their financial statement audit in by the due date as this information is part of the required information that needs to be reviewed for the renewal process.
Please see the attachment as a reminder of the due dates and submission instructions.
Reminders
Textbook Warehouse not accepting textbook orders from September 18th through October 10th
Details are in the September 8, 2023 newsletter *
PSUs Required to Liquidate and Closeout Federal Grants by December 31, 2023
Details are in the September 1, 2023 newsletter *
*View prior newsletters online: Newsletters and Guidance | NC DPI
2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year Nominations Due 9/21/23
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In accordance with national guidelines, North Carolina chooses a candidate who is "dedicated and highly skilled, a candidate proven capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn." Because the State Teacher of the Year will be asked to travel, speak on behalf of education, and demonstrate master teaching skills, the candidate must be poised, articulate, and energetic in order to meet the demanding responsibilities.
The NC Teacher of the Year nomination window is quickly ending. Candidate portfolios are due by September 20, 2023. Teachers of the Year submit the Teacher of the Year Portfolio to their Regional Education Facilitator. NOTE: Submissions must be sent electronically as one complete PDF document, including a copy of their current license. To submit your candidate please click here. Upon submission, further information will be shared with the teacher and charter school coordinator. Candidate portfolios are due by September 20, 2023. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Elizabeth Santamour, DPI’s Educator Recognition Coordinator at elizabeth.santamour@dpi.nc.gov.
To be eligible for selection as a Teacher of the Year, a person must hold a Standard Professional 2 (SP2) license, be employed full time and spend at least 70% of his or her time in direct instruction of North Carolina public school students. (North Carolina State Board of Education Policy, March 2008)
Click here for more information- https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/educator-recognition-programs/burroughs-wellcome-fund-north-carolina-teacher-year https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nctoypoy
Remote Instruction Plans
PSUs who plan to exercise remote instruction due to emergency closures must annually submit a Remote Instruction Plan to NC DPI. §S.L. 2022-74/HB 103 authorized the use of Remote Instruction for emergency closures from §S. L. 115C-84.3 (b). Please take one of the following actions by October 15, 2023 to ensure your 2023-2024 Remote Instruction Plan is submitted and/or updated if needed:
- Utilize, with no revisions, the 2022-2023 RI Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year for Emergency Closures.
- Revise the 2022-2023 RI Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year for Emergency Closures.
- Create a new RI Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year for Emergency Closures.
- Not complete an RI Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year for Emergency Closures.
Visit bit.ly/NCDPIRIPlans for additional details and to submit a plan.
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Digital Leaders Exchange
Home Base Meetups meets Regional Technology Directors Meetings in the all new NC Digital Leaders Exchange! We will be coming to a location near you soon! Each event will run from the East to the West while also aligning each “exchange” with a part of the Digital Learning Plan. In September, we will be highlighting Cybersecurity and Data Privacy.
We will meet from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM and lunch will be catered. Register for a date & location that best fits your schedule.
Register at bit.ly/NCDLESept23.
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The NCCAT 2024 NC Beginning Teacher of the year Nomination Form is now open for submission!
The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year Award celebrates the creativity and enthusiasm of beginning teachers, their mentors, school teams, and communities. The award recognizes the unique challenges and achievements that new teachers experience during their first year in the classroom. Selected from over 7,000 new teachers, the annual award recipient is chosen through a special competitive selection process, culminating in naming 27 regional and charter finalists, one winner, and one runner-up.
Data shows that nearly half of North Carolina’s new teachers leave the profession in their first five years of teaching. In recognizing excellence among new teachers and providing programs that support them from the start of their careers, NCCAT not only honors their achievements but also strengthens their connection to the profession, one another, and the resources they need to succeed. Supporting and encouraging new teachers is paramount to developing the caring, strong professionals we all want instructing our North Carolina Students.
