Number 10

New Resource - Office of Academic Standards External Implementation Guide

Check out the Office of Academic Standards' new External Implementation Guide. This repository is a one-stop shop for each content area related to the NC Standard Course of Study and includes standards and support resources.

Find the resource guide here. 

Number 9

"Building Data-driven Capacity for N.C. School Districts"

"Teacher retention. Student engagement and attendance. Providing professional development for educators to help them deliver effective literacy instruction. School readiness. Enhancing outcomes for students with disabilities.

When public schools opened their doors to students for the 2023-24 school year last August, many districts faced – and they continue to face – a range of challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, as the past school year got underway so did a unique partnership between the UNC School of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) — the North Carolina Practitioner Network — which is working to help districts from across the state to address these kinds of lingering challenges through practice-informed research and evidenced-based solutions.

Since the Network’s launch, the effort has convened administrators from 14 districts — from as far west as Caldwell County and as far east as Chowan County — for 5 interactive workshops, both in-person and virtual. Working with higher education and K-12 leaders, university-based researchers and faculty members, and policymakers, Network participants have developed their ability to identify unique challenges their districts face, utilize research methodologies and tools, and then develop evidence-based strategies."

Read the full story here. 

Number 8

Pitt County Schools Student Wins Third Place in 2023-24 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

Congratulations to Gracyn Dudding from Chicod School (Pitt County Schools) for placing third in the 2023-24 National School Bus Safety Poster contest for Division 1 (Grades K-2)! The theme for this year's contest, sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, was "Driving Safely Into the Future."

Check out all of the state-level winning posters for 2023-24 here.

Number 7

Carolina Panthers Back to School Day - Discounted Tickets and Free Backpack

Kick off the beginning of the school year and football season and join the Carolina Panthers for Back-to-School Day on Saturday, August 17, at the Panthers' preseason game against the New York Jets. Tickets are $27 per person and come with a Panthers (stadium approved) backpack. 

View tickets here. If you plan to bring a group of 10+, call Hannah Satero directly at (704) 358-7727 to avoid per ticket fees.

Number 6

Resource - "Road to Recovery: Improving Student Attendance and Engagement with State ESSER Funds"

"To address the significant challenge of chronic absenteeism and ensure students can fully benefit from targeted academic recovery efforts as well as the general benefits of being present in school, state education agencies (SEAs) have invested their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) state set-aside funds in initiatives that explicitly target student attendance and engagement, as well as initiatives that tackle the underlying root causes of chronic absenteeism, such as student health and wellbeing.

This report examines investment trends, state examples, promising practices and strategies from effective SEA efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism using ESSER state set-aside dollars. This examination is organized around four common SEA investment areas: data and early warning systems, reengagement of chronically absent students, family engagement and wraparound supports."

Learn more and find the resource here. 

Number 5

2024-25 NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring

Edvantage Tutoring, as part of North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), is in the midst of accepting school enrollments for the 2024-25 school year! Edvantage is growing, and we are excited to continue tutoring students across NC.

Edvantage Tutoring will be offered in the following curriculum areas:

• 6th, 7th & 8th Grade ELA
• Middle School ELA: Writing Lab (asynchronous assistance in ELA)
• 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Math
• 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Science
• 8th Grade Math I
• High School Math I, II and III
• High School Biology
• High School Chemistry
• High School English: Writing Lab (asynchronous assistance in English)
  *General MS/HS Asynchronous Support (asynchronous assistance in all curriculum areas)

Tutoring will be available Monday-Thursday, 4-7:30 p.m. nightly September 23, 2024 through May 22, 2025. 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. Please keep in mind that any unused purchased minutes automatically roll over to the next school year!

Please take a few moments to complete the 2024-25 Edvantage Tutoring District/Schools Partnership Form. You may also send an email to learn more!

Number 4

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Librarian Named Honoree of 2024 I Love My Librarian Award

Congratulations to Gabriel Graña, librarian at Smith Middle (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools), for being selected as one of ten librarians across the U.S. for the American Library Association’s I Love My Librarian Award for 2024! Graña received a $5,000 cash award in recognition of his outstanding service to his community, and was honored at the American Library Association LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience.

The I Love My Librarian Award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries. Learn more about the award and the 2024 honorees here. 

Click here to learn how to nominate your school librarian for the 2025 I Love My Librarian Award.

Number 3

2022 Sandhills Region Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Santamour Recognized in the Fayetteville Observer's 40 Under 40 Class of 2024

"Elizabeth Santamour, 38, of Raeford, is the educator recognition coordinator for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

She was nominated for 40 Under 40 because she 'has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their students, colleagues, and community, making significant contributions to the field of education and beyond,' nominator Leah Carper writes. 'Beyond the classroom, Elizabeth has taken on numerous statewide and local educational leadership roles, including membership in the NCDPI Portrait of a Graduate Leadership Team and the NC DPI's Teacher Leadership Council. She has also served as a mentor teacher, PTO Parent Liaison, EC chair and held various chair positions on professional development and PBIS teams. ... Elizabeth recently was featured as a key speaker in a recent social media campaign and documentary about the importance of feeding all students at no cost to their families.'"

Congratulations on this amazing recognition, Elizabeth! Read more here. 

Number 2

"Center for Safer Schools to Hold Annual Summit"

"The Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) will hold its annual RISE Back to School Safety Summit from July 29-Aug. 2, 2024, at Union Station Conference Center at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C.

RISE – the CFSS’ signature event – focuses on the Resiliency, Information, Support and Empowerment needed when supporting children and adolescents in schools and communities. The training offers a range of sessions covering the issues of bullying, suicide and critical incidents as well as other vital information about trauma and victimization among children and adolescents and how these various dynamics impact school climate and school safety. Scheduled trainings include gang awareness, School Risk Management Plans, reportable offenses, suicide prevention and Sandy Hook Promise's SAVE Promise Club."

Read the full press release here.

If you are a member of the media and would like to attend the media portion of RISE with interview opportunities, please reach out to corrie.byrd@dpi.nc.gov. 

Number 1

"NC Portrait of a Graduate Skills Meet Critical Workforce Needs, NC Commerce Analysis Finds"

"Durable skills included in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Portrait of a Graduate are essential to every occupation in the state, and jobseekers need these skills to meet employer demand, according to a new analysis from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD).

The findings were presented to the State Board of Education today. The data highlights the need to continue integrating durable skills into everyday learning across North Carolina classrooms, said State Superintendent Catherine Truitt.

'Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders and I share a passion for workforce development. This research echoes what both of us regularly hear from employers and underscores the importance of our Portrait of a Graduate work,' Truitt said. 'In addition to academic knowledge, our graduates must also develop the ability to collaborate and communicate with others, adapt to challenging situations and think critically about the information presented to them to excel in the 21st century workforce.'"

Read the full press release here.