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Number 10
2024: The Cliff is Coming "Regional Sessions for Continued Recovery"
In response to the upcoming ESSER funding cliff, the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) will be hosting 10 regional workshops in February focused on new student outcome datasets and utilizing the ESSER Funding Cliff Toolkit. The purpose of these sessions 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. Session participants will leave with an understanding of how to use a data-driven approach to evaluate investments and make sound budgeting decisions beyond September 2024. Review the draft agenda for more information about sessions and schedule.
Due to site 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.
To register to attend a regional event, click here or bit.ly/OLRWinter24. Once you register, you will receive an automated email that contains the address of the session you registered to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact the OLR Project Manager, Jay Johnson, at jay.johnson@dpi.nc.gov or ARP Program Administrator, Dr. Richard Lewis, at Richard.lewis@dpi.nc.gov.
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Number 9
Video: Superintendent Truitt Talks 2024 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey
In this video, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt talks about the 2024 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, highlighting several big changes such as reducing the number of questions, survey distribution and more!
For more information on the 2024 NC Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) website, where you can find FAQs, a calendar of events and more, click here.
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Number 8
*Updated Information* NC TWC 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, join one of the webinars below:
Please note that registration is not required for the meetings. Just click the link and enter the passcode "NCTWC" to join the webinar.
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Number 7
NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring
It is time for yet another upcoming, exciting, and highly beneficial semester of Edvantage Tutoring offered by North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS). To learn more about the program, view their infographic for an overview of Edvantage Tutoring here.
NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring is offered in the following curriculum areas:
- 7th & 8th Grade ELA, Math & Science
- 8th Grade Math I
- High School Math I & Math III
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- *An asynchronous Writing Lab is offered
- *ACT prep sessions are also offered
Tutoring for spring begins Monday, January 22, 2024, and will be available Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. nightly (through May 23rd). Daytime tutoring is also available per school/district request and may be utilized for students who are in ISS, suspended, homebound, absent, and/or working from home, McKinney-Vento, athletes needing extra support, etc.
There is a flat fee of $35/hour for tutoring and all tutoring slots are available in 30-minute increments. Complete the NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring: Districts/Schools Partnership form to sign-up and learn more.
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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.
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Number 5
NC Museum of Art (NCMA) Virtual Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips with NCMA give students the opportunity to engage with objects in the museum’s permanent collection from the classroom!
During these FREE, interactive experiences with a museum educator, students actively engage in discussion and develop visual literacy skills through closely looking at, describing, and connecting with 2-3 works of art.
Virtual Field Trip Length:
- Kindergarten – 5th grade – 30 minutes
- 6th – 12th grade – 30 or 45 minutes (teacher’s choice)
Class Size:
- minimum # of students – 5
- maximum # of students – 30
The NCMA welcomes students with disabilities and diverse learning needs to participate in the virtual field trip program. Virtual field trips can be customized according to a teacher’s recommendations to ensure the accessibility of the experience. Captioning, audio description, and ASL interpretation are available upon request.
Learn more and register here.
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Number 4
Educators Invited to Apply for Governor’s Educator Discovery Award
The Governor’s Educator Discovery Awards recognize the value of quality professional development for teachers at all phases of their careers. The program will provide a stipend of up to $1,000 for preK-12 traditional public and public charter school teachers to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing.
Teachers can use the grant award to attend a workshop or conference that deepens their subject area knowledge, such as a coding workshop for computer science teachers, or a session on how to create a project-based learning experience for students. Applicants need to describe how their participation in the professional development experience will enhance their efforts to create a work-based learning activity for their students.
The deadline to apply is February 19. Learn more and apply here.
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Number 3
Bloomberg Grant Funds Innovative Partnership for Early College High School in Durham
"A partnership between Duke Health, Durham Technical Community College, and Durham Public Schools has been awarded a transformative $29.5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to establish an early college for high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers upon graduation.
The grant is one of 10 awarded nationally through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 'Student-centered, Market-driven Healthcare Education Initiative.' The initiative’s goal is to address critical healthcare workforce needs while preparing young adults for successful careers in the field.
The Durham partnership will provide the preparation needed for careers in nursing, allied health, surgical tech and clinical research. The key elements of the partnership are:
- Interested Durham Public Schools (DPS) students in grades 9-12 will attend the early college high school and simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree or workforce credential for aligned healthcare occupations.
- The Middle College at Durham Tech will expand to an early college high school and will be housed at Durham Tech (DTCC) in a newly renovated space, with the school opening in the fall of 2025.
- Upon graduation, students will have an immediate pathway to jobs or research roles at Duke Health."
Read the full press release here.
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Number 2
NCDPI Releases Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Schools
"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) recently released a guidebook for the use of generative artificial intelligence in public schools.
NCDPI is the fourth state education department in the nation to issue guidance to its schools on the use of this cutting-edge technology.
'Generative artificial intelligence is playing a growing and significant role in our society. At NCDPI, we’re committed to preparing our students both to meet the challenges of this rapidly changing technology and become innovators in the field of computer science,' said State Superintendent Catherine Truitt. 'We also believe that, when implemented thoughtfully and responsibly, generative AI has the power to revolutionize student learning and better prepare North Carolina’s students for the jobs of tomorrow.'
The guidebook includes an initial set of recommendations that will be expanded in the coming months. Districts are encouraged to create accompanying guidelines that are specific to their schools."
Read the full press release and full AI guidance document here.
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Number 1
NC Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced
"Nine North Carolina educators have been named regional Teachers of the Year in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.
Since 2013, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has been proud to partner with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to honor North Carolina teachers. The state has recognized outstanding teachers through its Teacher of the Year program since 1970.
The mission of the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Program is to promote the profession through advocacy and support while recognizing outstanding teaching professionals who are implementing best practices in classrooms across North Carolina.
On April 5, one of these excellent educators will be named the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year during an awards ceremony at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The event will be livestreamed on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook."
Congratulations to all the finalists! Thank you for your dedication to the students of North Carolina. Read the full press release here.
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