For 35 years, NCCAT has provided support for teaching excellence and is proud to partner with North Carolina school districts and charter schools to identify and recognize the best of the beginning teacher corps from across the state.
Please complete this form by Monday, October 2nd to nominate a Beginning Teacher from your school. For information on criteria for consideration, prizes, and timeline, please visit www.nccat.org/btoy
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Trainings
Are you new to offering Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs or do you want to know more about CTE? Check out our Charter Schools: Getting Started with CTE guide (https://bit.ly/CTEcharter) to connect with CTE resources, including course standards, required CTE proofs of learning, credentials, and reporting requirements.
The CTE Regional Services team is implementing a charter school user group during the 2023-2024 school year to provide training and support for charter schools who offer CTE programs or have student enrollments in CTE courses through NCVPS. Our charter school user group will meet quarterly to provide CTE updates, information about CTE programs, and training for administering and reporting student results for CTE proofs of learning, credentials, and CTE concentrator status for WorkKeys participation. We invite you to mark your calendar for the following dates and plan to join us online to learn more about CTE.
*This session will include a CTE State Assessment training refresher and full training required for schools administering spring administrations of CTE State Assessments who did not attend fall training
Questions may be directed to Misty Wolfe (misty.wolfe@dpi.nc.gov) or your CTE Regional Coordinator.
New Charter Amendment Process
As of August 1, 2023, OCS has implemented an updated charter application amendment request process via epicenter. Please refer to the "Epicenter Steps for Charter Application Amendment Request 0723" document linked here for instructions. Any material change to the charter application must be approved pursuant to State Board of Education policy CHTR-014, North Carolina Administrative Code 16 NCAC 06g.0510 and 16 NCAC 06g.0511. Questions? Contact Nicky Niewinski, OCS Consultant, at nicole.niewinski@dpi.nc.gov
New ML[ELL] Data Compliance Library
This repository provides resources for supporting administrators, data managers, testing coordinators, and teachers to access throughout the academic school year. The range of resources allows users to determine their specific needs and find the appropriate materials.
If you have any questions, please email susan.walz@dpi.nc.gov.
2023-2024 Charter Schools Diabetes and Epinephrine Memo
Important Resources for Charter Schools: (Please Read)
Please click on each link.
2023-2024 Charter Diabetes Memo
2023-2024 Charter Epinephrine Memo
Please review the attached Exceptional Children communication updates and Guidance.
Important MEMOs:
Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
OCS presented some updates at the NCAPCS Charter Conference. In case you missed it, or want the presentation, please find it linked HERE.
THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL and SCHOOL LEADER ACADEMY
NEW 2023-2024 Institute (FREE and ONLY 30 slots available)
Office of Charter Schools and the North Carolina Access Grant
Register Now! Email: Kristi Nguyen at kristynguyen02@gmail.com
Provide in the email: Name, Name of School and Contact Email Address
MAX two per school
Overview
The Office of Charter Schools and the NC ACCESS grant will offer a new professional development and training program through MBD Coaching and Consulting, LLC. The NEW program will offer school leaders and opportunity to immerse in training designed to develop and strengthen the skills and tools needed to build, maintain, and sustain effective, efficient, and successful student achievement and school transformation. We believe there must be intensive and extensive training with assistant principals (or other school level professionals) to gain the fundamentals of how to effectively build a team structure that supports improved organization development, how to develop a culture of excellence and high expectations for all stakeholders, and how to provide the step-by-step process of reviewing data, observing practices, and providing support to maximize learning, growth, and transformative change.
The unique 360-degree training program consists of modules designed especially North Carolina Charter Schools to engage participants in relevant, research-based activities, building and strengthening their leadership skills. Lessons are interactive and reinforced by specific, customizable modules along with materials and books. Each of the modules are designed to focus on a specific leadership skill that builds on current as well as new bodies of knowledge and awareness, so that by the end of the year, each participant will have gained knowledge and insight on effective leadership development, essential strategies that drive organization performance, and how to strengthen teams and organizations effectiveness and success.
