Share excellence in NC Charters campaign
Don't be shy! OCS wants to help you brag and tag your school. Post and use #weareNCcharters to shout out excellence in NC education in our charter schools.
MEMO: 2024–25 Accountability and Testing Training
School Leaders,
Please find the attached memo, 2024–25 Accountability and Testing Training, from Dr. Michael Maher, Dr. Tammy Howard and Ms. Ashley Baquero.
Annual Charter School Health Services Report and Section Two Worksheet; NOTE A17 Measure of the Performance Framework
Annual Charter School Health Services Report and Section Two-Worksheet
The Annual Charter School Health Report will open May 1, 2024, and must be completed no later than June 20, 2024. A preparation worksheet is provided with the reporting criteria. All schools are encouraged to download the worksheet and mark the appropriate responses before beginning the online report survey. You may click here to access the worksheet. Once you have prepared your responses, save the document to your local computer. This worksheet cannot be accepted as your report requirements. You will use it as a tool to enter your information into the online survey system once the report opens.
North Carolina’s charter schools are required to comply with the Care of Students with Diabetes and with the School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors laws. Annually, charter schools report on compliance with each law, providing information that identifies staff educational and support needs related to compliance and student safety.
The Charter School Health Report is designed to assist schools in addressing the healthcare needs of students. Responses will be used to inform future training topics and to report on compliance with required legislation and policies such as Care of Students with Diabetes (§ 115C-375.3.) and School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (§ 115C-375.2A ). The survey will open May 1, 2024, and should be completed no later than June 20, 2024.
State Board Approves ESSER III Funding for NCVPS Summer Program
The State Board of Education approved $2,000,000 in ESSER III funding for the NCVPS summer school program, making our online courses even more accessible to students across North Carolina. This funding will be shared with each district and charter school based on their 6-12 ADM. We encourage you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!
To view the ESSER-funded allotments for your district or charter, please consult the Summer 2024 Enrollments Covered by ESSER III Funds spreadsheet. If you need additional seats above your designated allotments, please fill out this survey.
Our summer school kicks off on June 25. This remarkable opportunity offers students who might not typically have access to summer classes a chance to excel. Each summer, we witness a diverse range of students participating in our courses for various reasons. We are confident that this initiative will have a profoundly positive impact on your community, and we hope you make the most of it.
CLOSING SOON: 2024 NC Charter Applications
The 2024 North Carolina Charter School Application is now open, as of Friday, January 26th at 5 pm Eastern. The 2024 charter application window will close on April 26, 2024, at 5pm Eastern. Applicants who are interested in opening a charter school in 2025 under the accelerated timeline, or in 2026 under the standard timeline must submit their charter applications on or before the April 26, 2024 application close date.
Both the online application and $1,000 application fee must be submitted on or before April 26, 2024 at 5pm Eastern. Applicant boards will be expected to appear in-person for interviews at the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, NC that will commence during the monthly meetings of the Charter Schools Review Board meeting beginning September 2024.
For questions about the charter application process, please reach out to Melanie.Rackley@dpi.nc.gov.
The link to the 2024 NC Charter School application is posted on the NCDPI Charter Schools Application page found here.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the final OLR ARP Convening. This year's convening serves as a dual-purpose platform: firstly, to celebrate the remarkable achievements of district and charter schools in leveraging ESSER funds and effectively fostering significant strides in education despite the challenges of the pandemic. Secondly, our aim is to equip PSUs with essential knowledge, and resources to sustain the momentum they've built post-pandemic with the aid of ESSER funding. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student, irrespective of background, continues to receive the support necessary to thrive academically, and transition successfully into their post-secondary pathway of choice.
There are two options for attendance: Thursday, June 20th or Thursday, June 27th. Please register for the option that works best for you. Use the form below to register for our summer convening at the SAS Institute in Cary, NC. Registration is limited this year!
Registration Link: https://go.ncdpi.gov/ARPSummer
The following adjustments have been made for the 2024 Summer Convening:
School Business APRIL 19, 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.
Cash Calendar Deadlines – All PSUs
Please adhere to the cash calendar deadlines and request cash in sufficient time for state, local and federal check coverage. We are restricted by the State Treasurer and can no longer accommodate regular requests after the deadlines due to the complexity of the transactions and margin for errors. Emergency situations will need approval and may not be able to be accommodated. For assistance with cash management, contact CashMgt@dpi.nc.gov.
Closed ESSER Grants – All PSUs
DPI is in the final stages of reconciliation work for the closed ESSER II PRCs. If funding/cash adjustments are needed, we will execute those transactions and then provide you with an email that includes information for your bank reconciliations. As we near year end:
- Begin to move over-reported expenditures out of the closed ESSER II PRCs grant PRCs.
- Cash for these ESSER II PRCs is no longer available for request. Do not request cash for the closed PRCs unless you have been approved for an extended liquidation.
- Cash provided in excess of expenditures should be refunded back to NC DPI.
Continued activity in these closed PRCs creates possible compliance issues. We anticipate completion of the reconciliation in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for your patience during this process. If you have questions or concerns related to the ESSER II Close, please contact Jane Seo (jane.seo@dpi.nc.gov).
