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Number 10
Register Now for NCCAT Residential Professional Development Programs September through December
The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is now accepting registrations for professional development programs taking place September through December. These sessions offer North Carolina educators meaningful opportunities to grow professionally, connect with peers and bring fresh, research-based strategies into the classroom. Whether you're looking to boost literacy instruction, integrate technology, beginning teacher support or explore leadership, NCCAT has a program designed to meet your needs. Programs are offered in person at our Cullowhee and Ocracoke campuses, as well as online and in regional locations across the state.
Click here for more information.
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Number 9
Resource: Academic Discourse Playbook
The NCDPI ELA team just released the Academic Discourse Playbook — a powerful new tool designed to support student discussion and writing for grades K–12, and in all content areas!
Inside the Playbook, you'll find:
➡️ Three key recommendations to strengthen classroom conversations and written responses.
➡️ Editable templates for anchor charts, note-catchers, and graphic organizers.
➡️ Practical strategies to deepen comprehension and enrich learning.
The resource is aligned with the Comprehension: Discussion and Writing component of the Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) and is perfect for use in professional development during the 2025–26 school year.
Find the Academic Discourse Playbook here.
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Number 8
Fall 2025 NCStar Process Manager Training - Registration Now Open!
The Office of District and School Support Services is pleased to announce the Fall 2025 NCStar Process Manager Training, offered at five regional locations across the state.
This in-person, three-and-a-half-hour training is designed specifically for school-based personnel responsible for managing NCStar at the school level. The session will focus exclusively on the technical and procedural functions of the NCStar platform, including its core structures, tools and navigation.
Please note that this training does not include content on School Improvement Team operations, distributed leadership, progress monitoring or district-level planning.
Register today and secure your spot at a regional session near you!
For questions or to request additional training, please contact:
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Number 7
Office of Teaching and Learning Standards External Implementation Guide
Check out the NCDPI Office of Teaching and Learning Standards External Implementation Guide. This repository is a one-stop shop for each content area related to the NC Standard Course of Study and includes standards and support resources.
Find the Teaching and Learning Standards External Implementation Guide here.
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Number 6
Join the NC DLAC Portal: Connect with North Carolina’s Digital Learning Community 🖥️
The North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), the state’s official affiliate for the Community Advancing Digital Learning (DLAC), invites educators and administrators across North Carolina to join the new DLAC Community Portal. This free platform is designed to bring together the state’s digital learning community—educators, administrators, and edtech leaders—committed to improving student outcomes through innovative use of technology.
By joining the North Carolina group, you can engage in meaningful discussions about digital teaching and learning, share resources and best practices and build professional connections that support digital education statewide. To get started:
- Click the Portal link to create your account.
- Once logged in, select the ‘Groups’ icon.
- Find the North Carolina group tile and click ‘Ask to Join.’
For assistance, a step-by-step infographic is available.
This platform offers an opportunity to build a stronger statewide community dedicated to digital learning. Your participation and expertise are crucial in shaping the future of education in North Carolina. We look forward to seeing you in the portal.
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Number 5
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 4
Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund
The "Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund" is a program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), in partnership with PBS North Carolina (PBS NC), that provides reimbursements to public schools throughout North Carolina to engage in enriching, experiential field trips at DNCR's 100+ locations around the state!
The Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund will help ensure students from all regions of the state have the opportunity to engage in memorable educational experiences while cultivating a deeper understanding and appreciation of North Carolina’s rich history, culture, arts, science and natural resources. By providing financial support through reimbursements for schools to visit DNCR locations around the state, the Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund empowers students to connect to what it means to live in and love North Carolina, ultimately helping to cultivate our state’s future leaders and innovators.
Learn more and apply here.
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Number 3
Carolina Panthers Back to School Day - Discounted Tickets and Free Lunchbox
Kick off the beginning of the school year and football season and join the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, August 21 at 7 p.m., at the Panthers' preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tickets are $29 per person and come with a Panthers lunchbox.
Learn more and view tickets here.
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Number 2
District Highlight: Alamance-Burlington School System - Junior Police Academy Cadets Service Project Stocking the Little Portion Food Pantry
"We're incredibly proud of our outstanding middle school Burlington Police Department-NC Junior Police Academy cadets who recently completed an incredible service project by stocking the Little Portion Food Pantry! These young leaders exemplified the core values of teamwork, respect, and community service that are at the heart of this nationally recognized program. Through their dedication and hard work, these students have made a real difference by ensuring that many community members will have access to essential food resources.
This transformative four-week program has been developing middle school students' social skills, self-esteem, conflict resolution abilities, and leadership qualities since 1996. Our cadets learn valuable life lessons through hands-on community service projects like this food pantry initiative, proving that young people can be powerful forces for positive change in their communities. From goal-setting and anger management to mediation skills and substance abuse prevention, these students are gaining tools that will serve them throughout their lives."
Read more about the Junior Police Academy, the Little Portion Food Pantry service project and see photos here.
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Number 1
Joint Statement from North Carolina State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green and North Carolina State Board of Education Chairman Eric Davis on Title IV-B Funds Release
"The U.S. Department of Education has released $35.8 million in Title IV-B funding for North Carolina's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This development allows the 99 after-school and summer programs across our state that served over 10,000 students and employed nearly 1,400 staff members last year to continue their operations.
These programs provide critical academic support and safe environments for students, particularly those in high-poverty areas. For working families, they provide assurance that their children are engaged in enriching activities after school. Community organizations, churches and nonprofits operate 75% of these programs and can now continue their work serving North Carolina families.
While this funding has been released, we continue to advocate for the remaining $130 million in federal education funds that remain under review. These funds support essential services including additional teachers to lower class sizes, safety and security measures, English learner support, teacher professional development and academic enrichment programs.
We want to thank Attorney General Jackson's efforts in pursuing the release of these funds through legal action.
We will continue working with our federal partners to secure the release of the remaining $130 million funds that North Carolina students and educators need for the current school year and that Congress approved to meet those needs."
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