|
Upcoming Dates of Note:
See below for details
- January 15th hard deadline - 2024-2025 Health Assessment and Immunization Report
- January 15th - Remote Charter Academy Applications Due
- January 30th - Office Hour; Infinite Campus and Charter Schools
|
|
OCS Virtual Office Hours
The purpose of the OCS Office Hours is to allow Charter School Leaders to connect with NCDPI departments to share information and resources.
The Office of Charter Schools is excited to connect with you. If you have questions, contact Julie Whetzel at julie.whetzel@dpi.nc.gov
January 30th at 9 am
Infinite Campus and Charter Schools
|
|
 |
First Friday: Draft 1 of the Proposed 2025 ELA SCOS All Stakeholder Standard-by-Standard Surveys Close Next Week!
ELA Newsletter with Survey link
2024-2025 Annual K-12 Health Assessment and Immunization Report
The deadline for schools to submit their annual report has been extended until January 15th, 2025. Please note, these reports should reflect student compliance status on the new deadline date.
Reports must be completed online, by school name and ID number, via the following link:
PLEASE READ! 2025 NSCECU Foundation PHP Scholarship Instructions
Greetings Principals and Counselors of NC Charter High School Seniors,
Welcome back to the 2025 NCSECU People Helping People Scholarship Awarding process for charter high school seniors. The grant application window opened on Monday, Dec. 16th, 2024.
OCS will be selecting 10 NCSECU Scholarships to be granted in 2025, awards of up to $10,000 per student.
Here is the folder (LINKED) of information for your school nomination. Carefully read through these resources. There will not be more than one candidate within a school's choosing, due to the number of applicants working to achieve the same goal from other charter schools.
Directions and Dates for Submissions-
-
The NCSECU PHP Scholarship application opens December 16th, 2024. Another post will be repeated within the next few weeks in our OCS Charter School News blasts.
-
As the school facilitator, you should plan for this process to be complete by March 5th. Then your on-site Selection Team will have time to select your finalists and can complete your submissions via email no later than March 12th, at natasha.norins@dpi.nc.gov in PDF formats. The email should include your student's email address, your email address, your school name, their NCSECU Eligibility verification forms, their student questionnaire, and all essays with their grade averages including college credits earned. Please ensure the Application Process document is read and reread for your understanding as Counselor Facilitators of this process.
-
Prior to the 3/12/25 deadline, students and you will follow the instructions carefully with the Docusign application process, but should solidify all your nominations a few weeks prior to the 3/12/25 deadline. March 12th is a final hard deadline, and no applications will be accepted after this date.
-
Along with this final portion of the application, once students complete the application process with all elements included, (which may take up to a week’s worth of effort with emails and completion of packets), you as the school Facilitator will send Dr. Norins emailed applications as PDF files of your final selected senior. *Please note: any application missing elements from the required checklist will not be moved to final stages of selection.
-
The OCS Selection Committee will process the application materials, perform our calibrations, and finalize formal requirements set by NCSECU Foundation.
-
OCS selections are then sent to NCSECU no later than April 4th, 2025, and those students will be invited to attend the Charter School Review Board Meeting in May 2024 for formal recognition.
|
|
School Business December 20, 2024
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.
New SBS Reporting Platform - All PSUs
We are proud to announce the School Business Data Analytics and Reporting Tool (SBS DART) went live today. SBS DART will be the new home of our financial reports moving forward. Internal reports such as the monthly financial reports, cash zero out report, invalid codes report, remaining allotment balances, etc. will now live within SBS DART.
All users who were approved to have PSU level access to their internal financial reports should have received an email today with the directions on how to login and access SBS DART. If you did not get an email and believe you should have received access, please check with your finance officer/director first. If they included you on the approved list and you did not get the email, then you reach out to nathan.craver@dpi.nc.gov and he will follow up with you.
Please keep in mind that 2024-25 is our build-out year and consider SBS DART as under construction. As such, we will be adding reports and features throughout the final part of the school year, and we also welcome your feedback. If there are reports that you need and/or would like to have, please let us know. We will be posting a feature/report suggestions link inside of DART soon. We look forward to continuing to improve our data reporting and analytics tools as we move ahead.
There will be a public access site within SBS Dart as we continue development. At this time, we are only setting up access for the PSU fiscal staff and will expand from there. Thank you for your continued patience as we modernize our systems.
January Teacher Bonus – ALL PSUs
The Third Grade Read to Achieve Teacher Bonus (PRC 046) and Other Teacher Performance Bonuses (PRC 048) were allotted on December 18th to be paid in January. The staff qualifying for the bonus will be posted to the normal sites; the HR Secure Shell and CTE should be communicating that bonus information.
