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Some Upcoming Dates of Note:
See below for details
- July 8th - Licensure Webinar at 11AM
- July 16th-18th- 2025 NCAPCS Annual Conference - Grow, Connect, Inspire
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RALC Updates & Reminders
DPI Licensure is pleased to inform you that the RALCs are once again offering lunch and learn sessions over the summer.
Please register for the upcoming 2025 Summer Lunch and Learn one-hour sessions offered by the RALC Offices using each respective link below.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
The RALCs will also be sending out an email to update your List Serv contacts for 2025-2026 during the week of July 14th.
The RALCs are the first point of contact for all PSU HR and Licensure Administrators’ licensure questions. Their contact information is located at the link below.
Updated School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual
This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators.
2025 SASA Manual
2024-2025 School-Based Mental Health Policy Report
Dear Charter School Contacts,
In accordance with North Carolina SL 2019-245 and SL 2020-7 and with State Board of Education Policy SHLT-003, each K-12 school unit is required to upload a copy of their School Mental Health Improvement Plan for the upcoming school year and answer questions in the School Mental Health Policy Report.
In the online reporting portal, you will indicate that you are a charter school, and you will be directed to the SMH policy questions. To make it easier for you to assemble your report information prior to going online, a Word version and PDF of the online survey is attached to this email. Please complete the online survey to submit your report.
*New this year – Upon completion of your SMH report, you will be redirected to a separate Qualtrics survey titled “Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Annual Report - PSU Level”. If you are not prepared to complete your SMH report and the SISP Annual Report in the same sitting, you can use the following link to return to the SISP Annual Report at another time: https://ncdpi.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Ei0Qd21ZI944Z0. Word and PDF versions of this data collection are also attached, and more information is available on our School Mental Health Policy Reporting page. The best contact for questions related to the SMH report and the new SISP Annual Report is Pachovia Lovett, School Social Work Consultant, Pachovia.Lovett@dpi.nc.gov, 984-236-2821.
The survey platform is setup to allow respondents to leave the survey and resume their progress later, so long as they return on the same browser where they started the survey and do not wait longer than a month to return to the survey. This feature works by placing a cookie on the respondent’s browser that keeps track of the survey progress.
The information needed to complete the SMH progress report will come from your School Mental Health Improvement Plan, which is required to upload and must include the mental health training program and suicide risk referral protocol.
Please note the deadline to complete the School Mental Health Policy Report is September 15, 2025.
You can access the reporting portal through the link below.
2025 School-Based Mental Health Policy Report
If you have questions or challenges in completing this online survey, please contact Les Spell at Les.Spell@dpi.nc.gov.
We appreciate the time and energy spent in completing this report and look forward to reading each submission.
NCED Connect Opt-In (formerly Home Base) is now OPEN!
The NC Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce that the NCED Connect (formerly Home Base) Opt-in Process is now OPEN ! Finance officers and charter school directors/principals may begin opting into NCED Connect for their PSU once the window opens. Click on the following link to see the full announcement and share with the appropriate staff: hb_pricing_memo 2025-26.
Note: Only finance officers and charter directors/principals should opt-in for their PSU.
Please visit the Opt-in Website for detailed information concerning the NCED Connect Opt-in Process. Questions may be directed to ncedconnect@dpi.nc.gov or jennifer.causey@dpi.nc.gov. |
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School Business July 3, 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.
State Preliminary Initial Allotments
FY 2025-26 preliminary initial allotments will be published by Friday, July 18th. For an explanation of how these allotments will be calculated, please refer to this document.
Federal Allotments
DPI received notification from the US Department of Education earlier this week that we would not be receiving Grant Awards for several federal programs we were anticipating receiving on July 1st. At this time we have no information about whether we will be receiving these funds for Grant Year 2026. If we receive additional information from the federal government, we will update you as soon as possible. More information about which PRCs are affected can be found here.
SBS Year-End Updates
FY 2024-2025 Closeout Timeline: All PSUs
Please see the closeout letter which goes over the FY 24-25 closeout process in June/July.
Below is a quick table of the key dates, but please read the memo in its entirety.
