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Some Upcoming Dates of Note
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Reminder: The deadline for the Remote Charter Academy (RCA) application is January 16, 2026. If you plan to apply, please review the RCA application information in the charter school leadership blast, obtain board approval, and contact julie.whetzel@dpi.nc.gov to request an Epicenter task to submit your application materials.
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Join the Office of Charter Schools for January Virtual Office Hours on January 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. This session will focus on teacher retention and school leadership, featuring presenters from UNC’s EPIC Research Team, the Office of Charter Schools, and charter school leaders sharing effective retention strategies.
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All Charter Schools will use APEX as the data collection platform for the school year 2024-25 Year End reporting for Local Neglected Program and Private School Participation. Registration in APEX requires an NCID.
APEX Neglected Program or Private Schools Students Participating is available at https://schools.nc.gov/title1ye (this link went live on June 9, 2025)
Submissions were due on or before June 30, 2025. If your Charter School has not yet submitted, please ensure your submission is completed no later than 5:00pm on Friday, January 16th.
The attached presentation will guide the viewer on how to register for APEX, as well as how to enter the data once the subscription is approved.
Year End Reporting for Local Neglected Program and Private School Participation
Local Neglected Program
• Locally operated institutions for neglected children who were
provided Title I, Part A services in accordance with Section 1113(c)(3)(A)(ii) of ESEA, as amended. Do not include students served under Title I, Part D.
Private School Students Participating
• Private school students who were selected for Title I, Part A services and provided Title I, Part A services by a local educational agency (LEA) in accordance with Section 1117 of ESEA, as amended.
Updated School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual
This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators.
2025 SASA Manual
NCSECU People Helping People Scholarship 2026 Now Open!
The SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship process is now open. Charter schools across North Carolina may recommend one high school senior per campus based on the eligibility criteria linked below.
The Office of Charter Schools Selection Team will choose 10 outstanding seniors from the applications submitted between December 2025 and March 13, 2026.
Final applications must be submitted no later than March 13, 2026 to the External Support Lead Consultant, Dr. Natasha Norins, via PDF formats. Applications should include all required eligibility forms, essays, transcripts, and proof of acceptance to a North Carolina college or university.
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Congratulations to the 2026 Awardee of the Burroughs Welcome NC Charter School Teacher of the Year, Stephanie Lane from Lake Norman Charter School in Huntersville, NC.
Awarded the Wells-Fargo Charter School Principal of the Year, Deborah Brown, from the Exploris School of Raleigh, NC.
Lastly, congratulations to the NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year, Zoe Couloumbis, from Encore Academy, in Hope Mills, NC.
The Office of Charter Schools is proud to honor these education professionals as we embark on a new year of learning with them.
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January 8, 2026
The FBS website continues to be updated with information related to School Business and our ongoing operations. Please check the FBS homepage regularly for updates. Please review the upcoming deadlines for due dates.
Cash Deadline for Upcoming Holiday - All PSUs
For the Funds Requirement Date (FRD) of Friday, January 23, 2026, the cash request cut-off date and time is the state and federal holiday of Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:45 PM. PSUs do not need to wait until the day of the cut off to request cash.
There should be more than one person subscribed to the PSU Cash Application who can request cash. For cash inquiries, please contact CashMgt@dpi.nc.gov.
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Updated Computer Science Course Lists for SY26-27
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has published updated Computer Science Middle School Elective Offering and High School Graduation Requirement course lists. The updated high school course list adds ten new course options, and the updated middle school course list adds three new middle school elective options along with four additional high school courses that can be taught in middle school. Completion of any course identified on the approved High School Courses Eligible for Middle School list will satisfy both the CS middle school course elective offering and high school graduation requirement.
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), Local Implementation Delay Waiver Requests were available only for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026; no waivers are permitted for full implementation beginning in 2026–2027.
Link: NCDPI Computer Science Graduation Requirement
Spring 2026 Medicaid in Education [MiE] Cohort
Developing efficient, effective Medicaid cost recovery programs requires foundational knowledge and collaborative effort. These cohorts will support PSU efforts to develop or improve their Medicaid cost recovery efforts. Best results are achieved when a full PSU team participates! Recognizing we all have competing priorities, PSU teams can ensure all content is received, adapted, and applied to local circumstances, procedures, and organizational structure.
This flexible, inclusive, virtual cohort will complete the on-demand Medicaid in Education course with a focus on FFS; however, all Medicaid programs are covered.
