Number 10

Fall 2025 NCStar Process Manager Training ⭐

The upcoming Fall 2025 NCStar Process Manager Training will be offered at five regional locations across the state and is open to all school-based personnel who are responsible for managing NCStar at the school level. This statewide training is specifically designed to support Process Managers and others in similar roles with the technical and procedural functions of the NCStar platform.

The training will focus exclusively on the platform’s core structures, tools and navigation. Please note that this session will not include in-depth content on School Improvement Team operations, district-level planning, progress monitoring or distributed leadership.

If your district is seeking a more comprehensive training that includes strategic implementation of school improvement planning through NCStar, customized district-level sessions can be offered upon request

Learn more and register here. 

Number 9

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) for Public School Teachers Grant - Applications Due Sept. 30

The Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) awards enhance the excitement for STEM in the classroom by providing funds for materials, equipment and supplies related to the implementation of high-quality curriculum and activities in the classroom.

This award provides up to $3,000 for one year to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and supplies. An additional $1,500 may be requested for professional development related to the implementation of new equipment or the use of materials in the classroom. Awards are made to teaching professionals that hold a professional educator's license to teach in a North Carolina K-12 public school.

Learn more and apply for the grant here. The deadline to apply is September 30 at 3 p.m.

Number 8

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.

Number 7

EdNC: "Strategic Plan to Make NC Public Schools ‘Best in the Nation’ Approved" 🌠

"In their monthly convening last week, the State Board of Education approved the final draft of the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) 37-page, five-year strategic plan, titled 'Achieving Educational Excellence.'

The plan is meant to communicate the shared vision of the Board and state Superintendent Maurice 'Mo' Green.

Green anticipates that the plan will be a “living framework,” meaning that DPI can make changes based on the needs of North Carolina’s public schools.

'Excellence is not a fixed destination, but a continuous journey. Accordingly, this plan is designed to evolve through a continuous improvement process that strengthens and refines our efforts over time,' the plan’s document says."

Read the full story here.

Number 6

NCVPS Fall 2025 Registration Is Open

There’s still time to register for Fall 2025 courses with NCVPS! With over 130 options—including Advanced Placement, CTE, world languages, arts, health and physical education, middle school, OCS, core courses, In-Real-Time and more—students can find the perfect courses to match their academic goals and needs. Our program also provides access to classes that may not be available locally, making it easier for every student to succeed.

Key Dates:

• Fall Open Enrollment: Early Start and Standard Start classes are open for fall enrollment through September 8, 2025.
• Options After September 8: We’ve got you covered even after the open enrollment window closes!

After Open Enrollment Options:

• Transfers: Schools can transfer individual students or entire classes after open enrollment ends. To begin the transfer process, simply open a ticket with our Virtual Support Center.
• Emergency Requests: We know the recent hurricane disrupted operations for many schools. If your school has unique circumstances, contact our Virtual Support Center—we’re here to help.
• Co-Teaching: Schools can continue adding students to existing co-teaching OCS and intervention courses throughout the semester.

Number 5

NC College Connect Informational Webinars for Educators, Parents and Students 🧑‍🎓

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

• August 20, 1 p.m.
• September 3, 10 a.m.
• October 7, 1 p.m.

Student/Parent Webinars

• September 16, 6 p.m.

Student/Parent Office Hours

• August 26, drop in between 6-7 p.m.
• September 30, drop in between 6-7 p.m.

Number 4

Sign Up for NCDPI Newsletters

Did you know NCDPI produces a variety of newsletters on various topics across North Carolina K-12 education? Whether you’re looking for news on school counseling, digital teaching & learning resources, middle school science or K-12 education legislation updates, there is something for everyone. 

A few examples of subscription offerings are:

• K-12 Education Legislative Update
• News Releases
• Digital Accessibility Newsletter
• Exceptional Children Information for Parents

Click here and enter your email address to see all the subscription lists and newsletters available to receive. 

Number 3

Fall 2025 AI Webinar Series 🧑‍💻

NCDPI's Office of Digital Teaching and Learning offers a Wednesday webinar series to support AI literacy and the implementation of AI in North Carolina.

All webinars are held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Upcoming offerings include:

• August 20 - Back-to-School with Custom GPTs: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers with Meredith Hill
• August 27 - AI and Assistive Technology with Josh Barton
• September 3 - Amazing AI Updates: Back to School 2025 with Vera Cubero
• September 17 - Part 1: Traditional to Transformative: Realizing the Promise of Education in an AI-Enabled World- with Vera Cubero
• September 24 - AI Literacy for K5 w/ RoboWunderkind
• October 8 - Part 2: Traditional to Transformative: Realizing the Promise of Education in an AI-Enabled World with Vera Cubero

Learn more about the webinar series and find registration links here.

Number 2

EdNC Perspective Piece from 2019 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year: "Why NC Public Schools Matter — from a Principal’s View" 🏫

"I believe in North Carolina’s public schools because they believed in me.

I was raised by a N.C. public school teacher who graded papers at our kitchen table every night. I married a N.C. teacher who 'loves her kids. l Both our children are products of N.C. public schools. How proud I am now to watch my oldest daughter studying in college to become a N.C. public school teacher.

Our N.C. public schools sent me to Appalachian State University on the N.C. Teaching Fellows Scholarship, and later I earned my masters degree from N.C. State University through the North East Leadership Academy.

I have worked my entire career as a N.C. public school educator — the first half as a teacher and the second half as a principal — all 28 years right here in Edgecombe County Public Schools.

As our 2019 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, I have traveled our state from Murphy to Manteo. Despite our differences, one thing is constant: Public schools across N.C. are changing lives. We may not be perfect — but we are irreplaceable."

Read the full perspective piece from 2019 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year Matt Bristow-Smith here.

Number 1

WRAL: "Thousands of NC High Schoolers to get College Acceptance Letters Without Ever Applying to Attend"

"During the week of Aug. 18, 63,000 North Carolina high school students will receive college acceptance letters -- even though they haven't applied to college yet.

The new North Carolina College Connect program has prompted 41 colleges in the state to automatically offer admissions to 62,959 students who have at least a weighted 2.8 grade-point average and have completed required graduation courses after their junior year.

North Carolina College Connect is a partnership of a number of statewide organizations, including state K-12 and higher education agencies and foundations and nonprofits. Eleven University of North Carolina System universities, 29 private colleges and all 58 of the state's community colleges participate in the program, though some have slightly different admissions requirements, such as higher grade-point averages.

'We have all come together to say, "How can we make college admissions easier? How can we open the doors, provide access, provide opportunity?"... because so many students, they don't see themselves as college ready,' said Sneha Shah-Coltrane, director of the state Department of Public Instruction's Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education.

Shah-Coltrane told the State Board of Education this week that the number of students accepted to college through this program represents about 56% of the state's high school seniors."

Read the full story here.