NCED CONNECTION
MAY
UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS
2026-2027 NCED Connect Opt-In Process - OPENS SOON!
2026-2027 Opt-in Timeline:
- The 2026-27 NCED Connect Opt-In process will open May 27, 2026 (annual process)
- The Opt-In deadline is tentatively set as July 31, 2026.
- Please visit the NCDPI NCED Connect Opt-In website for additional information.
For NEW Charter Schools:
- Jennifer Causey will contact you by email ahead of the opt-in window to collect your allotted ADM numbers by grade level. This information is required to finalize your Opt-In profile and complete the process once open.
Pricing Update:
- The rate will be $1.50 per ADM
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 NCBOLD 2026 - Registration is OPEN!
Get ready for a summer of 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 ideas, innovative learning, and powerful connections with educators across North Carolina.
📍 Two weeks. Six locations. One 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 experience.
West Week (July 21–23): Marion | Concord | Winston-Salem
East Week (July 28–30): Newport | Rocky Mount | Fayetteville
Whether you're exploring new strategies, diving into edtech, or connecting with peers—𝗡𝗖𝗕𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.
Secure your spot today:
👉 go.ncdpi.gov/NCBOLD2026Registration
Spots fill fast—claim your spot and experience one of NC’s most impactful professional learning events!
NCED Connect Symposium - Save the Date & Call for Proposals!
We are excited to announce that the Call for Proposals is now open for the NCED Connect Symposium, taking place September 29-October 1, 2026 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, NC.
This year, we are planning an even larger symposium this year and expanding our offerings around:
- AI in Education
- NCSIS for all (Data Managers, SIS Coordinators, Teachers, Coaches, Admin, Central Office Staff, Support Staff)
- EdTech Innovation+
- Instructional Strategies
- School Library Media
- NCED Connect Services (NCEES, Instructional Improvement System (Schoolnet), Canvas, & OER)
- Leadership tracks for CTOs, principals, coaches, and central office staff
We invite you to share your expertise by submitting a session proposal.
Please complete the Call for Proposals by June 15th using the link below:
Submit Your Proposal Here
Registration opens SOON!
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Emergency Remote Instruction Plans - Due June 30th
Emergency Remote Instruction Plans (RIP):
PSUs 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, PSUs 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.
Please reach out to your Regional Consultant regarding any questions. Please share with your PSU’s leadership if you are not the person who submits this RIP.
DLMI Focus Group
Join us this summer for the DLMI focus group!
Digital Learning Media Inventory - Due June 30th
The DLMI is open now and is due on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
We are here to support you! Information about user guides, slides presentations, webinar dates, and office hours are available on the following slide. Changes to this year’s DLMI include some minor question revisions as well as the addition of Break/Fix items as legislated in HB 378.
DLI Grants RFP Open - Due by June 18th
DLI Grants RFP is open! The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has opened the Digital Learning Initiative Instructional Innovation Grant for the 2026-2027 school year. This competitive opportunity supports public school units in advancing digital teaching and learning through two pathways: Professional Learning and Innovative Technologies. Traditional public school districts may apply for up to $50,000, and charter, regional, and lab schools may apply for up to $20,000.
For full details and application materials, visit the Request for Proposals, DLI Rubric, Application Template, and Submission Form. Webinar and Support links can be found here. For requests for 1:1 meetings or face-to-face support, please email Lindsey.Sipe@dpi.nc.gov. Application window closes June 18, 2026.
Webinar and Support Series:
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Interest Forms - Due April 30, 2026
2026-2027 K-8 Digital Literacy Interest
Action needed by April 30, 2026 **EXTENDED TO MAY 29, 2026**
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is still awaiting final budget announcements but would like to proceed with a collection of interest. Previously, NCDPI has been able to offer Public School Units (PSUs) in NC Tier 1 and Tier 2 Counties the opportunity to receive NCDPI K-8 Digital Literacy Initiative implementation funding. Pending no legislation or budget changes for the 2026-2027 school year this funding will support the implementation of the Learning.com K-8 Digital Literacy curriculum. The curriculum is designed to encourage student growth in computational thinking, digital citizenship, online safety, visual mapping, databases, and computer fundamentals. Read here for Additional Details.
We ask that you work with your team to complete this form by April 30, 2026. We anticipate this form may take 8-10 minutes.
Learning.com Point of Contact - Tiffany Kinney | tkinney@learning.com
2026-2027 Gaggle or GoGuardian Interest
Action needed by April 30, 2026 **EXTENDED TO MAY 29, 2026**
Session Law 2023-134 7.15b appropriated funds to enable the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) to contract with Gaggle and GoGuardian to provide technology and services to mitigate cyberbullying, monitor student internet activity, and assist with suicide prevention services.
Pending no legislation changes, for the 2026-2027 school year, NCDPI will have $2,200,000 in recurring funding. Read here for Additional Information. **NEW INFO**
We ask that you work with your team to complete this form for GAGGLE or this form for GO GUARDIAN by April 30, 2026. We anticipate this form may take 8-10 minutes.
Gaggle Point of Contact - Lucy Quinonez | lucy@gaggle.net
GoGuardian Point of Contact - Brooke Yoder | byoder@goguardian.com
If you need assistance with these plans, please contact your regional DTL consultant.
**For now, please do not sign any quotes or contracts that you may receive from these vendors.
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June Webinar & Events Content Calendar
There are many great webinar opportunities for Technology Directors, teachers, administrators, media coordinators, and staff this May, all led by Digital Learning & School Connectivity!
