Would You Like To Learn More About Character Education?   

Are you eager to create a culture of character in your classroom, school, and district using the 11 Principles of Character Education? NCDPI has professional learning opportunities to assist your school or district with your character education journey. If your school or district is interested in hosting a Character Education Professional Learning Opportunity, please take a moment to complete this survey to help our NCDPI team understand your needs.

Contact Justyn Burgess, State Coordinator for Character Education, if you have questions. 

2024-2025 World History Webinar Series!

This World History webinar series is designed for those teaching grades 6 and 7 world studies and high school world history, but all are encouraged to register, attend, and expand their knowledge. Each webinar is from 4:00 pm-5:00 pm. Those who attend the live session will receive 1.5 CEU Hours.

• March 25: A Dark Chapter Examine the devastating impact of the Herero-Nama genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century and Germany's "dress rehearsal" for the atrocities of the Holocaust.
• April 1: Modern Russia Explore the modern history of Russia and its influence on global events through its interactions with neighboring countries.  

The 2024 NC Social Studies Conference: RESCHEDULED for April 24 & 25!

The NCCSS Executive Board and Directors are pleased to share that the 2025 NCCSS Conference, which was postponed due to the Governor's State of Emergency with the incoming winter storm, has been rescheduled for April 24-25. The conference will still take place at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.

NCCSS understands that this change may not be convenient for every educator's schedule, however, NCCSS greatly appreciates your understanding and continued support during this challenging time. NCCSS looks forward to seeing you April!

If your schedule would not allow you to attend on the original dates for February, NCCSS hopes you will REGISTER to attend in April. This is definitely the conference you do not want to miss!

For Questions, Contact: Tim Hall, Ph.D. | Presidentthall.nccss@gmail.com | 919-971-404

Celebrate Civic Education During Civic Learning Week

March 10-14, 2025

Recognize civic teachers, encourage students to participate in the youth-led forum with NC education officials, learn what’s happening in civic education across the Tarheel State, and more! In North Carolina, Civic Learning Week is led by North Carolina Civics Coalition (NC3), a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to strengthening and advancing K-12 civic education across the Tarheel State.

Ideas For Celebrating Civic Learning Week

Here are a few resources from CivXNow: 

• Activity Suggestions - Find activity suggestions that have been implemented or raised by coalition members over the last two years that align with those goals. Activity suggestions for every include activities that take as little 30 minutes or less to conceive and implement to more involved activities.
•  9 Easy Ways to Engage - Check out this one-pager on 9 easy ways your organization can engage in Civic Learning Week.  

Find all Civic Learning Week events across the US here plus marketing materials and other resources.

Webinar: Literacy and Social Studies: Layered Learning with Primary and Secondary Source

How can teachers use primary and secondary sources to build student knowledge and foster meaningful learning?

Join the National Council for the Social Studies and inquirED for our next webinar on Thursday, March 6: Literacy in Social Studies: Layered Learning with Primary and Secondary Sources.

This session will explore how to:

• Intentionally layer primary and secondary sources
• Design inquiry-based tasks that engage students
• Help students make connections and deepen their understanding

Make Tax Season a Teachable Moment!

The 2025 tax season is here! While taxes may not be everyone’s favorite topic, understanding them is essential for financial success. Help your students build real-world financial literacy with this interactive microsite, designed to break down the tax filing process into five bite-sized learning modules:

• Filing Your Taxes – The basics of getting started
• Tax Credits for Families – Understanding potential savings
• Taxes for Gig Workers – What freelancers & side hustlers need to know
• Taxes for Students – Key considerations for young filers
• Taxes for Investments & Cryptocurrency – Navigating modern tax implications

Perfect for grades 5-12 teachers and especially those who teach the Economics and Personal Finance, this resource simplifies tax concepts and prepares students for the real world. Share with your network and empower the next generation of financially savvy citizens!

Coming Soon: America 250 Field Trip Guide

A new America 250 NC Field Trip Guide will soon be available online through the America 250 NC website and the NC Historic Sites website! This free resource is designed primarily for 4th-grade students but can also be adapted for middle school learners.

The guide is flexible for use at any historic site—local or state—and includes engaging activities to enhance students' learning experiences. The first section provides pre-visit classroom activities, while the second half is designed for on-site exploration. Educators can easily print the guide to share.

Get ready to bring history to life for your students! More to come soon.