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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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05/31/2024
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Last day for state and federal reversion requests
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04/12/2024
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Guidance for School Threat Assessment Teams
On behalf of State Superintendent Catherine Truitt and Executive Director Karen W. Fairley, the Center for Safer Schools thanks you for your patience during the process of crafting “Best Practice Guidance for North Carolina Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams for Harm Prevention.” This document is intended to be a reference for North Carolina public schools as they craft the threat assessment teams mandated by Session Law 2023-78/House Bill 605.
The guide and accompanying documents are not checklists that can be quantified. Instead this document is designed to assist with behavioral threat assessment, which is a fact-based process of identifying, assessing and managing individuals who may pose a risk of violence or other harm to self or others, and to assist school districts in development of a comprehensive behavioral threat assessment and management plan. Furthermore, as circumstances change, an individual’s potential for violence may increase or decrease.
This guide aims to provide a framework and resources for public school units while emphasizing the importance of local adaptation and legal compliance. This guide should be adapted based on specific needs, legal advice and evolving best practices. This document is a resource and not a definitive word. Each PSU should seek direction from its legal counsel.
Click here to access “Best Practice Guidance for North Carolina Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Teams for Harm Prevention.” A link to the document is posted on the homepage of the Center for Safer Schools website as well.
The CFSS will offer training sessions for school threat assessment teams in May, as well as at the 2024 RISE Back to School Safety Summit. Registration information will be announced as it becomes available.
If you have questions, send an email to cfss@dpi.nc.gov. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to make schools safer.
Required PD Survey for ML/Title III (Formerly known as the EOY Survey)
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) ML/Title III team is responsible for collecting specific information from Public School Units (PSUs) and reporting it to the U.S. Department of Education, NC State Board of Education, and NCDPI leadership. To simplify this process, NCDPI has consolidated these collections into a single survey. All PSUs serving one or more students identified as English Learners are mandated to complete this survey anytime between March 1st through May 1st, 2024.
This year, the survey has been moved out of PowerSchool and into Qualtrics for your convenience. You can now access and complete all survey questions directly through Qualtrics. To assist you in preparing for and completing the survey, the ML/Title III Team has developed a comprehensive worksheet with step-by-step instructions. We strongly recommend completing this worksheet before accessing the survey in Qualtrics. This will ensure a smoother and more efficient process.
New to the survey for 23-24 SY? Please note that the US Department of Education mandates Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) counts. You will find this requirement in the second section of the survey, where you'll be prompted to input the number of students in the selected program(s).
If you encounter any issues accessing the survey icon in PowerSchool, please reach out to Susan Walz at susan.walz@dpi.nc.gov for assistance. Thank you for your cooperation in completing this important survey. Your participation is crucial in providing valuable data for our educational programs.
If you encounter any issues accessing the survey icon in PowerSchool, please reach out to Susan Walz at susan.walz@dpi.nc.gov for assistance. Thank you for your cooperation in completing this important survey. Your participation is crucial in providing valuable data for our educational programs.
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:
Office of Charter Schools (OCS) Updates
Pinnacle Classical Academy students qualify for National History, Geography Bee national championships
Four students at Pinnacle Classical Academy have qualified for the national championships in the National History Bee and/or the National Geography Bee in Orlando in the middle and elementary school division.
Fifth grader Ximena Martinez finished in second place in the fifth grade competition of the North Carolina Regional Final of the National History Bee in Durham. Ximena was tied for first place in the competition with a student from Wake County as she entered the final tiebreaker round.
In addition, Bryce Harris qualified for the national championship in the National History Bee; Fisher Grayson qualified for the national championship in the National History Bee; and Maxwell Newsome qualified for the national championships in both the National History Bee and the National Geography Bee. All three are seventh graders.
Finley Burton, Dairleth Chavez, Aniston Kinmon, Mia Kinmon, and Daniel Stroup also qualified for, and competed in, the regional finals.
"We are so proud of these students," said Dr. Shelly Shope, the school's headmaster. "Their incredible accomplishments and love of history are a testimony to the knowledge and enthusiasm of their history teachers, as well as the strength of our classical curriculum."
Pinnacle Classical Academy is a free public charter school in Shelby that attracts 1,165 students from five counties. PCA's elementary school, middle school, and high school are all ranked among America's best schools by U.S. News & World Report.
A Reminder about Driver's Education and Charter School Students
Charter School students who reside within a district but are enrolled in a North Carolina Charter School or Virtual Academy may enroll in the driver education program within a district school. The student is required to follow the fee structure established by the district. Districts should provide services and document these students accordingly on their quarterly reports.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Karl Logan (karl.logan@dpi.nc.gov)
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
NCAPCS Conference 2024: Registration and Keynote Speaker
Visit the conference section of our webpage HERE to get more information and register, sponsor or submit a proposal for a breakout session! It is literally one-stop shopping. We cannot wait to see you all in the Queen City as we celebrate the charter community's #CrowningAchievements!
NCSSM Connect provides NC public high school students the opportunity to take tuition-free, honors-level, and AP NCSSM courses via interactive video conferencing. This format makes it possible for students to take advanced courses in STEM and humanities subjects while remaining at their local home schools. There isn't an application process to take NCSSM Connect classes.
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.
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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