PSUs are responsible for ensuring that those employees on the listings provided by DPI qualify for these bonuses based on their internal records. You cannot solely rely on the DPI file to ensure compliance. The FAQs for all teacher bonuses are posted on our website under What’s New. Please be aware that is important to correctly code the bonus as it will be used later for Legislative requests.
Please contact Michael Ray (michael.ray@dpi.nc.gov) should you have any questions, and he will be happy to get you in contact with the appropriate program area.
From the DPI Department of Information Technology
Hurricane Helene Technology Recovery Funds Process - Helene PSUs Only
In accordance with NC S.L. 2024-54, $5,000,000 was appropriated for “replacement of school technology, particularly student and teacher devices, in counties with a federal disaster declaration due to Hurricane Helene”. NCDPI has created the form linked below for PSUs to request funding for technology damaged because of Hurricane Helene. We request that all PSUs within these counties complete this form to indicate if they are requesting these funds.
The required “Damaged Technology Inventory Template” and “Procedure and Attestation form” are attached to this email or available via the links below. Submissions are requested by the end of January 31, 2025, via this form https://go.ncdpi.gov/HTRF-Form. Submissions received after January 31, 2025, will be considered if funds are still available.
Process and required documentation for PSUs requesting funding:
- Compile source documentation to reflect the actual losses and the value of the losses as a result of Hurricane Helene. Documentation should include the following.
- Complete the damaged technology inventory template to identify technology equipment losses and the value of the losses as a result from Hurricane Helene. - https://go.ncdpi.gov/HTRF_Damaged-Inv-Template
- Submit technology equipment repair and/or replacement invoices on form referenced in step three below. Include any other documents that substantiate the claim for State funds to support the repair and replacement of technology equipment.
- Print, review, complete and sign the Attestation Form. The Finance Officer and Technology Director signatures are required to process the claim for State Disaster Funds. - https://go.ncdpi.gov/HTRF-Procedure&Attestation
- One Attestation Form should be completed per PSU request.
- Submit all documents, including the damaged technology inventory, replacement invoice(s), and completed Attestation Form using the Hurricane Helene Technology Recovery Funds Form -https://go.ncdpi.gov/HTRF-Form.
- Each PSU will receive a confirmation email once all documents are received.
- Complete submissions by the end of January 31, 2025. Approved submissions are projected to be included in a February/March allotment.
- Reimbursements will be made through DPI School Business Allotment (PRC 0230).
For questions, contact the following personnel in the Technology Services Office: Tim Wease, PSU Cybersecurity Director, (948) 236-2269, timothy.wease@dpi.nc.gov
|
|
From the Center for Safer Schools Director, Karen Fairley
School Safety Grants Update
Thank you for applying for funding as part of the 2024-2025 School Safety Grant Program. The Center for Safer Schools has been made aware of misinformation regarding disbursement of the monies. I am writing to provide you an update on the process.
- Public school units that applied for School Resource Officer funding have been notified of their award status.
- The School Safety Grant Review Committee is currently reviewing each application for funding for Safety Equipment, Services for Students in Crisis and Training to Increase School Safety. Applicants will receive notification of their award status the week after Christmas break.
- Session Law 2024-57 /Senate Bill 382 transferred the Center for Safer Schools to the State Bureau of Investigation. However, you will still receive funding.
If you have questions, please send an email to schoolsafetygrants@dpi.nc.gov. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work together to help keep our schools safer.
From the Office of School Nutrition
Direct Certification (DC) student file upload from Infinite Campus - All PSUs
SFA’s are no longer required to obtain Infinite Campus (IC) Student File from their SIS Coordinators and upload it to DC in SNTS. The students are now included with the PowerSchool data file upload that NC DPI provides to LINQ. Note that you are still required to work on the Additional Possible Matches and Extended Eligibility Matches in DC. This process did not change. If you have any questions, please contact your School Nutrition Zone Consultant.
Questions? Contact SBS
Deadline Reminders
ALL PSUs
|
DUE DATE
|
TOPIC
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
12/29/24
|
Federal grants liquidation
|
12/13/24
|
|
12/30/24
|
Cash Requests for Friday January 3, 2025 FRD
|
11/21/24
|
|
01/03/25
|
December 2024 Datafiles
|
12/13/24
|
IPS ONLY
|
DUE DATE
|
TOPIC
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
03/14/25
|
PPL Form for March Reimbursement
|
10/10/24
|
|
|
2024 Driver Education Certificates
Are you looking for the new 2024 Driver Education Certificates for your students to take to the DMV?
