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Number 10
NCBOLD Summer Regional Conferences and NCSIS Training
NCBOLD is back this summer! The NCDPI Office of Digital Teaching and Learning is hosting a day-long learning conference with six sessions across the state. The conference is open to central office staff, instructional coaches, teachers, principals and more.
This year’s event focuses on:
⭐️ AI in Education
⭐️ Home Base Products (Canvas, Schoolnet, NCEES, EBSCO/ Britannica)
⭐️ The NC Student Information System (SIS)
⭐️ EdTech tools
Earn up to 0.7 CEUs per day. Complimentary lunch will be provided.
Learn more and register here.
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Number 9
Leveraging NCVPS: A Resource for District Leaders
Discover how to utilize the programs and resources offered by NCVPS, your state-led virtual school. You are probably familiar with NCVPS's high-quality instruction and QM-certified courses, but you may not be as familiar with our intervention program, Partnership Course Program, Peer Tutoring Center, flexible funding or whole-class enrollment option when you have teacher loss. NCVPS staff will share how to partner with NCVPS as a solution to your enrollment needs.
Please join Leveraging NCVPS: A Resource for NC District Leaders. Offered on two dates to serve you better: July 22 at 10 a.m. and July 23 at 1 p.m.
- Register for July 22, 10-11 a.m.
- Register for July 23, 1-2 p.m.
Learn more here.
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Number 8
"How N.C. State’s College of Education Draws on Research-Based Practices to Prepare Effective Literacy Teachers" 🧑🏫
"In Assistant Teaching Professor Jill Jones’ classroom, a group of college students decode multisyllabic words. With the guidance of a classmate, they identify word elements, such as the prefix, suffix and root, in order to determine the word’s meaning.
The room is filled with pre-service teachers in the NC State College of Education’s elementary education program. Although, as college students, they already know how to read, the exercise is helping them determine words in a passage that fourth grade students might find challenging, and, with the help of Jones, giving them an opportunity to practice how they would work with young students to decode those words. After practicing this routine in the classroom, they go on to implement these practices in lessons they design for elementary students in their field experience classroom."
Read the full story here.
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Number 7
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA): "What Motivates People to Pursue College?"
"Fear of student loan debt is a big obstacle to students not only going to college but also to filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This is one of the findings from research commissioned by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) in 2023. The Authority, the primary sponsor of College for North Carolina, commissioned the research to better understand how to help students and families know about the Next NC Scholarship, a program that combines the Federal Pell and state grant into one easy to understand need-based award. To qualify, students must complete a FAFSA to access state and federal financial aid available to them.
'When you go to college, if you have that debt, maybe in the long run it’s preventing you from…buying a house,' one parent commented. 'Yes, it could help you out, but at the same time, it could put you in debt.'
Efforts to address concerns such as these are all the more important as partners around the state try to increase FAFSA completion to help the state meet its attainment goal of 2 million state citizens between the ages of 25 and 44 with high-quality credentials or post-secondary degrees by 2030."
Read the full article here.
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Number 6
NC College Connect Informational Webinars
NC College Connect is a groundbreaking initiative offering direct college admission to eligible high school seniors across the state for the 2025–2026 school year! Open to public high school seniors with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher who meet course requirements, students will be matched with colleges where they already qualify — no traditional application needed. Eligible students will be notified this fall.
Check out the website to learn more, or attend one of the webinars below.
Educator Webinars
Student/Parent Webinars
Student/Parent Office Hours
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Number 5
Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals in the 2025-26 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. The Federally-assisted School Nutrition Programs help ensure all students have access to wholesome, nutritious, appealing meals at school.
'Research indicates that students who eat school meals have improved school attendance, better focus in class, increased test scores, and healthier overall diets,' said State Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green. 'School meals support academic excellence for students and are a nutritious, convenient choice for families.'
The federal income eligibility guidelines for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 are available at fns.usda.gov."
Read the full press release here.
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Number 4
74th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children Accepting Session Proposals
NCDPI's Office of Exceptional Children is now accepting session proposals for the 74th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children, November 19–21 in Greensboro.
This year’s theme—“50 Years of IDEA: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future”—invites educators, administrators and stakeholders to submit proposals for presentations that showcase evidence-based and promising practices supporting improved outcomes for students with disabilities.
Learn more and submit a proposal here. The submission deadline is July 18.
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Number 3
"Elizabeth City State University Expands Aviation Access with New High School Partnerships" 🛬
"Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is making a new flight path for high school students across eastern North Carolina, beginning in the classroom and leading to the cockpit.
Through its Aviation Workforce Development initiative—funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—ECSU has awarded five high schools with resources valued at over $60,000 each to launch or expand aviation and/or drone programs. The schools selected through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process include:
- South Central High School (Pitt County)
- C.S. Brown High School STEM (Hertford County)
- Warren County High School (Warren County)
- Martin County High School (Martin County)
- Northeastern High School (Pasquotank County)
Through this award, ECSU will provide each school with desktop flight simulators, software, educational supplies, project kits, learning materials, computers, virtual reality hardware, pilot ground school prep kit, and teacher professional development to build sustainable, future-focused aviation programs."
Read the full story here.
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Number 2
NCDPI's Dr. Ashley McBride Named Global Winner of ISTE+ASCD Making IT Happen Award
Congratulations to NCDPI's Digital Learning Initiative extraordinaire, Dr. Ashley McBride, who has been named a Global Winner of the prestigious ISTE+ASCD Making IT Happen Award! This award honors visionary leaders who spark innovation, uplift educators and create lasting impact through transformational learning and meaningful tech use.
As a passionate advocate for equity, digital learning and educator voice, Ashley has inspired real change across North Carolina and beyond. Her leadership is helping to reimagine education in powerful, forward-thinking ways.
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Number 1
Innovative NC K-12 Culinary Institute Increases School Meal Appeal 🧑🍳
"School Nutrition professionals from across North Carolina have the opportunity to participate in regional NC K-12 Culinary Institute workshops this summer. The institute was developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of School Nutrition in cooperation with a team of registered dietitians and chefs to increase the availability of fresh, appealing, nutritious meals at school.
'The North Carolina K-12 Culinary Institute offers innovative, engaging training and equips our School Nutrition professionals with the culinary skills, recipes and resources needed to prepare and serve nutritious school meals that support student success in and out of the classroom,' said Senior Director of the Office of School Nutrition Rachel Findley."
Read the full press release and see photos from the workshops here.
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