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Upcoming Dates of Note:
See below for details
- January 30th 9AM - Office Hour; Infinite Campus and Charter Schools
- January 30th 10AM - CSADM Webinar hosted by FBS
- January 31st - The 2025 application for founding a new charter school goes live
- January 31st - Mid-Year Homeless Data Collection Survey due
- February 12th - OCS February Office Hour: Partnering with Your Board
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Families know best when it comes to making decisions for their children. Education isn't one-size-fits-all. This is why school choice is so important! Join us this week as we celebrate educational opportunities! Our Team at OCS is proud to partner with our 210 NC Charter Schools, students, families, teachers, and leaders to support school choice!
Use the following link to access Resources & use the hashtags #wearenccharters #schoolchoiceweek @schoolchoiceweek to share your school celebrations.
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2024 NAEP data to be released Wednesday, January 29
Hello Public Information Officers and Charter Communication Leaders,
The results of the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be released at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The data will be publicly available at www.nationsreportcard.gov. NCDPI will issue a press release that morning.
Known as the Nation's Report Card, the NAEP typically drives news for several days. Please note that data is only available on the state level and is not disaggregated by district or school. There are two exceptions: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Guilford County Schools receive district-level results as part of their participation in the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA).
If you are interested in learning more about NAEP, NCES is livestreaming their 2024 Nation's Report Card Town Hall at 1 p.m. on release day.
Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!
NCDPI Communications
communications@dpi.nc.gov
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
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OCS February Office Hour: Partnering with Your Board
Our February meeting will be held with Serena Fuller, 2024 Charter Principal of the Year, and John Eldridge, Vice Chair of the CSRB, to discuss partnering for excellence. The importance of cultivating a relationship between the school leader and board.
Partnering with Your School Board
February 12 at 9 am.
2025 NC Charter Applications
The 2025 NC Charter School Application will open on Friday, January 31st, at 5 PM (EST) and will close on April 25, 2025, at 5 PM (EDT). Applicants interested in opening a charter school in 2026 under the accelerated timeline or in 2027 under the standard timeline must submit their charter application and payment by the April 25, 2025, deadline.
The online application and $1,000 application fee must be submitted by April 25, 2025, at 5 PM (EDT).
Additionally, applicant boards must attend in-person interviews at the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, NC, during the monthly Charter Schools Review Board meetings starting in September 2025.
The 2025 NC Charter School application link will be posted on the NCDPI Charter Schools Application page.
For any questions regarding the charter application process, please contact Melanie.Rackley@dpi.nc.gov.
North Carolina Homeless Education Program
Mid-Year Data Collection Survey
Annually, the State Coordinator’s office requires all homeless liaisons to submit a mid-year homeless data collection report. This is required even if you have “0” students to report at this time. The deadline for the submission of the requested information is no later than 5:00 PM on January 31, 2025. No extensions will be granted.
Complete the survey that reflects your PSU’s SIS:
Please note: The provision of the mid-year homeless data survey does not replace the annual homeless data submission that is conducted at the end of the school year.
If you have questions about the data collection survey, contact your EHCY Program Administrator, Savannah Gay .
Charter School Compliance Forums
NCHEP will be hosting virtual Compliance Forums for charter and lab school homeless liaisons to expand their knowledge on the McKinney-Vento Act as well as develop practices to best support the needs of their students who are experiencing homelessness. All homeless liaisons are required to attend the annual Compliance Forums. Homeless liaisons are to attend at least three out of the four meetings listed below and are welcome to participate in all four sessions. Registration is required.
Homeless Liaison Roles & Responsibilities
Monday, February 10, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
REGISTER HERE
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McKinney-Vento Identification & Eligibility
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
REGISTER HERE
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Transportation for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
REGISTER HERE
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Ensuring Educational Stability for Students in Foster Care
Thursday, February 13, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
REGISTER HERE
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If you have questions about registration or these meetings, please contact your EHCY Program Administrator, Savannah Gay.
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School Business January 24, 2025
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.
PSUs Charter School Average Daily Membership (CSADM) - IPSs Only
All Charter, Regional, and UNC Lab Schools with current year enrollment and new charter schools approved to open July 1, 2025 are required to report their projected ADM for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year in the CSADM system.
To assist you with preparing your submission, SBS will be hosting an online webinar on Thursday, January 30th at 10 am. All new charters for the 2025-26 school year should attend; however, returning charters are welcome if they would like a refresher. Please contact SchoolFinancialReporting@dpi.nc.gov with any questions.
