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This update contains K-12 Social Studies and NCDPI reminders. As always, we encourage those of you who receive the updates to please share this issue with others who are not currently subscribed to our listserv. To receive Social Studies Updates please sign up using the link Social Studies Listerv Update or follow us on Twitter.
Special Announcement
Celebrate Constitution Week
The was adopted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, and for over 200 years, it has served as the supreme law of the land. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day became an official holiday in 2004, and each year on September 17 and during the week of September 17-23, schools teach about the signing of the Constitution.
Americans collectively celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day annually on September 17, and Constitution Week is observed from September 17-23.
View: U.S. Presidential Proclamation: A Proclamation on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and Constit…
View:
If you're looking for resources and ideas to commemorate Constitution Day and Constitution Week, the following websites may prove invaluable.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
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- US Department of Education:
- Library of Congress, Constitution of the United States:
- US Courts:
- The National Constitution Center: and events
- Official Website of the White House:
- The Official Website for the Government of the USA:
- Gilder Lehrman:
Disclaimer Statement
Because North Carolina is a local-control state, all curricular decisions are approved at the local level. Prior to implementing any of the materials, teachers should follow appropriate policies and procedures to have content vetted and approved by their school and district leaders.
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 Valencia Abbott is the 2025 Gilder Lehrman History
Teacher of the Year for North Carolina and the United States!
We are excited to announce that Valencia Abbott has been named the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year!
Abbott is an educator with over two decades of experience and serves as the Social Studies Department chair and a civics teacher at Rockingham Early College High School in Wentworth, North Carolina. Her dedication has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2024 Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2024–2025 RECHS Teacher of the Year honor. She is also a 2024 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow and serves on multiple advisory boards, underscoring her commitment to education and civil rights.
Being named the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the power of storytelling in education. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to see themselves in history, to amplify voices that have long been overlooked and undertold, and to remind every young scholar that their story matters.
–Valencia Abbott
As the national winner, Abbott will receive a $10,000 grand prize at a special ceremony on November 5, 2025, at the Harvard Club of New York City. The award will be presented by Pulitzer Prize–winner Stacy Schiff.
Congratulations, Valencia!
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
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Join our "Spotlight" webinar series for the 2025-2026 school year, where we will focus on increasing economic and financial understanding under the theme of “Making it Relevant”. Virtually attending these sessions will provide a valuable opportunity for educators who teach or make curriculum decisions about the Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) course to increase their knowledge, skills, and understanding of the course and its impact on students, teachers, parents, and the community.
The first session, on September 18, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The webinar will highlight the importance of financial literacy in NC public schools and showcase practical, real-world strategies for making EPF engaging and relevant to students. Attendees will hear from guest presenters, Crystal M. Shue, EPF Specialist from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Gretchyn Bedard, veteran EPF teacher from Iredell-Statesville Schools. Both will share how to…
- Connect course content to students’ lives
- Use and analyze course-related data, and
- Build strong partnerships with parents and the community.
Whether you are a new or experienced EPF educator, you’ll leave with ideas, resources, and inspiration to help your students thrive in and beyond the classroom.
Access and Share the Flyer
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 November 3, 2025 | 9 am - 4 pm
The Friday Institute: 1890 Main Campus Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606
- Gain insight into the 11 Principles of Character Education and practical ways to apply them in your school.
- Be inspired by success stories from State and National Schools of Character and learn how they revitalized their school communities.
- Connect with experts and fellow school leaders to deepen your understanding of Character Education.
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Leading with Character Summit |
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Save the Date: International Education Week Professional Development
Saturday, November 15, 2025 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Area Studies Centers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University are thrilled to offer an incredible professional development opportunity as part of International Education Week (IEW) that is designed to enhance your global understanding and perspective.
The focus of this year's event is "Shaping the Future: Climate, Science, and Social Movements in a Changing World," and we can't wait to dive deep into it!
This workshop is for ALL educators, regardless of your content area or grade level.
Earn CEUs/PD hours by attending this in-person workshop!
