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Some Upcoming Dates of Note:
See below for details
- April 3rd- Early bird registration for the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools Conference closes.
- April 15th 9AM- OCS April Office Hour: Digital Accessibility
- April 25th- Deadline for new charter applications.
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OCS April Office Hour: Digital Accessibility
Join us for April's Virtual Office Hour, April 15th at 9:00 am with Donna Murray, NCDPI's Digital Accessibility Specialist, on the topic of ADA Compliance and Title II Implementation. We look forward to seeing you then!
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2025 NC Charter Applications
The 2025 NC Charter School Application opened 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.
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School Business March 28, 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.
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FY2024-25 Allotment Update - All PSUs
The following items of interest are being allotted this week:
- State PRC 0036 – Charter Schools – Paid Parental Leave Substitute Reimbursements for IPS
- Federal PRC Approvals received as of March 21, 2025
Final transportation allotments (PRC 0056) will be executed by the end of next week.
FY2025-26 State Planning Allotments
Planning Allotments will be posted Monday, March 31st; we acknowledge and thank you for your continued patience during the State Planning process.
To facilitate planning allotments, SBS will hold the following webinars for both LEAs and Charters starting next week:
- LEA Finance Officers - Tuesday, April 1st at the NCASBO biweekly Zoom call
- Charter School Directors and Finance Directors: SBS will join the Tuesday, April 15th Office Hours Session hosted by the Office of Charter Schools from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M.
All PSUs are strongly encouraged to attend their respective sessions.
Economically Disadvantaged Public School Support Funds (PRC 0251)
These funds support the efforts of qualifying economically disadvantaged public schools to continue to exceed growth in subsequent school years.
The allotment was disbursed on March 19, 2025. The recipient list can be found on our Allotments page.
Please see the Allotment Policy Manual for additional information.
If you have general allotment questions, please email allotments@dpi.nc.gov.
Upcoming Webinar: ESSER Annual Performance Report – All PSUs
Per U.S. Department of Education (US ED), ALL PSUs that received ESSER funding (ESSERs I, II, and III), are REQUIRED to report annually on financial, student, and staffing information.
Federal Programs and School Business Services (SBS) will cohost a collaborative Webinar on completing the ESSER Annual Performance Report (APR) data collection forms.
Date and Time: Thursday, April 3rd, from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Who should attend:
- LEA Finance Officers
- Charter/Regional/Lab School Directors and Finance Directors
- Student Information Systems (SIS) Directors/Data Coordinators
- Federal Programs Managers/Directors
The ESSER data collection forms with Instructions document will be available next week. The completed forms are due April 17, 2025.
Hurricane Helene Updates
Disaster Recovery Act Summary and Guidance Revisions
An updated summary document has been posted to the What's New section of our website. The following changes were included:
- School Nutrition Compensation
- School Nutrition employees and contractors should be compensated for:
- Instructional days deemed completed due to Helene (SL2024-51 and SL2024-53)
- Instructional days deemed completed in December through February for the PSUs in the counties listed in the Winter Inclement Weather item below, as allowed under SL2025-2
- Any remote instructional days utilized under SL2024-51 (per SL2025-2); this includes both Helene-impacted PSUs and Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 (PTC8) PSUs in Brunswick and New Hanover counties
- School Nutrition Equipment Guidance - REVISED CODING:
- You may code this to Fund 8 - PRC 0230. That may make it easier to match the revenues to the expenditures since it is not School Nutrition Traditional funds and these are state disaster relief funds. Use Revenue Code: 32000 (Other State - not allotted). It will also enable DPI to pull your PRC 0230 expenditures and revenues for reporting purposes.
Winter Inclement Weather Days Survey - Select Helene PSUs Only
According to Session Law 2025-2 Section 5.8. all PSUs, including Asheville City Schools and charter schools, in the counties below may deem an additional 10 missed days due to inclement weather as completed between December 2024 and February 2025:
- Ashe County
- Avery County
- Buncombe County
- Burke County
- Haywood County
- Henderson County
- Madison County
- McDowell County
- Mitchell County
- Rutherford County
- Transylvania County
- Watauga County
- Yancey County
All PSUs in those counties are required to complete the Winter Inclement Weather Days survey by April 14, 2025. The data will be reported to the General Assembly.
Please contact SchoolFinancialReporting@dpi.nc.gov with any questions.
2025-2026 Instructional Start and End Dates - All PSUs
Please enter your school's instructional start and end dates for the 2025-26 school year into the SIS
by April 1, 2025. All NC public schools, regardless of type, must provide a minimum of 185 days or 1,025
hours of instruction covering at least nine calendar months. This information is pulled from the SIS on April
2 to verify compliance with the law.
