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January 13, 2026

SECTION I: OCS PRIORITY REMINDERS

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. Register here- https://ncgov.webex.com/weblink/register/rb18e3a957bf987779e27a5f1677808c8

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 16^th.

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!

• NCSECU PHP Flyer to post on campus- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iithlpz3fYx790pQsHPWFKbDyV9dS3lW/view?usp=sharing
• NCSECU PHP Eligibility Criteria- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UIZ8UDI5P076cMuszzeSUCsDCucBtwf9/view?usp=sharing
• NCSECU PHP Application Process- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VcxUBNOjL1MThLItyOOLrqqgy49dy0gk/view?usp=sharing

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.

SECTION II: SCHOOL BUSINESS UPDATES

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.

Questions? Contact SBS

SECTION III: RESOURCES + EVENTS

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

• Kindness Matters Campaign (February 2026) 
• Webinar: Bringing Everyday Kindness to Classrooms & Communities (February 2, 2026) 
• 11 Principles of Character Education: Building School Cultures Where Every Student Thrives (March 25, 2026) 
• Registration Flyer
  Registration Form
• Join NCDPI for a full-day, interactive professional development session designed to help schools learn how to use the 11 Principles to create a culture of character in their classrooms, schools, and districts. This session will introduce a wide range of approaches, strategies, and practices that school leaders can implement immediately to transform their school climate and culture.  Whether your school is beginning its journey or seeking to deepen its implementation, this workshop will provide:

Join Us for the NCED CONNECT Symposium 2026!

• Event: NCED Connect Symposium
• Dates: February 9–11, 2026
• Location: Koury Conference Center, Greensboro, NC
• 👉go.ncdpi.gov/ncedconnect2026

• 👉 go.ncdpi.gov/nced26leaderpathway

• 👉 go.ncdpi.gov/26NCEDhighlights

• Individual: $350
• Group: $350 each (invoiced together)

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.

RISE 2026 Call for Proposals

RISE 2026 Registration

Important DHHS Resources for Charter Schools

• Diabetes Memo
• Epinephrine Memo

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.

SECTION IV: OCS + CHARTER HAPPENINGS

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

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

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.

• Charlotte Lab School- Spanish Teacher, Part-Time Music/Theater Teacher, EC Teacher (12/23)
• Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville- 2nd grade Teacher and 4th grade Teacher (12/9)
• Classical Charter Schools of Southport- 2nd grade Teacher and 5th grade Teacher (12/9)
• Classical Charter Schools of Leland- 3rd grade Teacher (12/9)
• GLOW Academy in Wilmington - FT EC Teacher Assistant (12/2)
• Raleigh Charter High School - Math Teacher, Physics & Chemistry Teacher, and part-time EC Teacher. (12/16)

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.