Hurricane Helene Technology Recovery Funds Process - Helene PSUs Only
Reminder: 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”. All PSUs within these counties submit the required forms to indicate if they are requesting these funds by the end of January 31, 2025. Submissions received after January 31, 2025, will be considered if funds are still available.
FY2024-25 Allotment Update - ALL PSUs
The following items of interest are scheduled for processing by the end of the week:
- Various Federal PRCs
- Final Reversion of expired Federal funds (ESSER and Non-ESSER PRCs)
For questions related to Federal reversions, please contact Jane.Seo@dpi.nc.gov. If you have general allotment questions, please email allotments@dpi.nc.gov.
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Questions? Contact SBS
Deadline Reminders
ALL PSUs
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DUE DATE
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TOPIC
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NEWSLETTER
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01/31/25
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Technology Recovery Funds Request - Helene PSUs Only
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12/20/24
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IPS ONLY
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DUE DATE
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TOPIC
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NEWSLETTER
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03/14/25
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PPL Form for March Reimbursement
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10/10/24
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Charter School Feedback for the SIS Professional Learning Team
This is the link to the Charter School feedback survey we are conducting at the SIS Professional Learning Team. The feedback from charter schools is vital in helping us support you during the transition to the new NCSIS, Infinite Campus.
Infinite Campus Virtual Training
Dear NCSIS Colleagues,
We are excited to announce a virtual option for our popular "Mastering Campus Training" program! This live, topic-driven training will be held throughout the month of February and is open to Phase I and Phase II PSUs.
Led by Tony Spengal from Infinite Campus, this comprehensive training will provide you with the in-depth knowledge and skills you need to excel in your role.
Registration is now open! Secure your spot today by going to our NCSIS Collections through Eventbrite - Click HERE to register for this virtual option.
February 18th - SIS Overview & Calendars
February 19th - Census
February 20th - User Security
February 21st - Course Catalogs & Hand Scheduling
February 24th - Grading
February 25th - Campus Instruction & Transcripts
February 26th - Attendance
February 27th - Behavior
February 28th - Ad Hoc Reporting
AP teacher performance bonus information
Important information regarding the AP Teacher Performance bonuses: District/Charter schools have the funds to distribute these bonuses by the end of January 2025. Please review the FAQ from NCDPI School Business Services regarding teacher eligibility – you will find it posted on the Advanced Coursework webpage.
NCDPI does not receive teacher names with the qualifying scores each year, yet with access to the online score reports, school AP Coordinators have the information needed to complete this task. Navigate to AP Score Reports for Educators from a College Board account, and follow these steps:
- Select ‘Subject Score Report -by school’
- Select school
- Select any subject
- Select ‘All Sections’
- (You must complete all steps for this to work)
- Then you can click ‘Run report’ – and this will give you the choice to Download Report, and choosing csv as the type of file will give you the spreadsheet you can manipulate to meet your needs – it contains teacher names!
- Please contact Beth Cross if you have any questions. I do not have access to these reports, but I can help you find yours!
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.
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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.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
NCVPS Spring 2025 Registration is Still Open!
There’s still time to register for Spring 2025 courses with NCVPS! With over 130 options—including Advanced Placement, CTE, world languages, arts, health and physical education, middle school, OCS, core courses, and more—students can find the perfect courses to match their academic goals and needs. Our program also provides access to classes that may not be available locally, making it easier for every student to succeed.
Key Dates:
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Open Enrollment: Early Start and Standard Start classes are open for enrollment through February 3, 2025.
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Options After February 3: We’ve got you covered even after the open enrollment window closes!
After Open Enrollment Options:
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Transfers: Schools can transfer individual students or entire classes after open enrollment ends. To begin the transfer process, simply open a ticket with our Virtual Support Center.
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Emergency Requests: We know the recent hurricane disrupted operations for many schools. If your school has unique circumstances, contact our Virtual Support Center—we’re here to help.
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Co-Teaching: Schools can continue adding students to existing co-teaching OCS and intervention courses throughout the semester. However, please note that new sections cannot be opened at this time.
At NCVPS, we’re committed to breaking down barriers and offering flexible, high-quality learning opportunities to help students achieve their goals and prepare for the future.
Have questions? Reach out to us anytime for more information!
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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
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Telra Institute Hosting StepLab
Calling all Instructional Coaches, School Leaders, Department Heads, and Mentor Teachers. North Carolina is proud to host the wizards behind StepLab when they visit the U.S. this May. This is *the* event for anyone interested in supercharging teacher development. Let's work together to uplift teachers across the State!
Learn more and register for this full-day professional development event hosted by Telra Institute in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, May 3.
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.
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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.
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