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Number 10
NCBOLD 2025 Slide Decks and Resources Available Now
The NCBOLD 2025 digital teaching and learning conference was held in six locations across the state this summer, bringing together educators for dynamic and impactful professional learning experiences. Organized by the Division of Digital Teaching and Learning, the events drew a total of 2,339 educators from 166 public school units (PSUs), including 98% of traditional school districts.
NCBOLD 2025 focused on high-priority topics including the new North Carolina Student Information System (NCSIS), the integration of artificial intelligence in education and NCDPI-supported digital products such as NCEES, Schoolnet, Canvas, EBSCO and Britannica. Sessions also highlighted a wide range of educational technology tools and resources designed to support teachers, administrators and support staff in their evolving roles.
If you were unable to attend, you can still access the shared resources and slide decks from this year’s sessions. These materials are designed to support both edtech integration and NCSIS implementation, regardless of which phase of implementation your PSU is in.
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Number 9
District Highlight: Union County Public Schools - Rocky River Elementary Career Fair Featured in Tray Talk 🍽️
Tray Talk, a blog that features success stories in school nutrition programs, recently featured a visit from Union County Public Schools' School Nutrition staff to Rocky River Elementary's career fair.
Students explored potential careers in school nutrition - asking questions and creating their own breakfast and lunch trays.
Read more and see photos here.
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Number 7
Digital Accessibility Newsletter and Resources 🖥️
Each issue of the Digital Accessibility Newsletter will bring you news, resources, and insights on accessibility, along with topics like understanding WCAG standards, user experiences and upcoming events. Whether you are just starting to learn about digital accessibility or you are looking to deepen your knowledge, this newsletter has something for everyone.
Check out the most recent Digital Accessibility Newsletter here.
Anyone is welcome to subscribe to the newsletter here. Please find additional digital accessibility resources linked below:
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Number 6
Register for Fall 2025 NCStar Process Manager Training
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 5
District Highlight: Beaufort County Schools - Tales for Tails Summer Reading Program 📖🐾
As part of Chocowinity Primary School’s (Beaufort County Schools) annual summer reading program, Tales for Tails, students spent Tuesday afternoons with dogs and cats at the Beaufort County Animal Shelter cozying up on blankets and reading aloud to adoptable dogs and cats.
The summer initiative, a partnership between the school and the animal shelter, allows students to practice their reading skills and raise awareness about animals in shelters who need forever homes.
Read the story here and see photos here.
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Number 4
WUNC: "What State Supt. Green Means When he Says NC Public Schools Should be "'the Best in the Nation'"
"Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green's new strategic plan paints a vision of North Carolina public schools as becoming 'the very best in the nation.'
'We have to talk about it that way,' Green said. 'To then have an entire state say we're focused on being best in the nation, not second best, not "we want incremental improvement."'
Green presented his final strategic plan to the State Board of Education Wednesday. Board members will vote on approval of the plan Thursday.
The plan comes after a listening tour, billed the 'Mo Wants To Know Tour,' where Green traveled to schools around the state to hear from students, parents, educators and community members about their thoughts on improving public education. Green's initial draft of a strategic plan also received feedback from the governor's office, educator associations, members of the General Assembly, state health officials, and the public."
Read the full story here.
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Number 3
Rockingham County Schools Educator Named 2025 North Carolina History Teacher of the Year 🧑🏫
Rockingham Early College High's (Rockingham County Schools) history teacher, Valencia Abbott, is considered one of the best history teachers in the U.S. according to The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which selected her as the 2025 North Carolina History Teacher of the Year!
The award, presented annually since 2004, highlights the importance of history education by honoring exceptional K-12 American history teachers. Congratulations Ms. Abbott!
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Number 2
"NC College Connect Creates Clear Path to College for Eligible NC Students"
"Starting this fall, more than 62,000 North Carolina public high school seniors will be offered direct admission to select institutions in North Carolina as part of the NC College Connect program. NC College Connect provides a simpler and faster way for eligible seniors to be admitted to colleges and universities in North Carolina.
Public high school students who complete their junior year with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above and meet the NC College Connect requirements will be eligible. Participating institutions include select UNC System universities, North Carolina independent colleges and universities, and North Carolina community colleges across the state. A full list of participating institutions can be found below.
Eligible high school students entering their senior year will receive an official NC College Connect letter in the mail this fall, offering them direct admission for the 2026-27 academic year. Students can also check their eligibility by visiting NCCollegeConnect.com and logging into the portal or speaking with their high school counselors."
Read the full press release here.
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Number 1
Comprehensive Strategic Plan to Make North Carolina Public Schools Best in the Nation Launches Aug. 20
"Following approval by the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) on Thursday, the groundbreaking strategic plan 'Achieving Educational Excellence: 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for North Carolina Public Schools' will be publicly launched on Wednesday, August 20, with events featuring Governor Josh Stein, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice 'Mo' Green and education leaders from across the state.
The five-year plan aims to position North Carolina's public schools as the best in the United States by 2030, and it is the first joint plan between the SBE and the state superintendent. Built on input from thousands of educators, students, parents and community members through Green's 'Mo Wants to Know' listening tour, the plan outlines eight transformative pillars designed to revolutionize public education statewide.
The plan sets bold targets including achieving a 92% graduation rate, reaching the top ACT composite scores nationally and dramatically increasing Advanced Placement (AP) participation and Career and Technical Education (CTE) engagement."
Read the full media advisory here.
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