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DAY
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DATE
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PSU TYPE
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ACTION ITEM
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Thursday
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7/3/25
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LEAs
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PSU FINAL PSR & MFR data file submission
Note: The Payroll Summary File is due by 4:30 pm. All other files are due by 11:59 pm.
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Monday
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7/7/25
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ALL
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DPI will process and post June YTD Cash Zero Out
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EDDIE Datafile Contacts - All PSUs
These three fields are mandatory and necessary to complete the fiscal year end process. Please work with your EDDIE administrators to update these fields. Failure to do so may result in your PSU being placed in financial noncompliant status. A description of the three required fields is below. Please contact EDDIE@dpi.nc.gov with any questions.
- Primary Datafile Contact - Internal person at your PSU. This contact should be able to address data errors, answer questions regarding the data files, and resubmit corrected files (i.e., MFR, General Expense/AP, Payroll Detail, and Payroll Summary).
- Secondary Datafile Contact - Internal person at your PSU. The person serving as the backup to the Primary Datafile Contact.
- Vendor Datafile Contact - External person to your PSU. They are your PSU's representative at your datafile software vendor. If you do not have a dedicated representative, please enter the vendor name in the first and last name fields, and a support email address for your vendor.
Other DPI Items - From the Office of School Nutrition
Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals in the National School Lunch Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025-26 federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for children enrolled in North Carolina’s schools. For more information, please see the press release on July 2, 2025 from DPI.
From the Office of State Budget and Management
Subsistence Rates for State Travel Updated for 2025-27
On July 1 of each odd-numbered year, OSBM sets the standard maximum state reimbursement rate (called the subsistence rate) for travel on state business. Effective July 1, the daily allowable amount for in-state travel is $143.10 and $163.40 for out-of-state travel. These rates cover meals and lodging. For more information read our recent guidance memo.
State agency heads may request authorization to set agency-specific reimbursement rates for lodging and meals expenditures up to the U.S. General Service Administration’s (GSA) subsistence rates. To be granted authorization, agencies must meet minimum travel policy standards and submit an annual Travel Attestation to OSBM. See Section 5.2 of the State Budget Manual for more information.
School Business Summer Conference 2025 - All PSUs
Please join us on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, for an exciting and very informative conference geared towards all things School Business to start your new school year. It will be held at a new venue, the Embassy Suites in Cary. The link for the hotel room discount ends on July 1; please don't wait to reserve your room.
Conference Registration this year is $210 per person. Instructions to register are below:
- Follow this link to register: https://go.ncdpi.gov/25FBSRegistration
- Once you have submitted your registration, you will receive an email confirmation
from noreply@dpi.nc.gov (subject line "2025 FBS Summer Conference Registration FBS25"). Be
sure to check your spam folder if it does not appear in your inbox. The invoice attached to that
email will provide you with your conference code and invoice number, which you will need when
submitting your payment.
- Go to https://go.ncdpi.gov/FBSPayments if paying online with a credit card. You can also pay via invoice and check. Instructions are on the invoice attached to your registration confirmation.
The current session topics and descriptions are posted in our "What's New" section for your review. Please share with others in your PSU that may want to participate this year. All of the Business staff from LEAs and Independent Public Schools are welcome.
Book Drive
FBS will be collecting books for all ages to benefit the Helene-impacted PSUs. Please bring any new or gently used books you'd like to donate to the conference. Thank you in advance for your support!
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Home Base (Now NCED Connect) Opt-In - All PSUs
From the Office of Digital Learning and School Connectivity
The NC Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce that the NCED Connect (formerly Home Base) Opt-in Process is now OPEN! Finance officers and charter school directors/principals may begin opting into NCED Connect for their PSU once the window opens. Click on the following link to see the full announcement and share with the appropriate staff: hb_pricing_memo 2025-26.
Note: Only finance officers and charter directors/principals should opt-in for their PSU.
Please visit the Opt-in Website for detailed information concerning the NCED Connect Opt-in Process. Questions may be directed to ncedconnect@dpi.nc.gov or jennifer.causey@dpi.nc.gov.
