Update on Ensuring ADA Accessibility
On April 20, the U.S. Department of Justice extended the compliance deadline for the ADA Title II web and mobile application accessibility rule. NCDPI's new deadline is April 26, 2027, giving approximately one additional year to meet the requirements.
The extension does not change the work to ensure we meet obligations under the ADA to make documents, websites, and materials accessible. In the short term, the Science Resource Hub will remain available, as will all of the documents currently posted. Over the next year, the team will continue working to address and remediate previously published documents, presentations, and videos.
To appropriately address ADA requirements, the format and structure of some documents may need to be altered. The K-12 Science team has already addressed the accessibility of the following resources:
- K-12 Standard Course of Study (English and Spanish)
- Support Documents for all grades/courses and the Formative Assessment examples
- 2023 K-12 Science Standards crosswalks to 2009 Standards
- NC K-12 Science Domains and Standards spreadsheet
- NC Science Formative Assessment Probe Alignment Guide
These resources have been posted on the K-12 Science Landing page, which can be accessed by clicking on the following link: K-12 Science Standards and Supports
If you need access to a document that is currently unavailable, please contact the corresponding person and content area below. We will provide the requested materials as quickly as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to enhance our website’s accessibility for all users.
Office of Teaching and Learning General Information, Global Education - kelly.schultz@dpi.nc.gov
Science, Math, and STEM - charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov
Social Studies, Arts Education, Character Education, Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act - lori.carlin@dpi.nc.gov
English Language Arts, English Language Development, Literacy Instruction Standards, World Languages, Dual Language/Immersion - stacy.daniel@dpi.nc.gov
Healthy Schools - ellen.essick@dpi.nc.gov
K-12 Science Support Documents Updates
The NCDPI K-12 Science Team released updates to the K-12 Science Support Documents in September, 2025. These updates reflect feedback collected from the field and our grade level/content area Science Leadership Teams. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and input, which help us strengthen these resources for everyone. Please continue to provide feedback on these documents using the .
To make changes easier to locate, a spreadsheet with detailed updates for each grade and course is available on the Canvas Hub under the “” page.
Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy
2026 Summer Conference
 Back by popular demand! Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy!
Face to Face June 23-25
Cleveland High School
1892 Polenta Road,
Clayton, NC 27520
Virtual July 13-16
- High-quality, Research-based Sessions
- Statewide Collaboration and Networking
- Alignment and Consistency
- Experts from Across the State and NCDPI
For more information, contact Kelly Schultz at Kelly.Schultz@dpi.nc.gov.
NCSTA Conference Presenter Application
The North Carolina Science Teachers Association invites you to share your expertise with this year's audience of science educators at our annual Professional Development Institute (PDI). We are offering 3 options for presenting:
- 50 minute concurrent sessions
- 5-7 minute lightning sessions
- Share-a-Thon
Please select one of these options on the application form. The lightning sessions will consist of multiple sessions of similar content during a 50 minute time period, followed by a Q&A opportunity. The Share-a-Thon will be held in the Benton foyer on Thursday afternoon.
Presenter Information Packet
This year's conference theme is Making Connections in the Science Classroom with the following strands:
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Connecting Effective Teaching and Learning Using Assessment - Sessions highlight how assessment functions as part of the learning process, not just a final measure. Educators will explore formative strategies that provide timely, actionable feedback and help teachers adjust instruction in real time to improve student outcomes.
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Connecting Science and Emerging Technologies - Sessions showcase how emerging technologies support scientific discovery, data analysis, modeling, and problem-solving. Emphasis is placed on collaboration, critical thinking, and ethical, responsible technology use.
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Connecting the Disciplines - Sessions demonstrate how scientific phenomena can anchor cross-curricular learning by integrating science with literacy, math, social studies, and other subjects. Focus is on interdisciplinary approaches that foster collaboration and higher-order thinking.
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Connecting Students to Be College and Career Ready - Sessions feature relevant, real-world learning that links science to students’ lives, communities, and future pathways. Emphasis is on applying science to solve authentic problems while building durable skills for college, careers, and informed citizenship.
Submit your session by June 30 for NCSTA 2026 PDI!
© 2026 North Carolina Science Teachers Association
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NCSTA 2026 Awards
Join NCSTA's search for our best science educators to honor at our 2026 PDI Awards Ceremony.
We are looking for awardees for each of our 8 districts for elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as distinguished service categories.
Our website has more information and the nomination forms.
Nominate deserving science teachers/leaders today and help us give them the recognition they deserve.
Listed below are the different award categories. Please go online to https://www.ncsta.org/awards.php to see the requirements for each award and to complete a nomination form. A celebration ceremony will be held at our annual conference in November.
Outstanding Student Teacher in Science Awards are presented to recognize undergraduate teacher education students seeking certification from a North Carolina college or university who have demonstrated outstanding ability as well as promise in the teaching of science during the student teaching process. The nominees must have completed student teaching within a year before the award presentation in October.
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
District Outstanding Science Teaching Award for the eight districts in NC: These Awards are presented to recognize excellence in science teaching in North Carolina, to teachers who exemplify excellent, creative, innovative teaching of science to teachers in their district. The award is open to teachers at the elementary, middle and high school grade levels. The winners will receive an award and one year's membership in NCSTA.
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
Distinguished Service in Science Education in North Carolina Award: These awards are presented to recognize excellence of contributions to science education in North Carolina. They recognize service to science education in the individual's school, school system, NCSTA district, and at the state level.