Planned Sessions
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September 26, 2023 (VIRTUAL) Creating a Climate and Culture of Excellence and High Performance: Engaging ALL Stakeholders
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October 24, 2023 (CHARLOTTE, NC) The Critical Role of Instructional Leadership in School Improvement Planning
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November 14, 2023 (VIRTUAL) Building Leadership Capacity for School Improvement
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January 9, 2024 (VIRTUAL) Building Inclusive Classrooms and Schools
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February 13, 2024 (RALEIGH, NC) Using DATA to Inform Instruction and LEAD Change
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March 12, 2024 (GREENSBORO,NC) Classroom Walk-Throughs and DATA Disaggregation
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April 9, 2024 (WINSTON-SALEM, NC) Classroom Observations and the Conversations That Follow
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May 14, 2024 (WILMINGTON, NC) Putting It All Together- Leadership Practices that Increase Collaboration, Build Capacity, and Promote Growth
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Once you register, you will received the full schedule with locations and times.
If you are interested in hosting a session in your home school, please let us know.
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Office of Charter Schools' 2023-2024 Open Office Hours
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Date
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Time
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Topic
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Link
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September 13, 2023
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11:00 AM
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Read to Achieve Tonya Parrish
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m797428923a415b22158519bcab1284de
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October 12, 2023
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10:00 AM
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School Safety Dr. Karen Fairley
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb99d630a2fb94629201c837ab858a2bb
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November 28, 2023
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10:00 AM
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North Carolina Homeless Education Program Savannah Gay
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb2c987d2a54af5279aa891b5c7ce3273
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December (TBD)
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10:00 AM
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Home Base, NCEES, Mental Health docs Matthew Mayo, John Mair, Cami Narron
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https://ncgov.webex.com/meet/natasha.norins
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February 14, 2024
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10:00 AM
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School Leaders Inspire Us All Dr. Andrew Smith, Dr. Erika Shoulders- Royster, Tabari Wallas, ED.S.
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mdb3a6a7f2dee947d09e1f406965ee97b
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March 20, 2024
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10:00 AM
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SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Anne Nixon and Dr. Natasha Norins
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m9411d8ddf32bf2e7aea39b760d63594f
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April 17, 2024
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10:00 AM
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MTSS - Addressing Misconceptions
Ashley Springs + Rhonda Harrell (IABS)
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https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=m8c2cab43d4e6628256bf5f97a73fcbcd
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 The North Carolina Advancing Charter Collaboration and Excellence for Student Success (NC ACCESS) Program and Teach like a Champion have partnered to provide a series of workshops for NC Charter Schools to help improve the academic achievement of students and support the leadership and professional development school leaders and teachers. One of the trainings that is being offered will be held in-person on January 18 -19, 2024, 8:00am – 4:40pm at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State University in Raleigh, NC.
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Reading Reconsidered
Train-the-Trainer
In-Person Workshop in Raleigh, NC
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Join the TLAC Team for this in-person workshop on January 18-19, 2024, 8:00am - 4:30pm EST in Raleigh.
This practice-intensive workshop provides instructional leaders with materials and guidance to deliver high quality training on literacy instruction and provides teachers with tools to implement research-based literacy instructional practices with their students, both with the goal of driving literacy results in schools.
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Ready to Open/Planning Year Session #1
The Office of Charter Schools will host session one of five planning year sessions required for all schools (approved boards and school leaders) in the Ready to Open process on September 27th, 2023, on-site at the NC Department of Public Instruction from 8:30AM - 4:00PM. Please Register Here for Session 1: Charter School Board Governance. Please reach out to Dr. Natasha Norins with questions regarding Ready To Open/Planning Year.
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
October 6
November 3
December 8
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.
Whom Should I Contact at the Office of Charter Schools?
OCS Main Number: (984) 236-2700 / Email: ocs@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.
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