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New Licensure Information
Education Leaders,
We hope this communication finds you well and your new year is off to a wonderful start. As always, our commitment to ensuring the highest quality education for North Carolina’s students remains unwavering. With this in mind, we are excited to inform you of our continued focus on supporting educator licensing and licensure staff training for the current school year. Please see the information in the linked memo on several initiatives, resources, and updated processes to better serve public school units and educators.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact Susan Ruiz (susan.ruiz@dpi.nc.gov) or Tom Tomberlin (thomas.tomberlin@dpi.nc.gov).
ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit & Webinar Registration
In response to the upcoming ESSER funding cliff, the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration at NCDPI has created an ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit designed specifically for PSU leaders as they plan for the 2024-2025 school year. The purpose of the toolkit is to provide PSU leaders with relevant information and data around ESSER expenditures and student outcomes as well as resources to understand which ESSER investments were most effective. The toolkit is designed to support a data-driven approach to evaluating investments and budgeting post-ESSER funding beyond September 2024. By approaching this process early, PSU leaders will be able to fully understand what worked and develop plans for sustaining or sunsetting various programs and initiatives.
Within the toolkit, you will find a step-by-step process including a budget process visualization template, a link to your PSU’s ESSER Fiscal Cliff Dashboard, a Return on Investment Calculation Tool, a Zero-Based Budgeting Template, and communication resources.
The ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19BfCzC1ookw7uQT_f2D9x0KIbyXCSKY_Edop4wV89Z4/edit?usp=sharing.
To support the use of the ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit several informational webinars will be held in early January. You can register for a webinar using the links below:
Webinar Registration Options:
Tuesday, January 9th - 3:00-4:15 PM
Wednesday, January 10th - 12:30-1:45 PM
Friday, January 12th - 9:30-10:45 AM
Finally, the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration will be hosting 10 regional workshops in February 2024 focused on new student outcome datasets and utilizing the ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit. Due to capacity and funding these sessions are limited to 6 attendees per district and 3 attendees per charter school. Please work with your district or school leaders to assemble a team of key decision makers around ESSER and budgeting. We suggest including at least the CFO, the Federal Programs Director, and Superintendent or designee.
More information about these regional meetings can be found in the flyer here and attached below. To register to attend a regional event, please click here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/11f2369d28fe44db87fda24067f4e4d5.
If you have any questions, please contact the following individuals:
Rachel Wright-Junio, Director of the Office of Learning Recovery & Acceleration
Dr. Andrew Smith, Assistant State Superintendent
NC FOSTER CARE EDUCATION PROGRAM
The NC Foster Care Education Program will host a virtual training on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM titled Understanding ESSA 101 for New Foster Care Point of Contacts (POCs). This session is intended for foster care POCs who are new to their role and will provide guidance on the federal and state mandates concerning the educational rights of students in foster care. If you previously attended a Foster Care Education training earlier this school year, please know that you are welcome to attend this session as well, however, the same material will be covered. Registration is required, please REGISTER HERE.
If you have any questions or concerns about this training, please contact LJ Von Dohlen at lvondohlen@serve.org or 743-208-3686.
Threat Assessment Update (House Bill 605)
The Center for Safer Schools wants to update public-school units on processes related to House Bill 605. For more information, see the attached letter from CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley.
If you have questions, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
About the Center for Safer Schools
The Center for Safer Schools serves to promote safe learning environments for North Carolina K-12 schools. The CFSS serves as a hub of information and technical assistance on school safety to school faculty and staff, law enforcement, youth-serving community agencies, juvenile justice officials, policymakers, parents/guardians and students. CFSS staff focuses on school climate, school discipline and emergency preparedness concerns for North Carolina’s public K-12 schools. CFSS staff is available to provide training, guidance and technical assistance upon request for school faculty and staff and those working with children and adolescents. The CFSS is headed by Karen W. Fairley, Executive Director.
School Business Newsletter; January 5, 2024
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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. Please review the upcoming deadlines for due dates.
New Funding Opportunity for Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Activities – Upcoming Webinar for All PSUs
The NC DHHS Health Hazards Control Unit (HHCU) is providing a presentation regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Reimbursement Program for NC Public Schools and Charter Schools on Wednesday, January 10th at 10:00 am. Under the ARPA Reimbursement Program public schools can be reimbursed up to two-thirds for eligible expenses related to asbestos or lead-based paint abatement or remediation activities. Funding for reimbursement will be available until December 31, 2026, or until it is depleted, whichever comes first.
