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Just Released: The NC Summer Learning Guide!
Summer is just around the corner, and the OLR team wants to provide easy to understand data and evidence that can translate to your summer learning programs. So, our office has just released the NC Summer Learning Guide. This guide contains summaries of qualitative and quantitative studies regarding the implementation and impacts of summer learning programs both in NC and nationwide. The guide also includes vetted resources for planning and sustaining summer programming.
Access a digital version of the guide using this link: https://simplebooklet.com/ncsummerlearningguide
If you prefer to download the guide, the PDF version is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pMRIkBXGcyWvXNNye5Tq4xWRkEkzMh3V/view?usp=drive_link
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Sustainability Opportunity! 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Application Open
The Cohort 17 grant competition opened in CCIP on March 7, 2024, at 08:00AM EST and will close on April 23, 2024, at 12:00PM (NOON) EDT. The funding application must be submitted at least through ‘Draft Completed’ (i.e., error-free) by the closing deadline for review and/or evaluation. CCIP will not allow submissions after 12:00:01 PM (NOON) EDT on April 23, 2024.
If you would like assistance working on your grant application to sustain your high quality afterschool and/or summer programs, please reach out to the OLR team at olr-esser-support@dpi.nc.gov.
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Resource Alert!
Guide to Help PSUs Sustain Effective Programming Post-ESSER
The Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration 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.
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Edunomics Lab to offer School District Finance Workshop
For most districts, financial pressures are intensifying as federal relief funds wind down, enrollments shift, and labor costs continue to rise, all against the backdrop of an economic downturn. Decisions made at this spring’s budget meetings will play a critical role in ensuring that the district’s limited funds are able to deliver the most for its students. This 8-hour workshop is designed to equip school board members with the practical skills needed in strategic fiscal management, finance policy analysis and financial leadership. Sessions will take place 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET on April 18, 19, 25 and 26. Participants will receive a packet of materials ahead of the training. Materials will provide access to customized data and learning. Learn more and register here. Questions? Contact Jordan Tollefson at jordan.tollefson@georgetown.edu.
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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 as follows:
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North Carolina K-12 School: A public, private, or charter school, Homeschool Association, or children’s homes based in North Carolina.
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Nonprofit Organization: A nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Organizations must have the ability to adopt the Commission’s branding as part of their grant.
For more information go to: Go Outside (GO) Grants – Frequently Asked Questions: https://gooutside.nc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GOGrant-FAQ.pdf
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NEW! Recordings Now Available from Cohort 17 RFP TA Webinars
Webinar 1: Overview of RFP and How to Apply: February 28, 2024, from 10 am-12 noon
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The NC TWC Survey is OPEN
Your voice matters! On March 1, 2024, you received an email with a unique and anonymous direct link to the survey from NCTWC@adi.org if you are eligible to participate. This includes all classroom teachers (certified and non-certified) and licensed school-based educators (e.g., school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, media coordinator, instructional coaches, etc.).
Click your email link to begin your survey. The survey has been reduced from 199 to 99 questions and should only take around 20 minutes. The survey can be completed any time before March 31, 2024. You will have the option to enter your email to be included in a drawing for prizes after the survey has closed. NC TWC FAQ
Questions, visit https://www.nctwcs.org/ or email nctwc@dpi.nc.gov
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2023 YoY Report
The 2023 Year-Over-Year State Analysis Report indicates further progress toward the recovery thresholds, meaning that North Carolina schools are steadily continuing to recover from the pandemic with gains virtually across all grades and subjects. Two of 16 standardized assessments (EOG Reading Grade 3 and EOC English II) already show gains above the recovery thresholds.
On average, the data shows that North Carolina schools are showing signs of academic recovery in nearly every subject – with the strongest gains measured in EOG Reading Grade 3. Notable gains are also found in reading and math for grades 3-5 and science grade 5.
PRC 189 Surveys Now Live!
The PRC 189 surveys are now available for distribution.
The End of Program Survey is a required survey. Each site should submit a survey.
For example, if you are running PRC 189 funded programs at three sites in your district you should have the administrators/coordinators/leaders of each program site complete the survey. Please refer to this guidance document to review the survey questions.
The End of Program Student Survey is optional. This survey can be distributed to the students who participate in the program at the end of the program. Please refer to this guidance document to review the survey questions.
Both surveys will close on June 30, 2024.
If you have any questions about the surveys, please reach out to Abby Pearce at abby.pearce@dpi.nc.gov
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Audit Corner
With the deadline to spend ESSER funds fast approaching, we want to dedicate a small section of our newsletter to highlight helpful tips for preparing for future audits.
This week’s tip: Have a question about allowability regarding PRC 181,188, or 189 funds? Email jay.johnson@dpi.nc.gov or richard.lewis@dpi.nc.gov with your questions about allowable uses for more info! And don’t forget, you CAN spend funds on transportation and snacks for program participants! And as of this week, you can now spend PRC 189 funds for before or after school math, ela, and science programs for K-12 rather than only 4-8 grade.
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SparkNC Module Course Coding
Public School Units (PSUs) who are using SparkNC modules are to use the course code for local elective credit (96102X0) and title it locally as High-Tech Learning Accelerator.
- It is up to the PSU to determine how and when to schedule the course.
- When a student successfully completes enough modules to earn an elective credit, it is to be entered into the SIS as a “Pass” and will not count in a student’s GPA.
- It is up to the PSU to determine when the student has passed enough modules with sufficient rigor, breadth, and depth to earn a course credit. This may occur across grade-levels.
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Preparation for ESSER II Audits: PRC 176 and PRC 177
During the week of October 16th, points of contact (PoC) for PRC 176 and/or PRC 177 should have received an email from the OLR team's email, olr-esser-support@dpi.nc.gov. In preparation for potential ESSER II audits, the OLR wants to give PSUs the opportunity to review their PRC plans to ensure they align with the actual activities funded through these PRC(s). The plans were included with the email.
We ask that PSUs review their plan following the process outlined in the Application Amendment Process for PRC 176 and 177 and retroactively submit application amendments in CCIP as needed. If you have questions about this process OR if you did not receive the email and are the PoC for PRC 176 and/or PRC 177, please reach out to the OLR team at the team email: olr-esser-support@dpi.nc.gov.
Please ensure that if you make amendments to your PRC 176 or 177 plans using the Create Comment feature that you alert the assigned program administrator at OLR via email so that they can review and acknowledge the amendment. Jay Johnson (jay.johnson@dpi.nc.gov) is covering the Western four regions of the state and Dr. Richard Lewis (richard.lewis@dpi.nc.gov) is covering the Eastern four regions of the state.
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