Attendees will also receive 2 free tickets to the Southern Skies planetarium show, celebrating Indigenous Latin American astronomy!
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AWARDS, GRANTS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
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Contest for Students: Budgeting in 2025: Plan, Save, Thrive!
North Carolina students are invited to showcase their creativity and financial smarts in the statewide “Budgeting in 2025: Plan, Save, Thrive!” contest.
Open to grades K–12 across all public, private, charter, and home schools, this competition encourages students to explore what budgeting means today through essays, visual art, videos, posters, or creative writing.
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Regional winners will advance to a statewide showcase, with top entries honored at a celebration event in early 2026. Prizes include scholarships and recognition on the NC Department of Public Instruction website and social media.
Submissions are due by December 15, 2025—don’t miss this chance to inspire the future of financial literacy!
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 United States Senate Youth Scholarship Program
Please Share This Announcement Along with the Link and QR Code Below with Teachers, Students, Parents, and Members of Your Community!
North Carolina’s application process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is now underway. Applications will be available to high school juniors and seniors August 1 – October 5, 2025.
Two student delegates and two alternates will be selected.
The two delegates will each attend Washington Week in Washington, D.C., and receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.
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Two $10,000 Scholarships Just Waiting for
N.C. Juniors and/or Seniors
The USSYP offers an extraordinary educational experience for high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in history, political science, or public service. Delegates spend an immersive week in the nation’s capital, meeting with U.S. Senators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and officials from federal agencies and the White House. This prestigious program provides students with unparalleled access to the nation’s political process and leaders.
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OFFICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: NEWS & UPDATES
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Implementing Standards-Based Instruction
Regional Professional Development
This professional development offering is grounded in the implementation of standards-based instruction, focusing on equipping educators with strategies, tools, and foundational knowledge for designing and delivering learning experiences that align with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. This approach develops teacher expertise in the following key areas: foundations of standards-based instruction, differentiation within a standards-based framework, and alignment and consistency.
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 STEAMing Across Borders: Empowering Youth from the Republic of Moldova in Science
Looking for a way to increase global education for your students?
Join this partnership to engage students with others from around the world.
Project Goals/Objectives: The project aims to promote youth leadership in STEM/STEAM by connecting high school students aged 14–16 from Moldova and schools around the world in collaborative, hands-on, interdisciplinary projects that focus on real-world problem-solving.
See the attached flyer for more information and details about the project.
Global Scholars Program
Interested in growing student and teacher global competencies? This program is free of charge and enables teachers and students to connect with other classrooms worldwide. They provide training, a virtual platform, and supplemental curriculum. Teachers who participate in the Global Scholars program will be eligible to earn micro-credentials toward the Global Educator Digital Badge.
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Global Scholars Program Information: Global Cities emphasizes direct peer-to-peer exchange as an essential component of global competency development. The video at the top of this page will help you understand how the Global Scholars Program, operated by Global Cities, makes this exchange possible.
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Spotlight NYC: This video demonstrates the potential impact of GS on schools and student learning.
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Spotlight Miami: Great example of how Global Scholars educators are finding ways to apply their learning to incorporate global competency education in their core curricula.
- Additional Free Workshops
District leaders, please contact Kelly Schultz @ kelly.schultz@dpi.nc.gov to express your interest and connect you with the program.
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Subscribe and Connect with each Area in the Office of Teaching and Learning
Do you want to stay up to date on the latest news, opportunities, resources, standards updates, etc., from one or more of the NCDPI Office of Teaching and Learning content areas?
Sign up today to receive newsletters and announcements from the area(s) or topic(s) of your choice.
IYMI: Check Out Some of the Latest Newsletters
from the Office of Academic Standards
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Disclaimer Statement
Because North Carolina is a local-control state, all curricular decisions are approved at the local level. Prior to implementing any of the materials, teachers should follow appropriate policies and procedures to have content vetted and approved by their school and district leaders.
The links on this resource could bring you to third-party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd Party Websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd Party Websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd Party Websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd Party Websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations, or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd Party Website.
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