Number 10

NCDPI’s GLE Team Seeking Student Spotlight Submissions

NCDPI’s Global Languages Endorsement team is seeking Student Spotlight submissions from all public school units to recognize students who have satisfied the requirements of the GLE, North Carolina’s Seal of Biliteracy!

Help us celebrate and elevate student language achievements!

Submit a student spotlight here.

Number 9

Register for the NCASA 2025 School Law & Policy Symposium

Get the latest updates on K-12 education laws and policies at both the state and federal level at NCASA’s 2025 School Law & Policy Symposium! Dive deep into pressing topics such as AI in education, Freedom of Information Act requests, FLSA/FMLA requirements and court rulings impacting public schools.

Presented by some of NC’s top education-law attorneys and state-level policy experts, this September 8-9 event in Raleigh is a can’t-miss opportunity to help prepare you for navigating the legal and policy challenges in the year ahead.

Learn more and register here.

Number 8

2025-26 Coding and Mobile App Development Grant Accepting Applications

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the release of the 2025-2026 Coding and Mobile App Development Grant (CaMADG) application.

Important Dates:

• Application Due: July 11, 2025
• Award Notifications: By August 1, 2025
• Expenditures Completed: June 30, 2026
• Final Reporting Due: August 1, 2026

Find the application here. Applications are due Friday, July 11, at 5 p.m.

Number 7

EdNC: "Head Start Celebrates 60 Years of Empowering Children and Families"

"May 2025 marks six decades of Head Start, a federally funded anti-poverty program that provides high-quality early care and learning at no cost to income-eligible families. Since its founding in 1965, Head Start has transformed the lives of more than 40 million children and families across the nation, providing comprehensive early learning and childcare, better health and nutrition, and parent involvement services to eligible families across the United States.

North Carolina is home to 59 Head Start grantees, employing 6,304 people, and funding 21,267 childcare slots.

The NHSA celebrated this milestone with the release of an interactive map called “The Voices of Head Start.” The map was designed as a living archive of stories from every state to capture the program’s impact. Journalists interviewed 60 members of the Head Start community — including two North Carolinians."

Read the full story here and the press release from the National Head Start Association (NHSA) here.

Number 6

Registration Open for Growing Success for Multilingual Learners (MLs) Summer Conference and The Standards Academy - Empowering Educators, Elevating Outcomes

NCDPI's Office of Teaching and Learning is merging The Standards Academy and Growing Success for Multilingual Learners into one comprehensive event in Summer 2025!

This year's Standards Academy will feature engaging sessions, including:
🌍 Initial Implementation of the 2024 Standard Course of Study (SCoS) for World Languages
🌐 World Language Honors Level I and II Courses with guidance from Advanced Learning and Gifted Education

Join at one of two locations:
🌄 West in Buncombe County: June 24 - 26
🌅 East in Chatham County: July 22 - 24

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and support multilingual learners!

Learn more and register here.

Number 5

Register for the 2025 Teach AND Lead Conference

Join educators for a transformative conference that explores a variety of dynamic approaches to leadership and equips educators with the tools, strategies and confidence to become influential leaders in their schools and communities.

Through interactive sessions, networking opportunities and an inspiring keynote from 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year Heather Smith, you will discover innovative practices and actionable insights for all educators. Please attend June 11, 2025, to feel connected, inspired and empowered as a leader to make a lasting impact.

Learn more about the conference and register here. The deadline to register is June 2. 

Number 4

Complete 2023-24 North Carolina School Report Cards Now Available

The complete North Carolina School Report Card for the 2023-24 school year has been released. 

See 2023-24 North Carolina School Report Cards here.

Number 3

Reminder: Phones in Focus Survey

As a reminder to all PSUs that opted to participated in the Phones in Focus survey, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is partnering with the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University on a national survey of school cell phone policies at the middle and high school levels. The project, called Phones in Focus, aims to better understand which approaches to student cell phone use most effectively support academic success, attendance and positive school climate.

This is your chance to ensure North Carolina educators are represented in this first-of-its-kind national study on school cell phone policies!

The survey takes just 5 minutes and gives you immediate access to real-time national results. In addition, participants are entered into weekly raffles ($100 for you and $100 for your school), and eligible for the grand prize: a $500 gift card, school donation, signed books and a visit from Dr. Angela Duckworth, author of "Grit" and the lead researcher on this study.

The survey closes soon, so please take a moment today and encourage your staff to do the same. Every response counts.

Find the survey here.

Number 2

District Highlight: Wake County Public Schools - “First School in N.C. Earns an EL Education School Credential”

Buckhorn Elementary in Holly Springs is the first in North Carolina to earn an EL Education school certification.

EL Education is a national nonprofit organization that partners with schools to deliver a rigorous curriculum emphasizing academic excellence and character development. Principal Daniel Simmons describes the certification as the “Michelin Star” of education, reflecting the school's commitment to nurturing both the intellect and character of every student.

Read the full story here. Congratulations, Buckhorn Elementary and Wake County Public Schools!

Number 1

The Charlotte Observer: “Meet the 8 NC Students to Compete in 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee”

“Eight North Carolina middle schoolers will compete in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee this week.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the national competition, which began in 1925 with nine spellers. In 2025, it includes 243 competitors from around the U.S. and is considered the country’s largest and longest-running educational program.

One North Carolina speller hails from Concord, while the rest are from Cary, Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and Harnett and Johnston Counties. One additional speller in this year’s contest is from just across the NC border in Fort Mill, South Carolina.”

Read the full story here. Congratulations to all of the North Carolina finalists!