Most PSUs are required to comply with calendar start/end date requirements. Unless the PSU is in
an exempt category (SASA, p.51) or has received an approved calendar waiver for the 2025-26 school
year, the start date should be no earlier than August 25, 2025 and the end date should be no later than
June 12, 2026. This information is pulled from the SIS on April 2 to verify compliance with the law.
For further questions, please contact studentaccounting@dpi.nc.gov.
SBS Summer Conference Save the Date and Hotel Group Rate
Our annual summer conference will be Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Please hold that date and be aware that it
will be in a new location: the Embassy Suites in Cary, NC.
The discounted Room Block is open and will be available until July 1st, so please jump on those rates
and secure your room. Thank you for your continued participation in our conference! We will send out more
information in the coming weeks.
From the Office of Federal Programs
21st Century Community Learning Centers: Important Update on 2nd and 3rd Installments
As announced in last week's listserv, all remaining second and third installments will be issued from Grant Year 2024 funds. We want to reassure you that this adjustment does not impact your total grant award amount. It only affects the source of funds, as NCDPI’s Office of Federal Programs has identified remaining Grant Year 2024 funds that must be spent first before they expire on September 30, 2025.
To ensure a smooth transition and proper fund utilization, please follow the guidance below based on your subgrantee type:
For Non-LEAs (ERaCA Users):
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When submitting expenditure reimbursements in ERaCA, select the Grant Year 2024 radio button first to ensure these funds are fully expended before using Grant Year 2025 funds.
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Continue submitting reimbursement requests as usual. Once all Grant Year 2024 funds are expended, you may begin drawing from Grant Year 2025 by selecting the corresponding radio button.
For LEAs (BAAS/LINQ Users):
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LEAs must submit a budget (or revision) using Grant Year 2024 coding in BAAS/LINQ for the total amount of Grant Year 2024 funds received.
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When drawing down funds, ensure that Grant Year 2024 funds are spent first before accessing any remaining Grant Year 2025 funds.
Reminder for Cohort 17 Subgrantees:
We appreciate your attention to this update and your continued efforts in managing your grant funds effectively. If you have any questions, please reach out to Susan Brigman, Section Chief ~21st CCLC, at susan.brigman@dpi.nc.gov.
*The deadline for requesting a second or third installment is April 18, 2025.
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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04/01/25
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2025-2026 Instructional Start and End Dates
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03/13/25
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Now Open - PRC079 Innovation and Grade Expansion Grant Applications
The Education and Workforce Innovation Commission Grants (both under PRC079), the Innovation Grant and the CTE Grade Expansion Grant, applications for the 2025-26 grant year are now open. The applications will close on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 5:00 pm. There will be no deadline extensions for any circumstances.
There are two notable changes to the applications and programs this year:
1. The applications will be housed in Google Forms. The applications are not in NCCCIP this year. The link to the applications is forthcoming.
2. The funding amounts available to each applicant for both grants has increased; folks may apply for up to $65,000 for the CTE Grade Expansion Grant and $100,000 for the Innovation Grant. Please remember the Innovation Grant requires a 50% match.
Disclaimer: These applications are being released prior to the official passing of the 2025 budget from the North Carolina General Assembly. With that, grant funding is subject to the final state budget allowances. Awards will not be distributed until after budget certification.
Application links:
1. Innovation Grant Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1gn3x3m-96lY3gBjBzyumJEEri5B-AlaGR5Ns7lad6_I3pw/viewform?usp=dialog
2. Grade Expansion Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesRiaLaLtTL3O0HKCWiubdp9R71Th2GYbVrn4KCouqmLYNtA/viewform?usp=dialog
Open Office Hours: (these times are available for applicants to drop in to ask Jacqueline Wyatt questions about the applications, grants, etc.)
1. April 11, 2025 – 10:00 am to 11:00 am
2. May 2, 2025 – 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Attached to this announcement is the document you will need to understand the new application process.
If you have any questions about these two grants, please contact Jacqueline Wyatt at Jacqueline.Wyatt@dpi.nc.gov.
Driver Education and Driver Eligibility Certificate (DEC) Info
- Driver Eligibility Certificates (DEC)
- There is no state prerequisite for the student to show a driver education certificate to receive a DEC from the school of attendance.
- However, schools may require the student to be finished with DE before they issue the DEC being that it’s only good for 30 days.
- Students need both at the license office.
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Driver Education Completion Certificates –
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No need for charter schools to have these.
- There are three acceptable forms at the license offices.
- The new streamlined form (combined all three)
- Old PSU form
- Old DMV 611 form
Karl Logan, karl.logan@dpi.nc.gov
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2025 RISE Back to School Safety Summit
The 2025 RISE Back to School Safety Summit will be held from Monday, July 28 to Wednesday, July 30 at the Statesville Civic Center in Statesville, N.C. The Center for Safer Schools is accepting session proposals and sponsor applications.