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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07/15/2025
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Interscholastic Athletic Report Survey
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06/05/2025
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07/15/2025
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NCED Connect (Home Base) Opt-In for 2025-26
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06/27/2025
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NC Beacons Of Leader Development
The division of Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) is excited to announce that again this summer, we will be offering an all-day digital teaching and learning conference in six of the educational regions throughout our state - NCBOLD. The focus will be NCSIS, AI in Education, Home Base Products (NCEES, Schoolnet, Canvas, EBSCO/Britannica), EdTech Tools, and more! A complete session list will be available in the coming weeks.
Target Audience: SIS Personnel, Principals, CO Staff, Instructional Coaches, Teachers
Attendees can earn up to 0.7 CEUs for each day’s attendance. A complimentary lunch and light morning snack will be provided each day.
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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Summer Honors Planning/PD Opportunity
Please join us for the Honors Professional Development and Team Planning Day on July 29th, here at NDCPI, 301 N. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC 27601. This is a day that offers 2 opportunities to advance Honors Level Coursework in your district and school. The events are free, but registration is required.
Team Planning Day- Step away from your traditional work setting and spend the day with your district team to continue planning how the Honors Policy will be implemented as you begin the 2025-2026 school year.
Professional Development Day- Join the Honors Team and content area specialists for this time as you dive into a day of learning evidence-based teaching methods designed to boost student engagement and learning outcomes.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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2025 RISE Back to School Safety Summit (with QR code graphic)
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.
Check out the Whova app for all things RISE 2025! You can post photos and engage with attendees and Center for Safer Schools staff before and during the summit. RISE veterans can share their fondest memories with first-timers. If you have a favorite food spot or place to visit in Statesville, share your knowledge with your fellow attendees.
Use the Community button at the bottom of the app homepage to find discussion topics – such as Preferred Session Topics, Local Recommendations and RISE Memories – and more.
2025-2026 SHINE/SEED Cohorts (with flyers)
The Center for Safer Schools is looking for one middle school from Eastern North Carolina and one from Western North Carolina to apply for the SHINE 2025-2026 Cohort. Also, the CFSS is looking for one Eastern and one Western high school to apply for the SEED 2025-2026 Cohort.
Both cohorts will begin in August 2025 and are expected to be completed by July 2026.
The maximum number of middle school and high school participants from each region is 15.
Students will take part in activities that will develop leadership skills, aid them in understanding healthy relationships and boundaries, provide them the basics of how to engage safely with social media and the internet, show how to make good decisions, realize the importance of community engagement and understand that students are an intricate part of school safety.
Middle and high schools in the North Central, Northeast, Southeast and Sandhills regions may apply to represent Eastern North Carolina. Middle and high schools in the Piedmont-Triad, Northwest, Southwest and Western regions may apply to represent Western North Carolina.
Applications are due Friday, May 30 by 5:00 p.m.
NCVPS Live, Certified Instruction Now Available for Middle Schools
North Carolina Virtual Public School launched In-Real-Time (IRT) with tremendous success. This live, synchronous instruction program is designed specifically for middle school students. IRT brings certified NC teachers directly into your middle school classrooms—supporting schools that are facing vacancies, working with substitutes, or simply seeking stronger instructional options. With flexible scheduling and real-time lessons in core subjects, IRT is already helping districts deliver the teaching their students need—right when they need it.
👉 Learn more and register for our upcoming informational webinars: https://conta.cc/44jtmRW
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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.
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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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Connected Classroom Workshop
Mark your calendar:
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Pine Springs Academy (K-5 Gym), Holly Springs NC
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Hosted by Phil Boyte and the team at Learning For Living, this workshop is packed with energy, practical tools, and fresh ideas.
Quick Highlights:
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Discover the Connected Classroom Method — a powerful, playful approach to building deep trust and boosting student learning.
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Experience hands-on activities you can use right away.
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Walk away energized and ready to create stronger classroom connections!
Why Phil?
He’s the creator of Link Crew, WEB, Breaking Down the Walls, and the School Culture Summit — and he’s spent his career helping schools build environments where students and staff thrive. He and his team have worked with over 1 million students and shared the PEOPLE FIRST message with thousands of educators. Phil’s style is dynamic, practical, and all about real, lasting impact.
This workshop is ideal for teachers in grades 5–12 — and it’s going to be an awesome way to kick off the 2025-26 school year!
Full details are in the attachment or online here: Workshop Info + Registration
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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Standards of Professional Conduct
Please download and distribute this OCS guidance document.
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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