Participants will:
- Complete the assigned module and profile rating
- Meet virtually to clarify concepts, answer questions, and
- Collaborate for implementation, establishing PSU practices, and procedures
The Spring 2026 Medicaid in Education [MiE] Cohort will run from March 24th through May 7th on Thursday afternoons.
- 'Just Getting Started in Medicaid' sessions will be offered on March 24th or 26th.
- MiE Cohort orientation sessions will be provided March 31st or April 2nd. Please follow this link to the schedule for the Spring 2026 Cohort
- All (individuals, dyads, small groups) are welcome to participate in MiE cohorts but most effective change occurs with collaborative teams and full PSU Medicaid teams are strongly encouraged
- Suggested PSU (district or charter) team members:
- EC Administrators- Directors, Coordinators
- School Business or Finance officers
- Administrators who will be a point of contact the Medicaid program (central office, finance, EC)
- Related service providers
- Personnel involved with MAC or RMTS
- Any interested parties or personnel assigned to Medicaid program management
- Participants can and should vary from module to module, the schedule includes suggested team participants for each meeting
- Time will be allocated for questions and implementation work
You/Your PSU (district, state, or charter school) team can register here- https://go.ncdpi.gov/Spring26MiECohort for:
- Just Getting Started in Medicaid sessions
- MiE Spring26 Cohort
- Both or
- Indicate need for follow up technical assistance for Medicaid cost recovery
If you have any questions or would like to set up time with me for your PSU, team, or personnel, give me a call at 919) 636-1827.
Thank you for your interest!
Wishing you a peaceful and healthy 2026,
Laurie Ray
Consultant for Physical Therapy & Medicaid
Supporting Teaching and Related Services
Office of Exceptional Children
NC Department of Public Instruction
M: (919) 636-1827
laurie.ray@dpi.nc.gov
Character Education: Opportunities to Share with Charter Schools
Upcoming Opportunities:
- A clear overview of each principle
- Examples from NC Schools of Character
- Practical strategies for improving school culture
- Tools for assessing progress and gathering evidence
- Support for completing the School of Character Application
Join Us for the NCED CONNECT Symposium 2026!
We invite you to join us in Greensboro as we connect, learn, and lead together—now with an even stronger focus on keeping our systems and communities secure.
Event Details
See Where You Fit in Our Leadership Pathway
Discover how your current role—and your future goals—align with our Leadership Pathway.
Take a sneak peek at featured sessions, speakers, and experiences in our NCED Connect Symposium Highlights Flipbook.
We look forward to seeing you at the NCED Connect Symposium 2026!
Ticket Categories & Pricing **New!**
General Registration (Dec 23–Jan. 13)
- Individual: $350
- Group: $350 each (invoiced together)
Late Registration (Jan. 14–Feb. 9): $450 each
Presenter Registration: Please see separate email.
**Invoices are automatically emailed upon registration and should be paid within two weeks.
Hotel Information
The event will be held at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Discounted room rates and booking links will be shared upon registration. Teams purchasing the Buy 8, Get 2 Free + 1 Hotel Room package will receive details for their complimentary stay via email for the first attendee registered. Hotel information and registration is located HERE.
Learn More & Register
Registration is OPEN! Full details Here.
We can’t wait to connect with you in Greensboro, where innovation meets collaboration!
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Looking for Literacy Professional Development? Need to earn CEUs?
NEW! During the 2025-2026 school year the Office of Early Learning is offering a virtual Literacy for Educators webinar series focused on content aligned to the science of reading for charter and lab schools.
These sessions are open to All educators, coaches, and administrators.
Each monthly session will be held from 3:30 pm-4:30 pm.
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RISE 2026 Call for Proposals
The deadline to submit the Call for Proposals form is Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. If you have questions, send an email to CFSS@cfssnc.gov.
RISE 2026 Registration
Registration is now open for the 2026 RISE Back to School Safety Summit! The Center for Safer Schools' largest event will be held from Tuesday, August 4 to Thursday, August 6 at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, N.C.
Join us for sessions including bullying prevention, suicide prevention, critical incidents and threat assessment. We will use the Whova app for scheduling and to engage with attendees leading up to RISE.
Check the Center for Safer Schools newsletter and social media for more details over the coming months. If you have questions, send an email to CFSS@cfssnc.gov.
Important DHHS Resources for Charter Schools
Please click on each link and read thoroughly.