Finance Officers and Directors, please be on the lookout for the webinar invite and forward it to Maintenance Directors and other personnel involved in asbestos or lead-based paint abatement or remediation activities. Please plan to join us for this meeting, and visit the program’s website at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/asbestos-and-lead-based-paint-reimbursement-program-arpa.
Legislated Survey for Federal Use of Funds – All PSUs
The Survey for Federal Use of Funds has opened and will close on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. This mandatory reporting, per Session Law 2021-3 Section 1.8., requires all public school units (PSUs) to submit quarterly reports to the Department of Public Instruction on the use of specific COVID funds. The surveys sent are in accordance with this legislation and to facilitate the compilation of more than 300 submissions. We are collecting data for PRCs 171 through 178. The survey structure and questions remain the same as in the previous collection.
Do not include any other PRCs except those listed.
Do you have more than 20 positions to submit?
PSUs with 20+ positions should submit the “Established Positions” survey via email using the Excel spreadsheet attached to the communication sent today, Friday, January 5th, 2024 at 8am. Only PSUs with more than 20 positions may use the Excel form.
You must submit the survey “Expenditures and Use of Funds” online even if you are submitting the position details via email. Follow the file’s instructions carefully (refer to the Excel file tab “instructions”) – you must change the file name to indicate your PSU number and when sending the survey. Your email subject line must include the file name with your PSU number. Do not change or modify the design of the Excel file by inserting or deleting columns or changing the format, otherwise your submission may be delayed or not accepted. The completed Excel file must be submitted via email to Corey.Terry@dpi.nc.gov.
You may also use the links below to access the survey.
Expenditures and Use of Funds: https://forms.office.com/r/m5zDNKaKSn
Established Positions: https://forms.office.com/r/4LqGtVs6VK
The submission is due to DPI on Friday, January 19, 2024. Please ensure that your PSU submits the required information by the deadline.
State Deposit Inquiries – All PSUs
Please do not contact NC Department of State Treasurer with inquiries about deposits and withdrawals from their state accounts. These questions should be sent to Laura Greenwood (laura.greenwood@dpi.nc.gov) or Jessica Vaughan (jessica.vaughan@dpi.nc.gov) at FBS. Contact Roxane Bernard (roxane.bernard@dpi.nc.gov) and Tina Moore (tina.boyce@dpi.nc.gov) in SBS for other cash transaction assistance.
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Deadline Reminders
ALL PSUs
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DUE DATE
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TOPIC
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NEWSLETTER
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PAST DUE
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Real Property Status Surveys
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11/13/2023
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PAST DUE
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Financial Statement Audits
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09/15/2023, 11/3/2023, and 12/01/2023
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01/15/2024
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Plasma Games Competitive Grant Opportunity
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12/08/2023
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*View prior newsletters online: Newsletters and Guidance | NC DPI.
Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which raises awareness about human trafficking and serves to educate the public about how to identify and prevent it. The Center for Safer Schools is doing its part by hosting eight simultaneous screenings of the film “Choices” across each of its eight educational regions.
The screenings will be held at the following locations on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.:
Western: Minitorium, 175 Bingham Road, Asheville
Northwest: Bowman Middle School Auditorium, 410 S. Mitchell Ave., Bakersville
Southwest: West Cabarrus High School, 4100 Weddington Road, Concord
Piedmont-Triad: Morehead High School, 134 N. Pierce St., Eden
North Central: Room 150, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh
Sandhills: Turlington School Auditorium, 116 W. Prospect Ave., Raeford
Southeast: Odell Williamson Auditorium, Brunswick Community College, 50 College Road NW, Bolivia
Northeast: Northampton County High School, 152 Hurricane Drive, Gaston
Following the screenings, Center for Safer Schools staff will facilitate a discussion about the film and how it relates to human trafficking.
RSVP at https://forms.gle/gzmgVUiZAFWkiaRK7. If you have questions, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
SRMP Training
The Center for Safer Schools announces dates for School Risk Management Plan training during the 2024 spring semester.
