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April 14, 2026

SECTION I: OCS PRIORITY REMINDERS

Understanding Transcripts for Charter Schools

Dear Charter School Leaders and Staff,

We invite you to join us for an in-person deep dive into navigating student transcripts, graduation plans, and GPA calculation within NCSIS.

Led by Dr. Rob Dietrich, this session is designed to provide direct guidance and clear answers to your technical and process-related questions.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Location: TMSA Triad Secondary School, 700 Creek Ridge Road, Greensboro, NC 27406

Target Audience

This session is highly recommended for High School Counselors, Administrators, Data Managers, SIS Coordinators, and C&I Staff.

Registration

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot via Eventbrite at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to seeing your team there and ensuring a smooth transition for your student records.

Emergency Remote Instruction Plans (RIP)

Charter Schools that plan to use remote instruction during emergency closures must annually submit an Emergency Remote Instruction (RI) Plan to NC DPI. §S.L. 2022-74/HB 103 authorizes the use of Remote Instruction for emergency closures under §S.L. 115C-84.3(b).

By June 30, 2026, please complete one of the following actions for the 2026–2027 school year:

• Create and submit a new RI Plan for emergency closures, or

• Indicate that your PSU will not complete an RI Plan.

This year, Charter Schools must choose one of these options.  The option to “Utilize the current plan “ is not available this year.   

Please note that RI Plans cannot be accepted after the deadline. 

We encourage PSUs to complete the RI Plan Worksheet first and then submit the plan in Qualtrics.

• Remote Instruction Plan Worksheet:   2026-2027RIPlanWorksheet

• Remote Instruction Plan Submission Form:  2026-2027RIPlan

Please reach out to your Regional Consultant for Digital Teaching & School Connectivity regarding any questions. Please share with your Charter School’s leadership if you are not the person who submits this RIP.

Northeast Region - Meredith Ward Hill, meredith.hill@dpi.nc.gov

Southeast Region - Lauren Boucher, lauren.boucher@dpi.nc.gov

North Central Region - Jennifer Graham, jennifer.graham@dpi.nc.gov

Sandhills Region - Jill Darrough, jill.darrough@dpi.nc.gov

Piedmont-Triad Region - Brian Whitson, brian.whitson@dpi.nc.gov

Southwest Region - Lindsey Sipe, lindsey.sipe@dpi.nc.gov

Northwest Region - Jordan Caldwell, jordan.caldwell@dpi.nc.gov

Western Region - Stacy Lovdahl, stacy.lovdahl@dpi.nc.gov 

OCS April 2026 Virtual Office Hours: National School Lunch Program Join us for our April Virtual Office Hour, featuring a presentation on the National School Lunch Program with introductory information and updates. There will also be time for a Q&A session to address any outstanding questions. April 16th at 10am

April is the Month of the Military Child and Purple Up Day is April 17

Did you know that more than 110,000 military-connected children call North Carolina home?

Show your support for our state's military-connected students on April 17 by wearing purple to celebrate Purple Up Day. The color purple represents all branches of the military, combining Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue.

New NC Charter School application window closes April 24th.

The 2026 NC Charter School Application window opened on January 30th at 5 PM (EST) and will close on April 24, 2026, at 5 PM (EST). Applicants looking to open a charter school in 2027 (accelerated) or 2028 (standard) must submit their application and $1,000 fee by the deadline.

In-person interviews for applicant boards with the NC Charter School Review Board will take place at the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh, NC, starting in September 2026. The application link is posted on the NCDPI Charter Schools Application page. For questions, please contact Melanie.Rackley@dpi.nc.gov.

Webinar: National Schools of Character: Panel Discussion

• Person Early College for Innovation and Leadership
• Haynes-Inman Educational Center
• North Shelby School
• Patriot STEM Elementary
• Union Academy

Updated School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual

This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators. 

2025 SASA Manual

SECTION II: SCHOOL BUSINESS UPDATES

April 9, 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.

Legislative Class Size Report Update - All PSUs

Please update your superintendents and SIS data managers accordingly.

The Spring Legislative Class Size (LCS) Report submission window opened April 1, 2026, and closes April 20, 2026. All affidavits and waiver requests are due April 20, 2026.