- Elementary
- Middle
- High School
- Administrator/Supervisor
- College/University
- Commercial
- Non School Setting
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Summer Day Camp
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy invites high school students interested in STEM careers to apply for Rx‑IMPACT (Pharmacy Readiness for Community Impact). Attached is a one‑page flyer with program details for students.
High School Day Camp: June 22–23, 2026
Location: UNC‑Chapel Hill
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026 (space is limited)
Rx‑IMPACT introduces students from rural and medically underserved North Carolina communities to pharmacy careers through hands‑on activities and engagement with UNC faculty, pharmacy students, and practicing pharmacists. The program reflects our mission to prepare leaders and innovators to help advance medicine and strengthen access to care across the state.
Additional information and application details are available on the Rx‑IMPACT website.
Traces Computational Thinking Professional Development
 ATTENTION TEACHERS:
Please join us on June 20, 2026 at UNC Charlotte's EPIC Building for a FREE engineering education teacher conference! Whether you are a seasoned STEM expert, or interested in integrating engineering into your classroom for the first time, this conference will have sessions to excite, engage, and empower you to help engineer the future! Hosted by the American Society of Engineering Education's Commission on P-12 Engineering Education, speakers will include local educators and national leaders in engineering education! This free conference includes free lunch and the opportunity to win prizes! Find out more and register at https://lnkd.in/eS3KzAiR.
We hope you will join us to learn innovative ways to engage your students with science and computational thinking. Join us this summer for TRACES Computational Thinking Professional Development, a hands-on workshop designed to empower teachers with AI-driven classroom tools and block-based coding activities!
Workshop Details:
Dates: June 23–26, 2025
Locations: NC State Campus, Raleigh, NC
No prior coding experience is needed!
Why Join?
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Up to $1,500 Stipend: (for summer & academic year) Earn while you learn!
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Classroom-Ready Resources: Take home ready-to-use lessons and activities.
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Collaborative Learning: Teacher pairs from the same school are encouraged to apply.
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Expert Insights: Meet CS education and AI researchers who will share tools to support block-based coding assignments.
This workshop is a unique opportunity to bring computational thinking into your classroom while collaborating with other educators. Science, ELA, and Math teachers are strongly encouraged to apply.
For questions, contact Marnie Hill at mehill6@ncsu.edu.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Wildlife Education Division
Barn Owl Lesson Plans
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a Request for Information (RFI), inviting suggestions and innovations to inform a comprehensive review of its Excellence Awards in Science and Engineering (EASE). NSF remains committed to advancing high-quality K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and mentoring, including through EASE.
Administered by NSF on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, EASE recognizes outstanding contributions in STEM mentoring and teaching through the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program.
PAEMST is the nation's highest honor for K-12 STEM teachers, recognizing educators who demonstrate deep knowledge and understanding of the subjects they teach, and their ability to inspire, motivate and enable student success. PAESMEM is the nation’s highest honor for STEM mentors, recognizing the critical role mentors play in the academic and professional development of the future STEM workforce.
In July 2025, NSF announced a pause of both programs to conduct a comprehensive assessment. As part of the review, NSF is issuing an RFI seeking input from both the STEM education and STEM education research communities on exemplary practices, lessons learned from the programs, criteria for selecting award recipients, and other relevant considerations.
Responses to the RFI are due by May 28, 2026.
North Carolina Business Committee for Education
Apply for the 2026-2027 NCBCE AI Fellows
North Carolina middle and high school educators are invited to apply for the 2026-27 cohort of NCBCE AI Fellows. The North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) will select 20 exceptional educators from around NC to serve as AI leaders and mentors for their school community. Fellows will learn ethical AI pedagogical strategies, explore the latest in technological resources, develop innovative curriculum, and enhance AI leadership skills. Collectively, these methods are poised to elevate ethical AI education in North Carolina while creating expanded learning opportunities for students, sparking interest and engagement with AI, and preparing them for careers in an AI-enabled world.
Applicants may teach in any subject area within grades 6-12. Fellows will receive virtual and in-person professional development on AI throughout the academic year, ongoing support and mentorship, and a $1,000 technology stipend.
Applications will be accepted until May 15. Candidates will be interviewed over the summer and 20 Fellows will be selected in August. For more information or to apply, visit the NCBCE AI Fellows website.
Dr. Debra Hall
K-5 Science
debra.hall@dpi.nc.gov
Gavin Fradel
6-8 Science
gavin.fradel@dpi.nc.gov
Benita Tipton
9-12 Science
benita.tipton@dpi.nc.gov
Alexis Wood
9-12 Science
kathryn.wood@dpi.nc.gov
Additional Contacts
Dr. Charles Aiken
Section Chief K-12 Mathematics, Science and STEM
charles.aiken@dpi.nc.gov
Howard Ginsburg
K-12 Integrative STEM Specialist
howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov
Disclaimer Statement
The links on this page will bring you to third party websites, owned and operated by independent parties over which NCDPI has no control. Any link you make to or from these 3rd party websites will be at your own risk. Any use of these 3rd party websites and any information you provide will be subject to and governed by the terms of the 3rd party website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, NCDPI is not in any way associated with the owner or operator of any of the 3rd party websites or responsible or liable for the goods and services offered by them or for anything in connection with such 3rd party websites. NCDPI does not endorse and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of any 3rd party website.
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