Number 10

Register for NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Summer Opportunities

Join the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) this summer for transformative professional development. These residential programs provide educators with the tools, strategies and support to elevate their teaching. Each week, teachers engage in content-rich instruction, explore proven methodologies and receive coaching to implement new insights effectively. The goal is to empower educators to create classrooms where students are more engaged, self-motivated and successful.

Learn more about the professional development opportunities available at NCCAT this summer and register here.

Number 9

2025-26 Enrollment for North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)

NCVPS has opened registration early to support schools and districts as they prepare for the transition to the new statewide student information system. Schools and students can now explore the updated course catalog and plan for summer, fall and spring enrollment. NCVPS recently added Honors 1 and 2 options for French, Latin and Spanish, and have a new filtering feature in the registration system to make finding courses easier. As you register, consider Early Start vs. Standard Start options to align with your school’s academic calendar. Don’t wait—secure your enrollments today!

Find additional details here. 

Number 8

NC College Connect

With NC College Connect, North Carolina’s new simplified application program, public high school seniors with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above can easily apply to participating colleges and universities with just a few clicks – including some UNC System universities and your local community college.

Learn more about NC College Connect here.

Number 7

New Driver's Education Form

A new, streamlined Driver Education Completion Form has been created by NCDPI in consultation with Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. Effective immediately, all driver training entities – whether public schools or commercial driver training schools – should begin using this updated form. This form replaces the NCDPI completion form that public schools currently use, as well as Form 611 and Form 611-A that commercial driver training schools currently use. Please note that printed forms will no longer be issued. Instead, you will be able to print the new form directly for your students as needed.

• Driver Education Completion Form
• Frequently Asked Questions

Number 6

Mo Wants to Know - Superintendent Green's Listening and Learning Tour

State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green’s “Mo Wants to Know” tour is coming to all eight regions of North Carolina this March and April.

The superintendent is hosting listening and learning sessions with community stakeholders statewide, including the eight public events. All parents, students, educators, school and district staff, public officials and other community members are invited to attend.

Find additional details on the Mo Wants to Know sessions or submit your input online here.

Number 5

EdNC: State Board of Education Considers Recommendations for School Psychologist Shortage, Whole Child Policy Priorities

"Data and recommendations on specialized instructional support personnel and school health centers were presented to the State Board of Education at their monthly meeting Wednesday.

The Whole Child North Carolina Advisory Committee was established to identify and review nonacademic barriers that students face and then make recommendations to the Board. The committee has 22 members from several organizations and state agencies.

Representatives from the committee stated their ongoing priorities from the 2023-2024 school year as follows:

• Funding the position for Whole Child NC
• Partnering with principal preparation programs to include information on the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model
• Expanding school-based access to health services

From these priorities, representatives from the committee and NC Healthy Schools gave policy recommendations to the Board this month."

Read the full story here. 

Number 4

Golden LEAF Schools Initiative Accepting Applications

The application period for the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative is now open through March 21. The $25 million initiative, funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation, is a five-year program aimed at improving school performance through effective educational strategies. The program was unveiled at January's State Board of Education meeting.

Schools in persistently Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties are eligible to apply. View the list of eligible counties, review the application and explore dates and times for upcoming grant overview webinars and support sessions here.

Number 3

News & Observer: "NC High School Students Win National Science Awards — Including One Who Won $175,000"

"Two North Carolina teenagers captured top spots Tuesday night in a prestigious national science competition, including a $175,000 prize for finishing in second place.

Ava Grace Cummings, 18, a senior at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, came in second place in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. She will get $175,000 for developing a potential new medical treatment to address a rare genetic disorder in the Native American community.

Thanush Patlolla, 17, a senior at Enloe High School in Raleigh, finished in 9th place and won $50,000. Patlolla helped make quantum computing more effective by making mathematical models of electron movements more accurate."

Congratulations on this incredible achievement, Ava Grace and Thanush! Read the full story here. 

Number 2

Governor Stein Declares March 2025 as Students@Work℠ Month

"Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed March 2025 as Students@Work℠ Month in North Carolina. Throughout the month, businesses across the state will welcome more than 25,000 students to learn first-hand about jobs and industries in local communities across North Carolina.

“Our students are our future: the future of our workforce and the future of our state,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am pleased to honor Students@Work℠ for their 15 years of efforts to connect schools to employers and help students discover their talents and passions.”

Through Students@Work℠, students learn about becoming skilled workers in high-demand careers including clean energy, health care, hospitality, finance, skilled trades, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education, construction, public service, and more.

During the month, businesses will provide virtual and in-person career awareness opportunities for North Carolina middle school students. Educators will be partnering with businesses such as Enbridge Gas, State Employees’ Credit Union, Mission Health, Charlotte Bilingual Preschool, UNC Adams School of Dentistry, Duke Energy, and SteelFab, among others."

Read the full press release here. 

Number 1

Superintendent Green's Statement on Federal Cuts

"Public schools are the heart of our communities, providing essential educational services to our 1.5 million students and serving as a top-five employer in every North Carolina county. Recent staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Education raise significant concerns for our state's schools, as federal funding represents nearly 11% of our education budget and supports over 14,000 public school positions. These funds are critical for our most vulnerable students, particularly those with disabilities and from low-income families. While we cannot control federal decisions, I want to assure you that NCDPI is monitoring the changes, keeping our districts informed and taking appropriate actions when necessary. Throughout North Carolina's history, our public schools have faced challenges with resilience and determination, and I am confident that by working together we will continue to advance educational excellence for every student in our state."