In-person sessions at the Training Center in Moore County will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 10; Wednesday, Feb. 7; Wednesday, March 6; and Thursday, April 4.
Online sessions via Webex will be held from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9; Tuesday, Feb. 6; Tuesday, March 5; and Wednesday, April 3.
After completing SRMP training, attendees will be able to:
- Input site-based school data to develop a comprehensive schematic diagram and plans into the SRMP portal.
- Both identify and discuss vulnerabilities and training gaps in their individual plans.
- At least once annually initiate a full schoolwide tabletop exercise on the procedures documented in the SRMP portal.
To obtain the most beneficial training within the SRMP system, charter school personnel should ensure that their school has been loaded into the SRMP and that they have an active NCID and are able to log into SRMP. LEA personnel should make sure they can log into SRMP using their NCID.
If you are not able to log in, click here to try to reset your NCID password first.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, as they will receive technical guidance to ensure their plans meet the necessary state requirements. Please register for only one session, as they’re all the same.
For more information on SRMP training, send an email to CFSS Assistant Director-Physical Security Karen Everett.
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Wear Blue and End Trafficking
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Jan. 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Center for Safer Schools staff is marking National Human Trafficking Awareness Day by wearing blue on Thursday, Jan. 11.
We ask everyone in all North Carolina school districts and charter schools to wear blue in solidarity.
The CFSS will post photos on social media of staff members wearing blue, and we invite all PSUs to share photos. Send your photos to cfss@dpi.nc.gov by noon Friday, Jan. 12.
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Upcoming NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey Webinars
School leaders and communication leaders,
NCDPI has overhauled the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (see presentation and revised survey). The two main goals for revising the NC TWC include 1) reduce the data collection burden on schools; and, 2) improve data quality and data use.
*NEW* NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey Timeline
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January 2023 WEBINARS* to get an overview of the new website, survey update, process for data collection
- Jan 18 at 11 → Charter, lab, regional and residential schools (register here)
- Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. → NCTWC Open House for Teachers (register here)
*webinars are capped at 500 participants but will be recorded and shared
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February - March 2024: Social media campaign kicks off, survey support is available, and weekly office hours in place
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March 1, 2024: Emails sent to every classroom teacher and student services personnel with an individualized link to the survey; NC TWC Help Desk Opens
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March 1-31, 2024: NC TWC Survey Open!
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April 2024: NC TWC local results shared with districts and charter leaders
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May 2024: NC TWC statewide results shared with NC State Board of Education
OCR/CRDC - SY2021-2022 - Status Updates - Submission Begins
Note: PSUs that were not open in the school year 2021-2022 are not required to participate in this collection.
NCDPI Uploads to CRDC Federal Submission Tool
NCDPI will begin uploading data to the CRDC Federal Submission Tool this week. PSUs are advised to wait until after notification that uploads are complete to begin updating data uploaded by NCDPI. NCDPI plans to complete the data upload December 15. PSUs must complete the federally mandated collection by February 26, 2024.
CRDC Submission Tool User Accounts
User accounts and user privileges for CRDC Coordinators and Superintendents will be activated the week of December 18, 2023. CRDC Coordinator Contacts and Superintendents whose information was updated in EDDIE before November 1, 2023, should expect a communication regarding access to the Federal Submission Tool from the PSC. Staff who receive an account may create user accounts in the Federal Submission Tool at their discretion.
NC CRDC Canvas
The NC CRDC Canvas course contains modules that cover the NCDPI/PSU collaboration for this collection. Staff working on the CRDC must access this course for NC Specific information.
Included in this course:
- Documentation specific to data collected and submitted by North Carolina.
- NC CRDC Course List
- CRDC 2021-2022 Collection by Entity – identifies data PSUs must collect and submit on their own and the data NCDPI can upload on behalf of PSUs.
- NCDPI upload timing and procedure. Learn when to begin updating data in the Federal Submission Tool.
- Tools from the CRDC Resource Center. Download the LEA and School forms. Review Excel template tools for uploading data, instructions for flat file submissions, Federal Submission Tool user guides, error resolution and more.
To enroll in and access the CRDC Course in Canvas, please use this link: https://ncdpi.instructure.com/enroll/J4FD4R
NC CRDC Webinars
This 1.5-hour session will provide an overview of the NC DPI process that facilitates the transfer of data to the federal submission tool for the CRDC. This session will also focus on resources at the federal level that support the collection, validation, and certification of the data in the federal submission tool.
