Number 10

District Highlight: Tyrrell County Schools - Tyrrell County Celebrates Turnaround Efforts with ‘Blue Party’

"Mary Bridgers stands before a sea of students, teachers, staff, and community leaders in the parking lot at Tyrrell Elementary School in Columbia. The school’s principal, in her first year at the helm there, is pepping up the students for a celebration.

The kids and their teachers are decked out in blue. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt is on hand, donning blue sunglasses. The district’s superintendent, also in her first full year on the job, is wearing a blue shirt that reads, 'TCS: Rise Up for Students.' Two members of the school board, the chair of the county commissioners, and several community partners dot the crowd.

The students are holding their excitement in, but they have one pressing question.

'What are we even doing here?' one little girl finally asks.

The answer: Throwing a blue party. Blue is the color indicated on the state accountability report when a school exceeds growth expectations. Tyrrell Elementary did that last year — while the two other schools in the district met expectations."

Read the full story here. Congratulations Tyrrell Elementary and Tyrrell County on such an incredible accomplishment! 

Number 9

Call for Visual And Performing Student Artists for NCDPI's Spotlight on Arts Education

NCDPI looks forward to continuing our beloved tradition where school groups share their favorite music, dance, theatre, spoken word and art with NCDPI staff, friends and family. This year, we want to showcase the best and brightest of our student artists in person at a variety of NCDPI events:

• AIM Conference Oct. 9-11
  • Instrumental performance at breakfast 7-9am M-W at the Raleigh Convention Center
  • ANY performance in the 11am hour M-W at the Raleigh Convention Center
  • Oct. 10: Small Instrumental Performance 4:30-6:30 at the Raleigh Convention Center
  • Virtual Visual Arts Galleries
• International Education Week Nov. 15-18:
  • ALL Art forms Student Showcase performances at NCDPI on Tuesdays or Thursdays
• December Performances Dec. 4-20:
  • ALL Art forms at NCDPI on Tuesdays or Thursdays
• Arts In Our Schools Month March 4-29:
  • ALL Art forms at NCDPI on Tuesdays or Thursdays

View submission guidelines here. Find the application here. 

Number 8

Superintendents' Quarterly Pre-Meeting Questionnaire

Earlier this week, a link to a pre-meeting questionnaire regarding the Superintendents' Quarterly Meeting happening next month at the AIM Conference was shared with superintendents.  

If you did not receive the link, or had trouble accessing the form, please reach out to communications@dpi.nc.gov. 

Number 7

Meet Your Army Day

Fort Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg) will be hosting Meet Your Army Day 2023 on November 8!

At this event, participants will immerse themselves in a hands-on Army experience, have opportunity for meet and greets with soldiers, experience day-to-day life on a military base, and learn all that the US Army has to offer.

Find additional details, registration link and shareable flyer here.

Number 6

ESSER Programming Technical Assistance Webinar for Charter School Leaders

Calling all Charter School leaders! Join the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration for an ESSER Programming Technical Assistance Webinar, specifically for Charter Schools, on October 19 at 1 p.m. 

The Office of Charter Schools will also be present during this webinar to provide updates answer your questions. 

Register here.

Number 5

Supporting Online Students Courses Available 

NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) has created two on-demand video courses in Canvas to support online students! Both courses are free, open to the public, and do not require login credentials. 

Supporting Online Students - All NC
General in nature, this course is designed for parents, guardians and mentors of any student participating in an online course or program. 

Supporting Online Students - NCVirtual
This course is specific to NCVPS and includes specific examples, demonstrations and resources for NCVPS parents, guardians and mentors. 

Number 4

STEM Intensives Program

The STEM Intensives program is offered by the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs (NC CAP) and is aimed at enhancing STEM education in afterschool and out-of-school time settings. The program is designed to provide educators with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to effectively engage their students in hands-on STEM activities.

The program is primarily aimed at educators who may have limited backgrounds in STEM but are looking to acquire the necessary tools and knowledge to lead successful STEM programming in their communities.

The deadline to apply is October 6. Learn more about the program and find a link to the application here. 

Number 3

Register for the 2023 AIM Conference

There is still time to register for AIM 2023!

This year's conference will be October 9-11 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Find the conference agenda here. Learn more and register here.

Number 2

NCDPI Seeks Input on Improving NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWC) - Deadline September 30

The NC Department of Public Instruction 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 complete the NCTWC feedback form, please click here. Responses will be anonymous and only used for NCTWC survey improvement.

Click here for more information about the survey revision process.

Contact Jeni Corn at jeni.corn@dpi.nc.gov with questions.

Number 1

NC Students Make Gains on AP Exams, Outpacing the Nation on Several Indicators

"Rebounding from pandemic lows, North Carolina high school students in 2022-23 participated and performed in college-level Advanced Placement courses at levels above those during the 2018-19 school year, according to data reported by the College Board, which administers the AP program and exams.

The number of North Carolina students taking at least one AP exam last school year increased by 11.2% from the 2021-22 school year, when AP participation in the state had fallen to its lowest level since the most recent pre-pandemic year of 2018-19. By that same measure, North Carolina outpaced the nation as a whole, for which AP participation increased last year by 7.6% from the previous year.

Compared to 2018-19 school year, the number of students taking at least one AP exam last year represented an increase of 1.8% -- nearly five times the national increase of 0.37% since the same pre-pandemic year."

Read the full press release here.