Seeking Volunteer Judges for National History Day in NC!

National History Day in North Carolina has been a successful program of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for 29 years, serving approximately 7,000 middle and high school students from a minimum of 50 counties each year - and it thrives because of each of you! We still need volunteer judges at several of our competitions around the state, where you will engage with middle and high school students as they showcase their research on this year’s theme, Rights and Responsibilities, through exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites, and papers.

No prior judging experience or familiarity with NC History Day? No problem! We provide simple training the morning of the competition at which you volunteer. Competition times are listed with the dates below.

Volunteer judges work in teams to help evaluate and rank the projects and interview the students about their work. Teachers can receive .5 CEUs for participating, and it’s an excellent way to learn about National History Day in NC from the inside!

• 25 Judges Still Needed: Northeast Region (East Carolina University) March 27; approximate time commitment is 8:00am – 2:00pm)
• 40 Judges Still Needed: State Contest (UNC Greensboro) May 3; approximate time commitment is 8:00am – 2:00pm)

Additional details and sign-up available here.

Learn more about National History Day in NC here. For questions, and to request your CEUs, contact nchistoryday@dncr.nc.gov and thank you for supporting North Carolina’s students and future historians!

Apply to the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund!

Are you planning a field trip to one of DNCR’s 100+ locations across the state this spring? NC Public Schools are invited to apply to the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund to cover expenses! The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) team is here to help guide you through the application process!

Gilder Lehrman History: Teacher of the Year Award

The  2024 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year Award honors exceptional elementary and secondary school American history teachers (including state and local history). The national winner receives a $10,000 prize presented at an award ceremony in their honor in New York City. State winners receive a $1,000 prize, an archive of classroom resources, and recognition at a ceremony in their state.

Would you like to nominate an eligible teacher?

Nominations for the 2025 Gilder Lehrman History Teacher of the Year awards are now open. Students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors may nominate K-12 teachers for the award.

Key Deadlines for 2025 Nominations

Deadline for 2025 nominations: April 30, 2025
Deadline for 2025 nominees to submit supporting materials: May 31, 2025

 Summer 2025 NCDPI Conferences

Get ready for an unforgettable experience! This year, the Office of Teaching and Learning, formerly known as the Office of Academic Standards, is thrilled to bring you the Growing Success for Multilingual Learners (MLs) Summer Conference alongside the Standards Academy—creating a one-of-a-kind opportunity to attend sessions at both events!

This is the second year of Standards Academy, which is a conference for K-12 Social Studies, Math, English Language Arts (ELA), English Language Development (ELD), World Language, Science, Arts Education, Healthy Schools, and Student Success Standards. Sessions will be focused on the implementation of the NC Standard Course of Study (SCoS).

Here’s what you can expect at both events:

• One location, two conferences: Consider sending a team of stakeholders to maximize the impact of your participation! By attending together, you can foster collaboration and build a unified approach to supporting multilingual learners. Best of all, both conferences are free of charge, making it an incredible opportunity for your team to learn and grow together!
  
  
• Multiple Formats: To accommodate different preferences, the conference will be held at two in-person locations and will also offer a virtual option. Whether you prefer the energy of face-to-face interaction or the flexibility of attending virtually, we’ve got you covered!
  
  
• Engaging Sessions: Participate in dynamic discussions with experts in the field. Our sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including best practices, collaboration strategies, and effective ways to elevate student learning!
  
  
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with other educators, share ideas, and build a supportive professional network.

Don’t miss the chance to turbocharge your expertise by elevating your impact in supporting multilingual learners at the MLs Summer Conference and strengthening your understanding of content standards at the Standards Academy!

All K-12 NC educators are invited to attend. 

The goal is for participants to be able to sign up for sessions at both conferences in either Western or Eastern North Carolina.  

• June 24-26 in Western NC
• July 22-24 in Eastern NC
• June 27 and July 25 are Virtual Days for MLs

View the brochure for this combined event for dates, locations, and additional details! Share with colleagues who might be interested in attending. Don’t miss out—register today!

Subscribe and Connect with each Area in the Office of Academic Standards  

Do you want to stay up to date on the latest news, opportunities, resources, standards updates, etc. from one or more of the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards content areas? 

Sign up today to receive newsletters and announcements from the area(s) or topic(s) of your choice.

Spread the word!