Who: All LEAs, Charter Schools, Lab Schools and the Regional School, regardless of class size exemption status. Every PSU must submit the required reports for all schools to meet federal requirements for reporting class size. LCS reports will include all schools and appropriate grade levels in the PSU. Exempt schools and courses will be removed after submission before DPI compiles class size averages.

Please reach out to your SIS PLT team member if you have questions about Infinite Campus, and please reach out to Catherine Mau for policy questions. Thank you for submitting the LCS report on time.

Update: Prior Year Refunds in the Cash App - All PSUs

DPI has updated the Prior Year Refunds section in the Cash App to include the following FY 2025 State Prior Year items:

• Prior Year Overspent (PYO)
• Prior Year Months (PYM)
• Prior Year Penalties (PEN)
• Prior Year Salary (PYS)
• Prior Year Salary Penalties (PES)

Only PSUs that have these prior year items will see them listed in the Cash App.

School Business will process prior year refunds submitted through the Cash App once per month. We are planning to process April refunds received by April 20, 2026 during the week of April 20. 

PSUs should continue to use the Refunds and Repayments Droplet Form with manual checks to refund the following items, as they are not listed in the Cash App:

• TD-19
• IDEA Maintenance of Effort
• Questioned Costs
• Sales Tax funds
• Other State refunds not included in the Cash App

If you have any questions, please contact cashmgt@dpi.nc.gov.

Allotments Update

FY2025-26 Allotments - PSUs

The following items are scheduled for allotment by April 13, 2026:

• PRC 0078 Digital Learning Initiative: Digital Literacy Solution – Reversions as of March 31 expenditures
• PRC 0081 Transportation Reserve Fund for Homeless and Foster Children – Allotments per the Office of Federal Programs

Deadlines

The next batch of ABC transfers will close at midnight, Friday April 17. Email-submitted transfer and conversion requests received by end of the day Monday, April 20 will be allotted by April 22.

If you have general allotment questions, please email allotments@dpi.nc.gov.

SECTION III: RESOURCES + EVENTS

CTE has contracted with Pam Taylor to serve as CTE Regional Coordinator for Charter Schools. Any Charter questions on CTE can be directed to her. 

Her email is Pam.Taylor@dpi.nc.gov

May is Mental Health Month - Free 988 Print Materials

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, recognized since 1949 to raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide support for mental health conditions. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is offering free 988 print materials to help you share this important message with your community throughout May.Your order will include posters, flyers, rack cards, and wallet cards in both English and Spanish.
Please place your order by April 15, 2026, to ensure delivery by late April, so you can distribute materials in your community during Mental Health Awareness Month.

To order your materials, please fill out this print materials order form by April 15, 2026.

New Resource for Middle and High Schools: Tier 1, Evidence-Based Mental Health Literacy Programming

Mental Health Collaborative is a nonprofit organization providing evidence-based, Tier 1 mental health literacy programs nationally to school communities, including educators, students, athletic coaches, and parents and caregivers.

These prevention-focused programs are proven to strengthen school connectedness, reduce stigma, and build a shared understanding of mental health across the school setting. Participants gain the knowledge and tools to recognize early signs of mental health challenges and mental illnesses and learn when and how to seek support.

Programs are flexible and sustainable, offering options for direct implementation or a train-the-trainer model to support long-term integration within existing school systems.

To learn more about bringing programs to your district including the cost, email info@mentalhealthcollaborative.org or visit the website. Program overview for schools and flyers are linked here.

2026 ELA Standard Course of Study Initial Statewide Implementation Session Registration Open

Registration Closes May 15, 2026

During Summer 2026, the NCDPI K-12 ELA Team will provide in-person professional development on the 2026 ELA Standard Course of Study (SCOS) in all 8 State Board of Education regions. PSUs are invited to register for a full-day initial statewide implementation session introducing the 2026 English Language Arts K-12 Standard Course of Study. The promo flyer reiterates the following information and provides another way to access the registration link.

Please note: Only one registration form is needed per PSU, and ELA Leaders are encouraged to coordinate with district and school leadership to select appropriate attendees before completing the form. 