If you or someone you know has a school safety workshop that would be appreciated by participants at the summit, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/zW6fdDQTMVLVVTws5
The submission deadline for both session proposals and sponsor applications is noon Friday, April 18, 2025, with notifications going out on or before Friday, May 9.
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CFSS BTAM Training Dates
The Center for Safer Schools will hold School Risk Management Plan Training during the spring semester. See upcoming dates on the CFSS Training Calendar. After completing SRMP training, attendees will be able to:
- Input site-based school data to develop a comprehensive schematic diagram and plans into the SRMP portal.
- Both identify and discuss vulnerabilities and training gaps in their individual plans.
- At least once annually initiate a full schoolwide tabletop exercise on the procedures documented in the SRMP portal.
To obtain the most beneficial training within the SRMP system, charter school personnel should ensure that their school has been loaded into the SRMP and that they have an active NCID and are able to log into SRMP. LEA personnel should make sure they can log into SRMP using their NCID.
If you are not able to log in, click here to try to reset your NCID password first. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, as they will receive technical guidance to ensure their plans meet the necessary state requirements. All sessions are the same.
For more information on School Risk Management Plan Training, send an email to CFSS Assistant Director-Physical Safety & Compliance Karen Everett
Registration for Regional Training for Charter School Arts Education Leaders, Arts Education District Leaders and Teacher Leadership Teams is Now Available.
Join the Office of Academic Standards K-12 Arts Education Consultants to learn how to lead unpacking guidance of the new K-12 Standards in Dance, General Music, Vocal & Instrumental Music, Theatre, Technical Theatre, and Visual Arts in your charter schools! It is advised that Charter Schools please send one individual who can best support the implementation of the new standards at their school. If serving multiple schools/grade bands and feel that an additional leader would be beneficial, please contact laura.stauderman@dpi.nc.gov or brandon.roeder@dpi.nc.gov to check on seating availability prior to registering. Leaders can register for any of the eight trainings should the one offered in their region not align with their schedules.
Charter schools now have a dedicated SIS professional contact!
We are pleased to introduce Jennifer Fogleman as your new dedicated NCSIS Professional Learning Consultant for Charter Schools, effective immediately.
Jennifer brings a wealth of experience in the Student Information System (SIS) and is committed to providing you with the same high level of service you've come to expect from our team.
The NCSIS Professional Learning Consultant team is here to support you, please don't hesitate to contact Jennifer if you have any questions or concerns.
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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.
NC MTSS Secondary Support Updates & Release of Resources
We are pleased to share an update and release of resources for our NC MTSS Secondary Support and Research Project. Your IABS Team spent two years researching and working alongside district and school teams to provide a comprehensive view of MTSS installation and practices at the secondary levels in North Carolina.
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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.
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!
NCVPS 2025-2026 Enrollment Now Open!
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 our updated course catalog and plan for summer, fall, and spring enrollment. We recently added Honors 1 and 2 options for French, Latin, and Spanish, and we have a new filtering feature in our 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! See all the details in our latest NCVPS E-lert.
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Early bird registration for the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools conference closes April 3rd
We hope you will join us at the 2025 NCAPCS Conference on July 16-18 in Wilmington, NC at the Wilmington Convention Center! This year's conference theme is Grow Connect Inspire and we are thrilled to share that our Keynote Speaker will be Ron Clark.
Ron Clark’s outstanding success with students from low-wealth areas of North Carolina and New York City led him to be named Disney’s American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times Best Selling author, and his classes have been honored at the White House on three separate occasions. Ron’s teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry. Currently, Mr. Clark serves as a teacher and administrator at the Ron Clark Academy, an award winning and internationally acclaimed middle school in Atlanta, GA. The school serves as a training site for educators, and each year thousands of teachers and administrators from around the world visit the school to be trained in their methods for helping all students achieve success.
Early Bird Registration will be open from March 3, 2025, to April 3, 2025. Don't delay, take advantage of our early bird pricing for special discounts! Regular rates will begin on April 4th and registration will remain open until July 7th. Register HERE.
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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Charter School Connections
April 22nd-25th at Cullowhee. NCCAT programs are free for NC public school staff for the course, lodging, and all meals.
Course Description
How can charter school teachers and leaders build networks of support for school, staff, and students? With each charter school operating as an independent LEA, how do we form communities with other charter school educators to share best practices and increase community support? Explore how to better advocate for your specific school's mission and engage with your local community. Learn best practices in connecting students to digital learning and student leadership development through exploring project-based learning, service learning, and best practices for using AI in the classroom. Using a “make and take” model, participants will have time to develop a communication or networking plan, digital lessons, conflict resolution tools, and project-based modules to share with your school.
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.
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.
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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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