Number 10

2026 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey is Now Open

The 2026 NC Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Survey is now open and will close on Tuesday, March 31. 

Educators will take the survey using a unique survey code that they will receive from their school-level coordinator. 

Find additional information on the 2026 NC TWC Survey here. 

If you have specific questions that are not answered on the website, join the weekly TWC Survey Lunch Hour virtual sessions every Thursday through March 31, from 12:30–1 p.m., giving educators and staff a convenient drop-in opportunity to ask questions and share feedback about the TWC Survey.

Participants may join at any time during the session at this link. Additional information on the 2026 NC TWC Survey can be found at nctwcs.org.

Number 9

EdWeek: "How Assistant Principals Build Stronger School Communities"

"Middle and high school assistant principals were asked by Education Week to describe their school environment in three words, ahead of the National Assistant Principal of the Year award finalists announcement.

'Fun' was a word used by Mark Summa, the assistant principal at Avon Middle School in Avon, Conn. For Summa, creating a welcoming atmosphere starts with building authentic relationships between students and staff.

He told Education Week that as a kid, he remembered feeling awestruck when he saw teachers outside of school. Now, as an assistant principal, he strives to build that teacher-student relationship through monthly meetings in which students and staff are grouped together to collaborate on school challenges and build connections."

Read the full article here. 

Number 8

Supporting North Carolina’s Computer Science Graduation Requirement with NCVPS

As North Carolina schools prepare to meet the state’s new computer science graduation requirement, many PSUs are facing a common challenge: finding qualified teachers and building course capacity.

North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is helping PSUs meet this need by offering high-quality computer science courses that students can take virtually while remaining enrolled in their local school. Our courses are taught by experienced teachers and aligned to state standards, providing districts with a reliable option as they plan for implementation.

Current NCVPS Computer Science Courses

• CP10 – Python Programming I Honors
• 2A02 – AP Computer Science A
• 0A02 – AP Computer Science Principles
• CS31 – SAS Base Programming Honors

NCVPS is continuing to grow computer science offerings to support PSUs across the state. Upcoming additions include:

• CS30 – Introduction to Data Science (new high school and middle school courses launching for Fall 2026)
• CS10 Introduction to Computer Science (new high school and middle school courses launching for Fall 2026)
• CA10 – Artificial Intelligence (new high school and middle school courses anticipated Spring 2027)

As PSUs work to meet the new graduation requirement, NCVPS remains committed to expanding access to computer science education and supporting schools that need flexible, scalable solutions. View courses here. 

Number 7

Office of Exceptional Children 2025-2026 Parent Survey - Special Education

NCDPI's Office of Exceptional Children, invites families of students receiving special education services to complete the 2025–26 Indicator 8 Parent Survey. This quick, two-minute anonymous survey — available in multiple languages — helps guide improvements for students and families.

Take the survey here. Responses will be accepted through June 30.

Number 6

Professional Development Opportunity - Voices of Freedom: Exploring History Through Place and Performance at Historic Stagville

The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) invites educators to a free, powerful professional development opportunity to connect history, place and performance.

Voices of Freedom: Exploring History Through Place and Performance at Historic Stagville

• Part I: Sunday, April 26 at Historic Stagville (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham, NC, 27712
• Part II (optional): Monday, April 27 at Durham Performing Arts Center (7-10 p.m.) | Attending teachers will receive a free ticket to “Biscuits & Banjos presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community"

Attending educators will receive:

• A $50 stipend
• A ticket to “Biscuits & Banjos presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community” at DPAC (up to a $120 value)
• A private tour of Stagville and performance by the acclaimed Mary D. Williams
• 1 CEU
• Lunch
• Access to classroom resources
• The chance to network with other educators, as well as the opportunity to engage with DNCR/Historic Sites staff ready to serve as a source of support for work in the classroom

Learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is March 25. 

Number 5

NC Community Colleges: "Nearly 4 in 10 NC High School Graduates Now Earning College Credit — And the Numbers Keep Climbing"

"North Carolina is seeing a record number of high schoolers graduate with college credits in hand. New data from the State Board of Community Colleges reveals that 38% of the 2024–2025 graduating class enrolled in at least one dual enrollment course—an increase of 4,617 students over the previous year. This growth was felt across the board, with participation rising 10% among public school students and 11% in private and home schools.

The volume of coursework also surged, with students enrolling in 257,343 credit-level college courses, a 16% jump from the prior year. Ultimately, 36% of all graduates (42,128 students) earned high school credit through these opportunities. Within the College and Career Promise (CCP) program, 95% of participants successfully earned credit toward graduation. System leaders highlighted CCP as a cornerstone strategy for expanding college access and strengthening North Carolina’s workforce pipeline."

Read the full article here. 

Number 4

EdNC: "NC Leaders Announce Bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education"

"Gov. Josh Stein, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, and Speaker of the House Destin Hall announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education on Tuesday, according to a press release and accompanying executive order.

The commission has been charged to “study the structure and implementation of public education in the State,” including:

1. Teacher training and student advancement,
2. Administrative operations,
3. Educational leadership, and
4. Accountability.

The staff of the governor’s office will coordinate with the nonpartisan professional staff from North Carolina General Assembly Legislative Services on the work of the commission.

A report including findings and recommendations is expected to be sent to the governor and General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2026, in advance of the long session of the legislature in 2027."

Read the full story here. 

Number 3

2025 NC Principal of the Year Jason Johnson Named  2026 National Principal of the Year Finalist by National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)

Congratulations to Jason Johnson, our 2025 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year on being named a 2026 National Principal of the Year Finalist by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)! Johnson was selected by the NASSP for his commitment to student success, school improvement and strong educational leadership.

The NASSP National Principal of the Year program honors principals who provide high-quality learning opportunities and demonstrate outstanding leadership. For 2026, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools (DoSOS), and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) selected one middle level principal and one high school principal to represent their state.

The 2026 National Principals of the Year will be announced April 17 at the National Education Leadership Awards (NELA) in Washington, D.C.

Number 2

Four NC High School Students Selected as Finalists for Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Award

Congratulations to four North Carolina high school students who have been selected as finalists for Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Award, a national honor celebrating leadership, service and academic excellence.

Our state's finalists include:
🏅 Army - Kinsey Robinson, West End
🏅 Coast Guard — Victoria Vanacore, Kill Devil Hills
🏅 Marine Corps — Hannah Kirksey, Sneads Ferry
🏅 National Guard — Genesis Hall, Marion

Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year Award reflects the positive impact that these young people have made on their military families, their schools and their communities. Finalists will be celebrated at a gala in Washington, D.C. in April.

Number 1

Report Shows Strong Principal Retention, Teacher Attrition Rates Hold Steady for 2024-25 School Year

"The latest data on employment trends for North Carolina public school educators, presented today to the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE), show strong principal retention and teacher attrition increased less than a quarter of a percentage point for 2024-25 over the previous year.

The report, formally referred to as the State of the Teaching Profession and School Administrator Report, is mandated by the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) and measures teacher attrition and vacancies between March 2024 and March 2025 for North Carolina’s 115 public school districts.

The attrition data shows how many teachers left their employment in North Carolina public schools. It does not include teachers who leave the classroom but stay employed in non-teaching roles such as school administration. For the second year, the report also includes data about the movement of school administrators, per the NCGA's request."

Read the full press release here.