Number 10

NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) to Offer Four Free Digital Transition Professional Development Sessions for Educators Throughout January

• January 16 at 7:00 pm - Differentiating to Support All Students. CEU: Digital Learning.
• January 30 at 7:00 pm - Digital Tools for Core Subject Courses. CEU: Digital Learning
• January 31 at 6:30 pm - WORLD LANGUAGE track: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Create Escape Rooms for Language Learners. CEU: Spanish or Digital Learning

Visit the NCVPS Digital Transitions website for registration links and archived recordings of all sessions.

Number 9

Resource: Blog Series on How to Use the North Carolina Public Schools Statistical Profile

The North Carolina Public Schools Statistical Profile (NCPSSP) is a great resource for obtaining data on North Carolina’s public school students, personnel and finances. This profile is especially useful if you are looking for enrollment data (available at school, district and state levels) in public and charter schools.

This blog post is part of a series on how to use the North Carolina Public Schools Statistical Profile. This blog post details how to download different indicators at the school level. There are also tutorials for how to download indicators at the state and district levels.

Number 8

NC Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Survey Webinars

NCDPI has overhauled the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (TWC). The two main goals for revising the NC TWC include reducing the data collection burden on schools improving data quality and data use. 

To get an overview of the new website, survey updates and process for data collection, register for one of the webinars below:

• District-level: Superintendents, PIOs, etc. (Jan. 16, 8-9 a.m.)
• School-level: NC TWC Coordinators, Principals, APs (Jan. 17, 4-5 p.m.)*
• Charter, lab, regional and residential schools: Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
• NC TWC Open House for Teachers: Jan. 30, 4-5 p.m.

Please note that the webinars are capped at 500 participants, but will be recorded and shared. 

*Due to interest levels, the school-level TWC webinar will have a new registration link to accommodate the amount of registrants. The new link will be sent to the relevant audiences and shared on our social media channels. 

Number 7

Educational Leadership Development Microcredential Sessions

Starting February 1, East Carolina University (ECU) will host Educational Leadership Development Microcredential sessions. Participants completing all ELD-MC work will receive CEUs and a Digital Badge from ECU.

The sessions include:

• Evidence-based Observations For Equitable Academic Discourse
• Alternate Interaction Strategies To De-escalate Challenging Behaviors
• Authentic Community Engagement - Part I: Foundations
• Authentic Community Engagement - Part II: Application

Find more information, dates and registration links here. 

Number 6

Digital Champion Grant Program Accepting Applications

The N.C. Department of Information Technology's Office of Digital Equity and Literacy is launching the second round of its phased digital equity grant program. The program offers $14 million in funding for digital equity initiatives through the Digital Champions Grant program. Each applicant can apply for up to $400,000 per county served with a maximum of $1.5 million allocated per project. 

These grants will help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and get access to digital literacy courses to safely and effectively participate in today’s digital economy.

Learn more and apply here by January 22. 

Number 5

Purple Star Award Submissions Open Through Feb. 1

The submission period for the Purple Star Award is now open and will close February 1. Help honor those schools that go above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to military students and their families by encouraging them to apply.

Learn more, see previous awardees and find the application here.

Number 4

NC Teaching Fellows Program Launches District Pilot Recruitment Initiative - 20 Districts Selected

"The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission has selected 20 public school districts to receive $50,000 recruitment grants in 2024 to promote Teaching Fellows and the teaching profession.

The launch of the grant initiative is a strategic effort to create a pipeline of applicants and potential teachers to work in North Carolina districts that face recruitment and retention challenges. Districts were selected after expressing interest in expanding or building a grow-your-own teacher program.

As a part of the pilot initiative, students will receive professional development support in conjunction with the Teaching Fellows program. The goal is to identify and train emerging teachers from secondary schools, current employees, or non-traditional sectors toward employment in the district."

Read the full press release here.

Number 3

Next NC Scholarship Available to NC Students

The Next NC Scholarship is a financial aid program that helps most North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any community college or more than half, if not all, of tuition and fees to attend any public university in the state.

The Next NC Scholarship combines the federal Pell Grant with the state-funded financial aid program to form a simplified and predictable scholarship award that’s easier to understand and makes education more affordable for most North Carolinians.

Students can apply by submitting the FAFSA form. If they are eligible, they will receive the Next NC Scholarship. There are no additional forms to fill out to apply. 

Learn more about the scholarship and eligibility requirements here. 

Number 2

Governor Cooper Announces $26.7 Million in Funding for 114 Electric School Buses

"Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina will receive $26.7 million in federal funds to purchase 114 electric school buses as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Grant Program.

Over 98% of the buses will be deployed in prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities, serving over 300,000 students across 13 counties. Grant recipients include public schools, charter schools, and tribal schools with significant investments in Durham (38 buses), Charlotte (27), and Cherokee (15).

These 114 new buses are in addition to the 31 buses awarded to North Carolina schools under the Clean School Bus Program’s first round of funding in 2022. Gov. Cooper’s administration already funded 43 electric buses in 2022 through his settlement with Volkswagen , bringing the total to 188 electric, zero-emission buses in North Carolina schools in the last two years. These awards contribute to several key pillars of Governor Cooper’s goals: better resourced schools, building a clean energy economy, and creating a healthier environment for North Carolina’s children and communities."

Read the full press release here.

Number 1

NC Educators Recognized as Morehead-Cain 2024 Impact Educators

"Morehead-Cain is pleased to announce the 2024 Impact Educators recognized by semifinalists for the Morehead-Cain Class of 2028. The 445 Impact Educators come from thirty-five states, the District of Columbia, and twelve countries. Twenty educators recognized this year were also recognized in 2023 as part of the inaugural cohort.

The Impact Educator initiative celebrates K–12 educators from around the world who are shaping tomorrow’s leaders. The honorees are recognized by outstanding high school seniors for shaping their students’ lives and leadership learning.

'We are proud to recognize 445 outstanding educators who ignite the spark of curiosity in our future leaders,' said Chris Bradford, president of Morehead-Cain. 'Their dedication, passion, and impact shape hearts and minds and lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. We thank these teachers for being architects of hope.'"

Learn more and see the full list of 2024 Impact Educators here.