Number 10

Reminder: Ensure Accuracy of Student Schedules and Transcripts

To ensure every eligible student can participate in the NC College Connect direct admission program, all student schedules and transcripts must be accurate for our final eligibility data pull on Friday, Sept. 26.

1. Ensure all student transcripts and schedules are accurate and complete.
2. Verify all graduation requirements are scheduled with appropriate course codes.
3. Confirm fourth-level math courses use actual course codes (no placeholders or generic virtual course codes).
4. Include all in-progress courses on schedules to verify UNC MCR compliance.

See this document created by the SIS Professional Learning Team for additional guidance. Contact your region’s SIS Professional Learning Consultant with any questions.

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

Explore NCcareers.org – North Carolina’s Comprehensive Career Information System

NCcareers.org is the state’s one-stop resource for career planning and exploring, designed to support all North Carolina citizens. The platform offers robust tools including the Career Development Plan Builder, ready-to-use lesson plans, a variety of career assessments, and access to more than 800 North Carolina occupation profiles with details on education requirements, salaries, job openings and career videos — plus much more.

Stay current by subscribing to the NCcareers.org Newsletter, published every other month. Each issue features system updates, practical tips from staff and fellow users, highlights of popular tools, and previews of enhancements before they launch.

📩 Click here to sign up for the newsletter.
👉 View the latest newsletter here.

Number 7

NC MTSS Secondary Update and Release of Resources

The Integrated Academic and Behavior Systems (IABS) Team is pleased to share a Fall Update and Release of Resources for our NC MTSS Secondary Support and Research Project. Your IABS Team has spent two years researching and working alongside district and school teams to provide a comprehensive view of MTSS installation and practices at the secondary levels in North Carolina.

In this NC MTSS Secondary Fall Update and Release of Resources document you will find an overview of the secondary project, newly released MTSS secondary resources, and how to access additional secondary content through the NC MTSS Professional Learning Library.

If you have any questions about secondary MTSS implementation or the secondary resources available through the NC MTSS Professional Learning Center, please feel free to contact your IABS Regional Support Consultant. To provide feedback or for inquiries specifically regarding The NC MTSS Secondary Support and Research Project, please contact: Dr. Holly Williamson (Holly.Williamson@dpi.nc.gov), Mr. Jade Tornatore (Jade.Tornatore@dpi.nc.gov) or Mrs. Angel Goodwine Batts (Angel.Batts@dpi.nc.gov).

Number 6

EdNC: "Meet Lindsay Phillips, the 2025 NC Charter School Teacher of the Year"

"Lindsay Phillips, a kindergarten teacher at Mountain Island Charter School (MICS) in Mount Holly, is the 2025 N.C. Charter School Teacher of the Year. A veteran teacher, she has 20 years of experience in the classroom, having worked for 10 years in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System and 10 years at MICS. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) officially announced her Charter School Teacher of the Year recognition in February.

A self-described former 'kindergarten crier,' Phillips creates safe spaces in the classroom where her students can learn and grow. Kristen Blair, the communications director for the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools, recently caught up with Phillips to hear about her view of kindergarten as a 'make it or break it' year, her reflective approach to teaching, and her goals as the Charter School Teacher of the Year."

Read the full piece on 2025 NC Charter School Teacher of the Year here. 

Number 5

Celebrate the Good Blog: "How NCDPI’s Office of Research & Promising Practices Turns Evidence into Action"

In the latest “Celebrate the Good” blogpost, we feature Dr. Shaun Kellogg, senior director of NCDPI’s Office of Research and Promising Practices (ORPP).

Check out our Q&A session with Dr. Kellogg where he shares how the ORPP team is helping North Carolina’s public schools make evidence-based decisions and elevate strategies that measurably improve student outcomes. 

Number 4

Arts In Education Week Student Performances at NCDPI

Arts In Education Week is September 15-19! This week, NCDPI has been hosting incredible student performances every day! 

Visit the NCDPI Facebook page to see photos and videos of performances. 

Number 3

Video: Leading the Way - North Carolina Teaching Roles Advanced Lead Leah Sutton

ExcelinEd's Justine Morina sat down with Advanced Teaching Roles Lead Leah Sutton to take a closer look at how North Carolina is elevating the profession through statewide initiatives. It’s one of several innovative efforts featured in this series that showcases how smart policy is improving recruitment, retention and support for educators.

Watch the interview here. 

Number 2

Register to Attend State Superintendent Green's Strategic Plan Regional Tour

Superintendent Mo Green is hitting the road! Join us as he kicks off the statewide tour to share NCDPI’s bold strategic plan, "Achieving Educational Excellence."

📍 Northeast Region Launch
📅 Sept. 25 | 5:30 p.m.
📌 South Central High (Pitt County Schools)

📍 Southeast Region Launch
📅 Sept. 26 | 5:30 p.m.
📌 Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center

Parents, students, educators, community members and leaders - this is your chance to hear firsthand how we’re working to make NC’s schools the best in the nation.

🔗 Learn more and save your spot: go.ncdpi.gov/bestinnation

Number 1

"Skills for the Future Initiative Kicks Off, Advancing Portrait of a Graduate Vision"

"With the official launch of North Carolina’s Skills for the Future project this month, four North Carolina school districts are at the forefront of a national effort to measure and incorporate durable skills into classrooms.

Educators, district leaders and community stakeholders are coming together for a series of professional development events, starting with Mooresville Graded School District and Iredell-Statesville Schools on Sept. 9 and 10, followed by Edgecombe County Public Schools on Sept. 22 and Caldwell County Schools on Sept. 26.

Each two-day event will immerse participants in North Carolina’s evolving educational landscape and offer hands-on experiences with tools and strategies that support collaboration, one of the seven durable skills outlined in the state’s Portrait of a Graduate."

Read the full press release here.