Recognitions & Celebrations
Celebrate the Good
Excellent work is happening in North Carolina public schools every day. Our state has 2,500+ traditional public schools and 200+ charter schools – and in each one, every day, there are success stories to be told.
Have North Carolina public schools made an impact on you? Share your story on social media using the hashtag #celebratenced and tag NCDPI on Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn. or send your story to our NCDPI Communications team at communications@dpi.nc.gov.
Take a look at current recent stories happening in our state!
National Suicide Prevention Month
Each September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time to increase awareness and promote practical strategies for prevention. The focus is on sharing reliable information, highlighting available resources, and equipping schools and communities with tools to support students and families. By strengthening awareness and access to help, we can reduce risk factors, build protective factors, and improve outcomes for those in need. Check out resources provided by National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI).
Policy, Practice & Legislative Updates
Career Development Plans
Visit the career development plan website to review our updated guidance document, planning tool and the 2025-2026 office hours (see dates below).
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Friday, September 19, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, October 17, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, November 21, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, February 20, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, March 16, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, May 4, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 1, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Strategic Plan and Regional Tour
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE) developed a bold strategic plan: Achieving Educational Excellence. 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. Here is a summary document with the plan highlights.
Join us for a public forum in each of the eight education regions. The evening event will include a program about the strategic plan by Superintendent Green. Click the date links below for more information for your region. If you are unable to attend the events in person, there will be a virtual option in November.
- Northeast - Greenville, Pitt County: Thursday, September 25
- Southeast - Jacksonville, Onslow County: Friday, September 26
- Sandhills - Lumberton, Robeson County: Monday, September 29
- Piedmont-Triad - Greensboro, Guilford County: Thursday, October 16
- Southwest - Charlotte, Mecklenburg County: Monday, October 20
- Northwest - Morganton, Burke County: Wednesday, October 22
- Western - Bryson City, Swain County: Thursday, October 23
- North Central - Chapel Hill, Orange County: Wednesday, October 29
- Virtual - Zoom: Tuesday, November 3, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
ASCA National Model Update
The fifth edition of “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs” is the next step in the journey of the school counseling profession. The fifth edition of the ASCA National Model provides a continued focus on success for each and every student and introduces a greater focus on achievement, with attendance and discipline data recognized as contributing factors to academic performance. Learn about specific changes to the ASCA National Model, fifth edition and how this will impact your work as a data-informed school counselor. See resource section to download the copy of the fifth edition.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
NC College Connect Webinar and Office Hours
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.
Educator Webinar Dates
School District Office Hours
Parent and Student Webinar
Parent and Student Office Hours
Rural School Counseling Webinar Series
Join us for a virtual professional development series designed for North Carolina’s rural school counselors. In partnership with higher education professionals, each session offers practical strategies and fresh ideas to support your work. Click here for more details.
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September 17, 2025, 10:30-11:30
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October 17, 2025, 10:30-11:30
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November 19, 2025, 10:30-11:30
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January 21, 2026, 10:30-11:30
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February 18, 2026, 10:30-11:30
North Carolina Student Success Standards Trainings
This webinar will equip school counselors with the knowledge and tools to integrate he North Carolina Student Success Standards into a comprehensive school counseling program. Learn how to leverage data to drive program planning, measure impact, and support student success across all grade levels in connection with the NC Student Success Standards.
CTE Lunch & Learn Series
Join us for an engaging Lunch & Learn series designed for school counselors, career development coordinators, and special populations coordinators. Each session will spotlight topics tools, and best practices enhance career and postsecondary readiness support for students. We kick off September 16th. Click here to register and attend the sessions.
NCSCA September Webinar & State Conference
Join us for our September 17th webinar: Unpacking the NC Student Success Standards and our state conference November 6-8, 2025 with this year's theme "Plug into Your Power" —a premier event for learning, networking, and celebrating the school counseling profession! Click here to register for each event.
Health Education Regional Training
The School Health Training Center and NC Healthy Schools team have partnered together to offer a training focused on suicide alertness for everyone, how to recognize signs in someone and connect them to resources. In addition the training will include healthy outcomes from positive experiences--highlighting a positive lens from ACEs. Click here to register.
ASCA Webinars and Office Hours
American School Counseling Assocation is offering a variety of live webinars and office hours this fall to support your comprehensive work as school counselors. September and October sessions include topics designed to strengthen practice. View the full schedule and see more detail for registration here.
- September 17th, AI & School Counseling, 1-2pm
- September 18th, RAMP Office Hours, 5pm
- September 25th, Supporting Undocumented Students Educational Journey, 2-3pm
- October9th, RAMP Office Hours, 5pm
- October 15h, Applying for RAMP/5th Edition, 1-2pm
College Board Fall Workshop
Fall Counselor Workshops In-Person for NC hosted by College Board
This is designed for secondary school counselors to provide timely information and resources to support school counselor work in College Board programs for the 2025-2026 school year.
September 24, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hilton Charlotte University Place, Register
CFNC Countdown to College Regional Trainings
CFNC is kicking off the college application season with Countdown to College (C2C) Regional Trainings. These free, in-person trainings are designed for high school counselors, college access professionals, educators and youth-serving community organizations who support students on their college and career journey.
Join one of eight locations across the state this fall to receive updates on state and federal financial aid, learn best practices from local experts and explore new tools to help you and your students navigate the application process.
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Character Strong Professional Development Opportunity
Moving the Student Success Needle Through Adult Behaviors
Join Character Strong for a powerful 1-day training designed to transform school culture and student success on October 14th, Sampson Community College. Discover a research-backed instructional framework and walk away with practical, easy-to-use tools that positively impact both student behavior and the overall learning environment. Click hereto register.
Leading with Character Summit
This event will bring together educators and leaders to explore the 11 Principles of Character Education, hear inspiring success stories from State and National Schools of Character, and discover practical strategies for strengthening school climate and culture. November 3rd, 9-4pm Click here to register.
SHAC Learning Collaborative
NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative. These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.
These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts. Meeting link for monthly meetings.
From Course Planning to Careers & More: What's New in NCCareers.org
Discover the latest tools for course planning, comparing careers, and guiding students toward their goals. September 26, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Click here to register.
Resources
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