Purpose

With a team from your PSU, join us for a one-day professional development--specifically targeted to ELA Leaders--to learn more about the new 2026 ELA SCOS which is scheduled for implementation in the 27-28 school year. Topics covered will include

• Standards basics and a high-level review of the newly adopted ELA SCOS
• Resource exploration including unpacking documents, glossary, crosswalk, and vertical progression
• Support for local messaging and communications
• Implementation guidance for planning and considering next steps

Audience

Each PSU may register up to four team members to attend this training. ELS’s will receive a separate training opportunity, so please do not include this individual on your team. Suggested representatives include

• PSU ELA Leaders (e.g., district/school admin, district/school coach)
• K-5 Teacher Leader that will support local implementation
• 6-12 Teacher Leader that will support local implementation

Dates and Locations

Training will be offered in all 8 regions of the state. Dates and host cities are provided below. Specific venue information and session times will be emailed to participants upon registration confirmation.

• Sandhills - June 16, 2026 - Fayetteville, NC
• North Central - June 17, 2026 - Durham, NC
• Southwest - June 23, 2026 - Kannapolis, NC
• West - June 25, 2026 - Asheville, NC
• Northwest - June 30, 2026 - Morganton, NC
• Northeast - July 9, 2026 - Washington, NC
• Piedmont-Triad - July 14, 2026 - Greensboro, NC
• Southeast - July 16, 2026 - Wilmington, NC

Please note: Registration confirmation emails for this PD will include details about directions, room locations, session times, and any necessary preparation. Charter school training will be done virtually at a later date, but charter school teams are welcome to come to any of the regional in-person dates listed above.

Upcoming Training: Multiple Measure Tool (MMT) - The Role of the ELD Teacher

The ML/Title III team has planned a virtual information session focused on reviewing the role of the EL/ML teacher on the school-based MMT team.

This session will provide an opportunity to clarify responsibilities, collaborate on best practices, and ensure that we are effectively supporting multilingual learners through data-informed decision-making. 

There are three opportunities to participate, but teachers need only attend one.

Please share this information with your EL/ML teachers!

• Each PSU will nominate one distinguished ESL teacher
• Please create a link/URL of the portfolio (this link will be shared in the nomination form). It can be a google doc or pdf. Please be sure to adjust viewing permissions so that it can be accessed by the reviewers.
• If you have any questions or need technical assistance, please contact walter.moore@dpi.nc.gov. 

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

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 Offers Expanded Summer Learning Solutions for 2026

As districts and charter schools finalize summer programming, the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) stands ready to help schools expand student opportunities. With a catalog of over 90 online courses, NCVPS provides a flexible solution for students aiming to stay on track for graduation or accelerate their progress before the next academic year. 

Student Opportunities

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Full-credit options are available in all core subjects, World Languages, CTE, Health and PE, the Arts, and various electives.

• Flexible Advancement: Students can earn credits during the summer break, easing their course loads for the fall.

• Expert Instruction: All courses are taught by NC-licensed teachers who provide direct instruction, monitor student progress, and deliver regular feedback.

District and Charter School Support

• Operational Efficiency: Schools can provide a wide range of courses without the need for additional local staffing or facility management.

• Asynchronous Flexibility: Fully asynchronous coursework eliminates scheduling conflicts, making it an ideal fit for diverse student needs.

• Streamlined Coordination: NCVPS offers clear progress monitoring and simplified enrollment, allowing school staff to easily track student outcomes and support on-time graduation.

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

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.

• Brevard Academy - Multiple opportunities (3/10)
• Charlotte Lab School -  Elementary Teacher SY 26-27, Middle School Teacher SY 26-27, High School SY 26-27 (3/3)
• Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville- 2nd grade Teacher and 4th grade Teacher (3/17)
• Classical Charter Schools of Southport- 2nd grade Teacher and 5th grade Teacher (3/17)
• Classical Charter Schools of Leland- History Teacher (3/17)
• Socrates Academy-Head of School (4/7)
• The Expedition School - Elementary Teachers 2026-27 School Year  (4/14)
• Two Rivers Community School - Director of Operations (3/24)

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.