Number 10

DPI Seeking Best Practices for Using Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Data

DPI is looking for NC's best practices for using NC TWC data by school or district leadership as part of school improvement planning, district strategic planning or data-driven conversations. Please send any great examples of presentations, data walls/walks, reflection protocols, school improvement plans/district strategic plans, board materials, principal eval protocols, etc. to nctwc@dpi.nc.gov.

Number 9

NCSTAR Spring 2024 Professional Development

The Office of District & Regional Support is excited to announce the Spring 2024 NCStar & School Improvement Planning Professional Development!

This two-day training will be offered in six different locations across the state March-May. These sessions will cover content similar to what was shared during the Fall 2023 trainings, such as the continuous improvement pathway, and will offer collaborative work time for each school improvement planning component. Spring 2024 sessions also offer resources and strategies including tips for implementing recent changes to the 12 Key Indicators.

Day 1: Participants will learn about school improvement using NCStar and how to navigate the platform to assess, create and monitor school-based practices. Participants will also learn about the components of Set Direction in NCStar, including the use of Performance Measures to monitor progress of school improvement goals. 
Day 2: Participants will continue to learn about school improvement using NCStar with a focus on the Continuous Improvement Cycle (Assess, Create, Monitor) to create robust school improvement plans. Participants will also learn about best practices for school improvement teams, including how to run an effective SIT meeting, effective forms of distributive leadership and the critical role that SIT leaders and committees play in moving the school achievement needle forward, and evaluation of a school’s School Improvement Plan.   

To register, please click on this link: Spring 2024 Regional Training - NCStar Registration. 

Number 8

NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Offering Free Digital Transition Professional Development Sessions for Educators During March

• March 13 at 6:30 pm - Social Studies and English Language Arts - How One Supports the Other: Creating Horizontal Alignment Between the Two Disciplines. CEU: Social Studies or ELA.
• March 20 at 6:30 pm - Creating a Sense of Community in the Classroom: Cultivating an “All for One and One for All” Classroom. CEU: General.
• March 27 at 6:30 pm - Students and the News - Reality vs. Instagram: How to Discern Reliable Sources. CEU: General or Digital Learning

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

Number 7

North Carolina Conference Highlights Importance of Dual Enrollment

"Hundreds of higher education leaders across the country gathered virtually on Feb. 28-29 for a dual enrollment conference hosted by several North Carolina agencies — the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS), the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Early College Research Center, and the national RAND Corporation.

The conference included more than 30 sessions focused on the benefits of dual enrollment, the need for equity, and strategies to improve and expand programs.

'This is the second conference focused on the role of dual enrollment in unlocking student potential and expanding access to postsecondary education in our state and across the country,' said NCCCS President Dr. Jeff Cox. 'We are a leader in the country in dual enrollment, but there’s a lot of interest to expand even further.'

In North Carolina, dual enrollment opportunities for high school students have existed for more than 30 years. The state’s dual enrollment program, Career and College Promise (CCP), was created in 2011 to provide structured opportunities for high school students to earn college credits tuition-free that 'lead to a certificate, diploma, or degree as well as provide entry-level jobs skills.'”

Read the full story here. 

Number 6

New Social Studies Resource

The NCDPI Social Studies team is pleased to share a new resource for parents and teachers. The Social Studies Parents Guides will help parents understand what their students are learning in social studies, how they can help and provide additional resources. The guides are available for grades K-8 and 9-12.

• K-8 guide
• 9-12 guide

Number 5

Arts Education Draft 2 Survey

State Board of Education policy specifies that the NC Department of Public Instruction will formally collect feedback on the draft revised standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies.

The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from educators and stakeholders familiar with the Dance, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts Standard Courses of Study in order to inform revision decisions. The Arts Education team requests your thoughtful input and comments on the draft revised academic standards for Dance, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts to inform the revision process.

The 11-question survey closes March 31. Find the survey here. 

Number 4

N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission’s Go Outside (GO) Grant

What is the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission’s Go Outside (GO) Grant?
The N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission provides outdoor learning opportunities for youth across the state of North Carolina. This state-wide grant program directly supports the construction of outdoor learning facilities and experiential learning trips and programs.

What organizations are eligible to apply for a GO Grant?
Eligible organizations must qualify as either a North Carolina K-12 school, or nonprofit organization.

Learn more about the grant and apply here.

Number 3

A Guide to Help PSUs Sustain Effective Programming Post-ESSER

The Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) has just released a Grant Sustainability guide that is designed to support districts and schools in navigating the landscape of available funding opportunities following the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program.

This guide aims to empower program leaders by offering insights into various grants that can sustain and bolster initiatives initially funded through ESSER. Through clear, accessible information and curated links to relevant resources, this guide equips educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify suitable funding avenues and maximize the impact of their programs. Moreover, it provides practical examples illustrating how these grants can be strategically utilized to ensure the continuity of programming.

If you have questions about how you might apply for any of these grants to sustain ESSER-funded programming in your PSU, please reach out to our team at olr-esser-support@dpi.nc.gov.

Find the OLR Grant Sustainability Guide here.

Number 2

NC Governor's School Seeking Teachers for Summer 2024

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is seeking creative, engaging teachers to serve as instructors for the 2024 summer session. Teachers are needed for both Governor’s School East and West campuses, hosted by Greensboro College and Meredith College.

Learn more and apply here.

Number 1

NC Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Survey Open Through March 31

The 2024 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey is open and will be available to take through March 31! Teachers should have received a direct link to the survey in their school email inbox. 

If you or someone at your school did not receive the survey link on March 1 and think you or they should have, please reach out to your school's TWC Coordinator or Survey Support. 

As a reminder, we will be hosting weekly office hours throughout the month of March on Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. Additionally, the survey help desk can be reached at 888-404-9704 or surveysupport@adi.org.