This webinar will be hosted from 2pm – 3:30pm on the following dates:
Office Hours
CRDC Coordinators can book an hour meeting to ask specific questions about their CRDC. Office hours will be held Tuesday through Thursday from 1pm to 5pm until February 26, 2023. Use this link: Book time with Terra
Please email nc.ocr.crdc@dpi.nc.gov with any questions you may have.
Want information about the CRDC, but are not the CRDC Coordinator contact? Add your information here: 2122 CRDC – Info Only Contacts List
Healthful Living Standards Draft #2 Surveys
The NC State Board of Education Standard Course of Study Manual specifies that the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will formally collect feedback from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies on each draft of the revised K-12 Health and Physical Education Standards.
This process began with a review phase, conducted through the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2022. The review phase included gathering relevant research and analyzing data obtained through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The data obtained was analyzed by the NCDPI Office of Learning Recovery and provided to the Health and Physical Education Standards Data Review Committees (DRCs) for further review. The DRC completed a formal report summarizing the data, trends within the feedback, and any resulting recommendations. The report was provided to the Health and Physical Education Standards Writing Teams (SWT) as the basis to start the revision process and the creation of Draft 1. A survey was released to gather feedback on the first draft of the proposed 2023 K-12 Health and Physical Education Standards. The DRC completed a formal report summarizing the data, trends within the feedback, and any resulting recommendations for Draft 1. The report was provided to the SWT as the basis for the creation of Draft 2.
A survey has now been released to gather feedback on the second draft of the proposed 2023 K-12 Health and Physical Education Standards. The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from all stakeholders regarding the proposed K-12 Health and Physical Education Standards and to inform any additional revisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions, or replacements to the draft standards. The surveys will close on January 14th, 2024.
Thank you for you participation. Your feedback is extremely valuable to the Healthful Living standards revision process.
Health Education Draft 2 Standards Survey
https://forms.gle/dDtzqNGv513uxQck6
Physical Education Draft 2 Standards Survey
https://forms.gle/dUZ2RRjfbAAx5GaZ6
Burt Jenkins
Healthful Living Consultant / Athletics Consultant
Division of Academic Standards
NC Department of Public Instruction
(W) 984-236-2816
Burt.Jenkins@dpi.nc.gov
The NC SECU People Helping People scholarship application is now open, due March 5th
NCSECU Foundation Scholarship
SECU Foundation takes an active role in assisting communities across North Carolina because we believe in “People Helping People®.” To support this commitment, the People Helping People scholarship was established to help North Carolina public high school students attend college. A scholarship award of up to $10,000 over four years will be awarded to 10 Charter High School Seniors across the state. The Application Process will open on December 1st. Please share this scholarship opportunity with your high school guidance counselors and deans to promote this scholarship opportunity. Applications will close on March 5th, 2024, with selection interviews starting March 22nd, 2024. All final nominations are due to Dr. Natasha Norins by March 5th via email with PDF attachments from applicants. For further assistance, please contact Dr. Natasha Norins, natasha.norins@dpi.nc.gov.
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.
NCSBE Rulemaking Information
Below is a link to the website where we post information about SBE Rulemaking. It typically gets updated on the Friday the week after the SBE proposes a rule.
Important MEMOs:
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Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
OCS Office Hours
The purpose of the OCS Office Hours is to allow Charter School Leaders to connect with NCDPI department representatives virtually. NCDPI departments will share information and resources. Please see the upcoming session below.
January 11 at 10 am: Office of Learning Recovery. RSVP HERE to receive a calendar invite with the connection link.
OCS Lunch+Learn
Mark your calendar! Our next quarterly Lunch+Learn is scheduled for February 19 at Pine Springs Preparatory from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. School tours will begin at 10:30 am. The topic of discussion is Navigating Charter School Legislation. Please RSVP HERE.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events. For questions, contact Dr. Brandi Gill at brandi.gill@dpi.nc.gov.
 
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
School Counselor Cohort resource
Any school counselors who wish to network may share their information in this form.
You may also view the current list through this link.
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.
Lab School Opportunities
Whom Should I Contact at the Office of Charter Schools?
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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