Look no Further! Email all requests directly to the Office of Charter Schools at StakeholderSupport@dpi.nc.gov. They will be processed within a week. Schools may continue to utilize the old forms until supplies are depleted.
|
|
World Languages Standards Implementation PD Registration
World Languages and Healthful Living are currently in Standards Installation. As part of installation, both teams will be providing regional standards implementation PD in Spring 2025. Below are the current schedule and registrations for World Languages.
NCED Connect Symposium
Call for Proposals, Hotel Information and more are now available at the DTL hub
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/dtl
Who: This event is tailored for District Leadership, CTOs, Teachers, Coaches, Accountability Teams, SIS Coordinators, Data Managers, Ed Tech/Media Specialists, and E-Rate On-Site Support staff and any educational professional that wants to leave with actionable strategies they can apply in their classrooms or schools immediately with NCSIS and more!
What: This symposium will offer sessions on the North Carolina Student Information System (Sessions for SIS Coordinators, District and School Leadership, Data Managers, and Teachers), Homebase applications (NCEES - Teacher Evaluation System, Schoolnet- nstructional Improvement System), EdTech, AI in education, Data Privacy, and school Media programs. It provides an opportunity to engage, learn, and connect while sharing research-based strategies for improving teaching practices and student outcomes. Attendees will gain insights, professional support, and data-driven approaches to enhance school operations, foster collaboration, and manage student data effectively through SIS, driving both immediate and long-term educational success.
When and Where:
- Tuesday- Thursday; January 21-23, 2025
- Koury Center in Greensboro, NC
Registration Details:
- Regular Registration - $300/pp | Nov. 23 - Dec. 18
- Late/On-Site Registration - $350/pp | Dec. 19 - Jan. 23
*Lead Presenters will be free (1 person per session). Call for proposals are still open!
Need a hotel for NCED Connect?
Book your room at the Sheraton by Dec. 10, 2024 for $149/night. Visit https://book.passkey.com/e/50907144 to make your reservations.
Click to edit this placeholder text.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring Updates for 2025
Did you know that Edvantage Tutoring offers virtual, live, standards-based support for Middle and High School students in Math, Science, and ELA?
UPDATES: Spring 2025 Program Details: Tutoring is available Monday - Wednesday, 4:30 PM-6:30 PM, weekly through May 22, 2025. Tutoring Fee: $35/hour flat fee. Tutoring sessions are 30 minutes each.
NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring Services Offered In:
- 6th, 7th & 8th Grade ELA, Math & Science
- Middle School ELA: Writing Lab (asynchronous assistance in ELA)
- 8th Grade Math I
- High School Math I, II, & III
- High School Biology
- High School English: Writing Lab (asynchronous assistance in English)
*General MS/HS Asynchronous Support (asynchronous assistance in all curriculum areas)
Enroll your students today for Spring 2025. Learn more at https://ncvps.org/edvantage-tutoring.
|
|
|
We have added a section to share good news about our schools so please send your stories to Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov
Share excellence in education!
Post exceptional student work or exciting happenings at your NC Charter School. Then tag or mention OCS on Social Media for others to see!
Remember when you share on social media to use #WeAreNCCharters or @NCCharterOffice
|
Fresh Take 2025
Community School of Davidson is excited to host the 12th Annual Fresh Take Conference on Friday, March 7th 2025. This conference is planned BY teachers and FOR teachers, and we are very excited to host researcher and educator Dr. John Almarode as our keynote speaker this year!
CSD is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2025 conference. As CSD was founded and believes in research-based best practices, we strongly encourage the inclusion of any related research in presentation proposals. For accepted presenters, we are pleased to share that the conference fee will be waived, and both breakfast and lunch are included! You will also receive a conference tee shirt.
If you would like to join the conference as an attendee, please complete sign up here: Fresh Take Attendee Registration. There is a discount for groups of 5 or more. Please feel free to share this link with your colleagues!
Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Erika Bowen, Leslie Bragg & Lory Morrow
ebowen@csdspartans.org
lbragg@csdspartans.org
lmorrow@csdspartans.org
CSD Fresh Take Team
2024 Standards of Professional Conduct
Please download and distribute this OCS guidance document.
School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual
This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators.
2024 Updated SASA-Manual
Charter School Job Postings
Job postings will include the posted date and will be deleted after two months. Schools may request early removal or extension. Contact Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov with a posting link.
|
|
|
Ashley Baquero • Director, Office of Charter Schools
Please send general inquires to ocs@dpi.nc.gov
Contact information for area specialists can be found on the Office of Charter Schools Directory.
|
|
|
|
|