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Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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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
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NOTE- To sign up for the Office of Federal Programs listserv, please contact your assigned Consolidated Program Administrator. Contacts can be found by clicking this link and selecting your region at the bottom of the page.
NCVPS Expands Course Offerings for Spring 2026
NC Virtual Public School is expanding its catalog for the Spring 2026 semester to give districts additional options in world languages and advanced coursework. These updates are designed to support schools facing staffing gaps or looking to broaden opportunities for students.
Three new world language courses—Arabic I, Japanese IV Honors, and Korean I—have been added to the Spring Standard Start calendar and are now available in the registration system. These additions strengthen access to less commonly taught languages and help districts meet growing demand for global studies.
Two new Advanced Placement courses are also being offered: AP Computer Science A will be offered for both Spring Early Start and Spring Standard Start, and AP Precalculus for Spring Standard Start.
These new offerings expand pathways for students statewide and provide districts with more flexibility in meeting local academic needs. For more information, visit the NCVPS full catalog webpage.
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Share excellence in education!
Post exceptional student work or exciting happenings at your NC Charter School. Then tag or mention OCS on Social Media for others to see!
Remember when you share on social media to use #WeAreNCCharters or @NCCharterOffice
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Coalition Regional Meeting for Triangle-Area Charter Leaders
Charter leaders, please join the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools at Durham Charter School’s new campus on Tuesday, January 20, for breakfast, networking, and an important discussion about regulation and compliance. This meeting is open to Coalition members as well as non-members. Click here to view the meeting invite. The details:
WHO: Leaders from Triangle-area charter schools
WHAT: “Navigating the New Regulatory Environment” (Presentation and Q&A)
WHEN: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026
WHERE: Durham Charter School (new campus), 4621 Kemp Road, Durham, NC 27703
Attorney Matthew Tilley, the Coalition’s counsel, will lead a presentation specifically for charter school leaders, sharing insights about navigating the new regulatory environment and ensuring compliance. He’ll address which policies and regulations pertain to charter schools, and which do not—along with new session law requiring Charter Schools Review Board approval for any rule or policy impacting charter schools. We’ll have plenty of time for networking and Q&A following the presentation.
We encourage all Triangle-area charter leaders to join us for this important and informative meeting! Please RSVP to Dave Machado at dmachado@nc.chartercoalition.org.
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Coalition 2026 Charter Advocacy Summit:
Please join the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools for our 2026 Charter Advocacy Summit, taking place in Raleigh on March 24-25, 2026. This year's Summit theme is "From Policy to Possibility: Navigating the New Charter Landscape."
2026 Summit information:
Charter schools face a new policy landscape in North Carolina, and we’re here to help you navigate it! Join other charter leaders, industry experts, vendors, and lawmakers for the Coalition’s fourth annual Charter Advocacy Summit. We’ll bring the experts directly to you, helping you position your school for continued success!
Evening Reception with State Lawmakers
5:30 to 7:30 PM, Tuesday, March 24, 2026
2026 Charter Advocacy Summit
8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Event Venue
Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel – Raleigh, North Carolina
Summit registration is open now. View the 2026 Summit flyer here with details about this year's topics, registration rates, and hotel block. Last year's Summit sold out, so don't wait to register!
Fresh Take Call for Presenters
Calling all educators:
Are you an educator who can inspire, empower, and equip fellow teachers with practical strategies?
We invite passionate presenters to join our educational conference!
🗓 Conference Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
⌚️Session Length - 50 minutes
📍 Location: Community School of Davidson Upper School
🎯 Target Audience: Educators, Teachers, and Administrators
🌟 Goals:- Inspire and Motivate Educators- Provide Immediate Classroom Takeaways- Reinforce The Message That Educators Make a Difference Every Day
👩🏫 Presenter Qualities:- Innovative Teaching Methods- Passion for Education
🚀 What We Offer Presenters:- Exposure and Networking Opportunities - Free attendance for presenters outside of CSD
📝 Submission Deadline: Friday, Feb. 1, 2026
💻Please submit your proposal here:
Charter School Job Postings
Job postings will include the posted date and will be deleted after two months. Schools may request early removal or extension. Contact Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov with a posting link.
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Ashley Logue • Director, Office of Charter Schools Please send general inquires to ocs@dpi.nc.gov
Contact information for area specialists can be found on the Office of Charter Schools Directory.
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