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Some Upcoming Dates of Note:
See below for details
- April 29th- Homeless Needs Assessment Workshop for Charters
- April 29th & 30th - PowerSchool Applicant Tracking Cost Webinars for Applicable PSUs
- May 1st- Annual Health Report opens, with a hard deadline of June 20th.
- May 13th- OCS office hour covering year-over-year data
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OCS May Office Hour: School Year Data Trends
Join us for May's Virtual Office Hour, where Abby Pearce, Data Evaluation Specialist from the Office of Research & Promising Practices will be providing professional insight regarding trends in academic performance of charter schools over the years. This will be our final OCS office hour of the school year, so we hope to see you there!
Tuesday, May 13th, 9am.
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North Carolina Homeless Education Program
Needs Assessment Workshop for Charters
The North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP) is pleased to announce the upcoming Needs Assessment Workshop for charter school homeless liaisons. The workshop will be held virtually, on April 29, 2025, from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. This optional workshop is designed to assist liaisons in identifying and evaluating the needs, gaps, and strengths within their homeless education program.
If you have questions about registration or this workshop, please contact your EHCY Program Administrator, Savannah Gay.
Annual Charter School Health Services Report will Open May 1st
The Annual Charter School Health Report link is now open. Reporting must be completed no later than June 20th. The report is designed to assist in identifying resource needs for healthcare of students in charter schools. Responses will be used to inform future training topics and to report on compliance with required legislation and policies such as Care of Students with Diabetes (§ 115C-375.3.) and School Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (§ 115C-375.2A). As a reminder, charter schools that do not employ a licensed registered nurse that serves as the school nurse will not complete section two of the report. The report will end after ‘no’ is selected for the question that asks if your school employs the services of a school nurse. Charter schools that employ a licensed registered nurse that serves as the school nurse will have their entire report completed by the registered nurse.
A preparation worksheet is provided with the report questions. All schools are encouraged to download the worksheet and mark the appropriate responses before beginning the online report survey. Once you have prepared your responses, save the document to your local computer. This worksheet cannot be accepted as your report. You will use it as a reference tool to enter your information into the online survey system.
PowerSchool Applicant Tracking Cost Update (Applicable Districts and Charters)
Important PowerSchool Applicant Tracking Cost Recovery Update:
As previously announced cost recovery for PowerSchool Applicant Tracking/Onboarding begins next fiscal year for the 94 LEAs and 91 Charters that use PowerSchool Applicant Tracking/Onboarding/TEACH NC Statewide Job Board or any additional PSUs that add PowerSchool Applicant Tracking/Onboarding moving forward.
DPI is happy to announce that we have negotiated new pricing for the service. The new cost will be:
- 2025/2026: $0.68/student
- 2026/2027: $0.70/student
- 2027/2028: $0.72/student
DPI will invoice the PSU with a PowerSchool Applicant Tracking System (ATS) instance after we have Average Daily Membership numbers this fall. The invoice will reflect the per student amounts listed above.
Webinars are available to learn more about the updated PowerSchool offerings supporting Recruiting and Hiring Solutions for NC PSUs and associated one-time implementation and annual costs. These two webinars will cover:
New enhancements to these solutions available to you now
Roadmap for Recruiting and Hiring
Optional Sourcing module available at discounted pricing to NC districts and charters
The Statewide Job Board: https://northcarolina.schoolspring.com/
The one-time implementation costs for new districts or charters wanting to add the service
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 9:30am-10:00am - https://powerschool.zoom.us/j/96475652331?from=addon
Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 1:00pm-1:30pm - https://powerschool.zoom.us/j/97872650839?from=addon
Additional information and resources: Recruiting & Hiring Solutions for North Carolina Information Page.
Reminder: You must be logged into your ATS instance to submit a support ticket to PowerSchool.
PowerSchool provided list of ATS instances by district and charter: https://go.ncdpi.gov/cehks
If you need to terminate a PowerSchool ATS instance please email Melanie.Belk@dpi.nc.gov and Barry.Pace@dpi.nc.gov prior to May 31, 2025. DPI will send termination requests to PowerSchool via email.
Digital Learning & Media Inventory and Digital Learning Progress Rubric
The NC Digital Learning and Media Inventory (NCDLMI) is now open for the 2024-2025 school year and is due Monday, June 30, 2025.
ALL NC PSUs including LEA, Charters, Regional, and Lab Schools are legislatively mandated to complete the DLMI each year. As in previous years, all schools complete the School level DLMI, and PSUs complete the PSU level DLMI. PSUs with only one school, such as charter, regional, and lab schools, complete both the PSU and School level DLMIs.
This 2024-2025 DLMI requests most of the same data points as last year. A few items have been added or updated.The Digital Learning Progress Rubric (DLPR) is also part of the DLMI again this year in order to streamline data collection.
The Digital Learning Dashboard (DLD) questions remain the same to fulfill session law "§ 115C-102.9, which requires collection and reporting of quantity and type of student access to digital devices and home internet.
Access the DLMI with your UID at https://schools.nc.gov/ncdlmi.
Relevant Resources:
Office Hours:
- Mondays from 2:00 - 3:00 pm
- May 12, 19
- June 2, 9, 16, 23
- Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:00 am
- May 14, 21
- June 4, 11, 18, 25
- Meeting Link
Action needed by June 30, 2025
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School Business April 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.
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April Datafile Submissions - All PSUs
DPI will begin processing all data files at 8:00 AM on Monday, May 5, 2025. Please make every effort to submit the data files by May 2, 2025. Delayed responses pause the processing for ALL PSUs.
