Number 10

Professional Learning Workshop: "Engage, Educate, Empower: Elevating K-12 Learning Through Global Perspectives"

As part of 2024 International Education Week activities, NCDPI is partnering with the Area Studies Centers at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University to offer a professional learning workshop on November 9 at the FedEx Global Education Center in Chapel Hill.

This year’s event, “Engage, Educate, Empower: Elevating K-12 Learning Through Global Perspectives,” will equip K-12 educators with innovative global education-related teaching materials and strategies that can be adapted to all content areas, while aligning with North Carolina standards.

CEUs are available. Learn more and register here.

Number 9

North Carolina Museum of History's "History-In-a-Box" Kits for Educators

Educators can bring the North Carolina Museum of History to their classrooms through the museum's digital “History-In-a-Box” kits, a fun and fresh approach that connect North Carolina history with language arts, science, math and visual arts. Digital kit offerings include: North Carolina Pottery, North Carolina, Colonial and Revolutionary War Times, From the Mountains to the Seas series and more!

Educators can request a "History-in-a Box" kit for classrooms here. 

Number 8

2024-25 Purple Star Award Submissions Now Open

The submission period for the 2024-25 Purple Star Award is now open through February 1. The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families.

Check out the webinar for 2023-24 Purple Star Award, which provides overview of the application process, and learn more about NC's efforts to celebrate schools that support military-connected students and families. Find more information here. 

Number 7

United States Senate Youth Program Accepting Applications

Applications are open for the U.S. Senate Youth Program for high school juniors and seniors. Two student delegates and two alternates will be selected to represent North Carolina, meet high-ranking government officials and participate in education, leadership and public service activities during Washington Week, March 1-8, 2025. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

Learn more and apply for the United States Senate Youth Program.

Number 6

EdNC: "Science of Reading, Policy Implementation, and More Highlighted at The Reading League Conference"

"Educators recently gathered in North Carolina from across the country for the eighth annual The Reading League Conference to learn more about delivering literacy instruction to students and how to overcome the challenges that come with doing so.

The Reading League is an organization that supports teachers and evidence-aligned reading instruction. They aim to provide professional development to literacy interventionists as well as educators in general education classrooms.

For this year’s conference, the organization decided that they “outgrew” their base in Syracuse, NY and instead held the event in Charlotte for the first time.

'When we learned last year that the national conference was leaving Syracuse, NY for the first time and coming to Charlotte, our organization was floored,' Linda Rhyne, president of The University Reading League North Carolina Chapter, said. 'Not only was this an opportunity to maintain the momentum of the science of reading movement in our state, but also meant that our national organization thought we were ready to support this huge undertaking. That was a huge stamp of support.'"

Read the full story, including words from NCDPI Office of Early Learning Director, Amy Rhyne, here. 

Number 5

Volunteers Needed for Math Standards Data Review Committee

The NCDPI K-12 Math Team is soliciting volunteers to participate on a Math Standards Data Review Committee (DRC) to review data and trends on the current K-12 Math Standard Course of Study, along with feedback collected from interviews, focus groups and survey responses from stakeholders.

The DRC will analyze this data to make recommendations for a separate Standards Writing Team (SWT) to consider. Individuals with experience in reviewing and compiling data including K-12 educators, school and district leaders, educators from institutions of higher education and business and community leaders are encouraged to apply.

Learn more and submit an application here. The deadline to apply is December 2 at 8 a.m.

Number 4

WFAE: "NC Schools, Colleges to Receive $102 Million from Second Helene Relief Bill"

"North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed the state’s second Helene relief package into law Friday. The $604 million bill includes funding to help schools and colleges recover from the storm.

The bill will give $65 million to the state’s Department of Public Instruction. Of that, $50 million will go toward helping fund repairs and renovations needed because of the storm.

The remaining $15 million will be split evenly between replacing lost technology, funding lost food supplies for schools in national school meal programs, and supporting mental health services for students and staff."

Read the full story here. 

Number 3

District Highlight: Jackson County Public Schools -Smoky Mountain High School Named Disney on Broadway School of Excellence

Congratulations to Smoky Mountain High (Jackson County Public Schools) for being named a Disney on Broadway School of Excellence! In its inaugural year, 21 schools across the U.S. were selected to participate in the program, a partnership between Disney Theatrical Group, the Educational Theatre Association and Music Theatre International.

Smoky Mountain High will receive a free license to produce and perform a Disney state musical between fall of 2024 and December 2025. 

Learn more about the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program and see the full list of recipient schools here. 

Number 2

CBS Evening News: "Many North Carolina Students Return to Class for First Time Since Hurricane Helene"

"In the hills of Watauga County in western North Carolina, the ride for Valle Crucis Elementary School students was filled with excitement Friday. They were among several thousand North Carolina students who returned to school for the first time since Hurricane Helene tore through portions of the state about a month ago, carving a path of destruction.

'I was worried about them because of the hurricane,' one Valle Crucis student said of his fellow classmates. 'And I was super happy, super-duper happy to see them.'

Helene filled Valle Crucis Elementary, a K-8 school, with 4 feet of muddy water and swamped the school buses parked outside the school. As a result, classes are being temporarily held at an old conference center located about a mile from the damaged school."

This story and accompanying video footage from the CBS Evening News features Watauga County schools staff, students and families as they return to school, overcoming challenges and supporting staff, students and families. To our western districts impacted by Hurricane Helene, your strength and resiliency are an inspiration to all of us!

Number 1

"NCDPI Awarded $3.9 Million Grant for Durable Skills Assessment"

"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has been awarded a nearly $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to pilot the Skills for the Future (SFF) project in North Carolina. This initiative is part of a national effort to measure and incorporate durable skills into education systems, equipping students with the competencies needed for success in college, careers and life.

This Skills for the Future pilot will utilize the North Carolina Portrait of a Graduate (Portrait) durable skills to anchor the assessment tools. The Portrait identifies the skills and mindsets North Carolina’s students need for success after high school, including: adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, learner’s mindset and personal responsibility."

Read the full press release here.