In addition, someone must be available on-site Monday and Tuesday, May 5th and 6th, to answer questions related to data files; however, on-site contacts over the weekend are not necessary at this time.
Helene PSUs
Please make sure all School Nutrition salary reimbursements/payments are posted in your April Datafiles if at all possible. We want to close out that funding stream with the April data so that funding can be redirected towards other Helene relief efforts for the public schools. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
From the Office of Federal Programs
PRC 081 Transportation Reserve for Homeless and Foster Students
The Transportation Reserve for Homeless and Foster Students (PRC 0081) allotments are scheduled for approval on the May State Board of Education agenda. These funds are intended to reimburse Public School Units (PSUs) for extraordinary transportation costs already incurred in providing services to students experiencing homelessness or in foster care.
A brief application will be required prior to accessing funds. Additional details and instructions will be provided by Federal Programs.
For questions regarding the application process (statement of assurances), please contact Alessandro Montanari at alessendro.montanari@dpi.nc.gov.
From the Office of Career and Technical Education
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:
- The applications will be housed in Google Forms. The applications are not in NCCCIP this year. The link to the applications is forthcoming.
- The funding amounts available to each applicant for both grants have 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:
- Innovation Grant Application
- Grade Expansion Application
Open Office Hours: (for applicants to drop in to ask Jacqueline Wyatt questions about the applications, grants, etc.) 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.
PRC 181 Required 20% Set-Aside to Address Learning Loss - All PSUs
Despite U.S. Department of Education (USED) discontinuing the annual reporting of ESSER funding,
NCDPI is still required to ensure legislative compliance with the use of ESSER funds as written in federal
legislation. To ensure both NCDPI and the PSUs meet this compliance requirement, we are requesting the
PSUs to complete this survey.
All PSUs with allotments for PRC 181 should complete the survey. This survey is similar to the ESSER
annual reporting forms but focused solely on PRC 181 Learning Loss. To complete, you will need data on
expenditures for PRC 181, categorized by activities/interventions to address Learning Loss, from March
2020 to March 2025. (See Instructions document for list of activities/interventions.) It may also be helpful to
have the approved budget/plan for PRC 181.
The survey form and the Instructions document have been posted to the NCDPI website under “What’s
New.” (Scroll down the page to the section titled “PRC 181 Learning Loss.”)
Please read the Instructions document on how to complete the form and definitions. All completed forms
are due by May 31, 2025, and can be submitted online at PRC 181 Learning Loss.
If there are questions about completing the PRC 181 Learning Loss report, please
contact SchoolFinancialReporting@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.
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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Monday at 11:45 pm
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Cash requests for Friday FRD
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11/21/2024
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05/31/2025
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PRC 181 Learning Loss 20% Set-Aside Survey
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04/17/2025
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07/01/2025
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SBS Summer Conference Room Block
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01/09/2025
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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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NCCTM Outstanding Math Teacher
It is that time of the year to nominate an Outstanding 6-12 Math teacher from your school!
This memo from Kristy Day, the Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning, contains further information about the partnership between the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for the purpose of this award.
The memo also contains a link to the form to submit the 6-12 teacher from your school to receive this award.
The chosen teacher will receive:
- Recognition at the awards ceremony during the NCCTM State Math Conference on Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Winston-Salem,
- One-year free membership to NCCTM, and
- Will have their names published on NCCTM website and publication, the Centroid.
The deadline for submission is June 16, 2025.
Please contact Jennifer Parker (jennifer.parker@dpi.nc.gov), K-5 Math Consultant, with any questions.
Applications for K-12 Math Standards Writing Team Now Available!
The NC Department of Public Instruction K-12 Math Team is excited to announce the NC State Board of Education has approved to transition from the review phase of the N.C. K-12 Math Standard Course of Study to the revision phase. The process is guided by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) Procedures Manual, adopted by the Board of Education in February 2022.
The first step is establishing the Standards Writing Team (SWT). Working in grade-level/content area groups, the SWT considers possible revisions to K-12 Math when and where applicable. This may involve slight modifications, major modifications, deletions, additions, or no changes to current standards. The SWT Scope of Work provides a full explanation of the requirements for the SWT.
All SWT members will be asked to participate in an in-person kick-off event July 29th - 31st in Asheboro, NC. NCDPI will reimburse for any travel costs associated with the training.
SWT applications are due by 8:00am EST, Monday, May 12th, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their selection status between Monday, June 16th, 2025, and Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025.
Please contact Dr. Charles Aiken (charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov), Section Chief for Math, Science, and STEM, with any questions.
Click here to apply: Math Standards Writing Team Application
Applications Open for North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) AI Fellows Program
Attention NC middle and high school educators! The North Carolina Business Committee for Education, in partnership with Google.org, is launching its AI Fellows initiative. The program will equip 20 exceptional teachers with the tools and resources to be AI leaders and mentors in their school community.
Learn more and apply here. Applications are open now until May 16
Center for Safer Schools April 2025 Newsletter
The Center for Safer Schools April 2025 newsletter, featuring information on the 2025 RISE Back to School Safety Summit — including a registration link and links for discounted hotel rates — is now available. Click this link to read the newsletter on Smore: https://secure.smore.com/n/d1mtb
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: (for applicants to drop in to ask Jacqueline Wyatt questions about the applications, grants, etc.) 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
RISE 2025 Registration
The Center for Safer Schools is accepting session proposals and sponsor applications.
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If you or someone you know has a school safety workshop that would be appreciated by participants at the summit, click this link to complete the form: https://forms.gle/N79vNg7qYe4JF2L46
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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.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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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.
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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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.
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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