👉 View our At-A-Glance webinar calendar
👉 Register for upcoming DTL webinars
We encourage you to explore these sessions and share these learning opportunities with your staff.
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DTL Signature Events
Be sure to check the DTL Signature Events Calendar* or Eventbrite for upcoming in-person and virtual regional meetings and training sessions. Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities to connect, learn, and stay informed!
DTL Signature Events Calendar
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NAVVY and PRoPL
NAVVY and PRoPL Upcoming Webinars
Webinar Title: Making Sense of NC Assessments: Where Navvy + PRoPL Fit
Description:
North Carolina districts use a variety of assessments throughout the year to better understand student learning and support instructional decision-making.
In this brief session, we’ll explore where Navvy and PRoPL fit within that broader assessment landscape and how they can support educators with timely, actionable insights.
During this session, we will highlight:
- How Navvy provides real-time formative insight into student thinking and classroom learning
- How PRoPL offers adaptive interim data to help monitor progress over time
- How these tools can support screening, progress monitoring, and instructional planning across the school year
This practical overview is designed for district leaders, testing coordinators, MTSS teams, and instructional leaders interested in strengthening how assessment data supports student success.
Date & Registration Link:
CANVAS
Accessibility Resources in Canvas
IgniteAI Announcements
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 NCSIS for EDUCATORS
Campus Learning Monthly Updates
🆕 Campus.2607 adds the ability to copy curriculum to the My Curriculum tool. Checkout the newest update as well as updates made available in previous versions of Campus.
Campus Learning Feature Updates
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Transitioning from Canvas to Campus Learning
Are you considering using Campus Learning as your LMS? These resources can help you prepare your teachers for the move from Canvas to Campus Learning.
Transition to Campus Learning
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Supporting new teachers with NCSIS
Need training resources for new teachers? Check out this resource for links to Knowledge Base articles and videos, practice tasks to try, and professional development presentations. Link to training resource doc.
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EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
 Upcoming AI Literacy Webinars
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Wed 5/27/26 AI for English Teachers with Meredith Hill | go.ncdpi.gov/AIwebinar
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Wed 7/8/26 From Data to Design: Partnering with AI to Build High-Impact Professional Learning with Lauren Boucher | Registration: go.ncdpi.gov/AIwebinar
Summer of AI 2026 | AI Leadership Series
This Summer learning series will be focused on school and district leaders. Subscribe to updates on the DL&SC AI Support Channel on Eventbrite at go.ncdpi.gov/AIwebinar Topics may include:
- Leading AI Implementation
- From Policy to Practice: Building AI Guidelines
- Student AI Use
- What Leaders Should Look for in AI-Enhanced Classrooms
- Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI
- From Data to Design: Partnering with AI to Build High-Impact Professional Learning
- AI Access, Privacy, and Tool Approval
- Communicating with Families and Communities About AI
Check out our EventBrite Collection & Registrations for upcoming registrations.
Previous webinars may be watched on demand on NC AI Resources & YouTube Channel.
AI Guidance on Protecting Students' Images Online: New AI-Related Photo Sharing Guidance
In a recent webinar, NCDPI shared updated guidance for public school units (PSUs) on how emerging risks are reshaping best practices for sharing student photos and videos. The session highlighted how schools can make informed, responsible decisions about content posted on social media and public websites.
The Internet Watch Foundation has reported a 26,362% increase in photo-realistic, AI-generated child sexual abuse material in 2025. Additionally, bad actors are using publicly available images to create realistic, manipulated content of specific children—sometimes to extort victims by threatening distribution to family members, peers, or online communities.
In light of these risks, PSUs should carefully evaluate their practices and consider limiting the posting of identifiable student images on public platforms, opting for safer alternatives when possible.
Slides and a recording of the webinar are available for those who would like to learn more about recommended best practices for PSUs. For questions, please contact Privacy@dpi.nc.gov.
AI Innovation Index
PLEASE SHARE with your District Leaders & encourage them to sign up for the AI Innovation Index
The AI Innovation Index is a free, low-lift way to gather data on your PSU’s AI readiness. Learn more about the AI Innovation Index.
AI for Equity is launching a North Carolina-specific Community of Practice for school systems participating in the AI Innovation Index. The cohort, open exclusively to NC leaders enrolled in the Index, will meet virtually three times between April and May for 60–90 minute sessions. These sessions are designed to help systems turn Index insights into concrete AI action plans, access practical frameworks, and learn alongside peers facing similar opportunities and challenges. If your school system is participating in the AI Innovation Index, sign up for the series here.
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AI Microcredentials for Students
The office of Digital Learning and School Connectivity has developed a Student Digital Literacy Micro-credential Resources for Schools. These are competency-based assessments for students paired with student learning resources, teacher lesson resources, and parent resources. These include grade-banded pathways for AI Literacy (aligned with HB959).
They include:
- Artificial Intelligence Literacy
- K-2 AI Literacy
- 3-5 AI Literacy
- 6-8 AI Literacy
- 9-12 AI Literacy
SLMC
North Carolina’s revised and modernized IMPACT Guidelines for School Libraries are almost here!
Developed through years of collaborative review, writing, and statewide feedback, the updated guidance reflects the evolving role of school libraries in literacy, inquiry, digital learning, and student success. Be among the first to explore the new guidelines at NCBOLD this summer, where participants will get a first look at the framework, reflect on key updates, and gather ideas and resources to support conversations and planning for the new school year.
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Upcoming SLMC Webinars & On-Demand
Lead Your Evaluation: Strategies for School Librarians
- On-demand, along with all 2025-26 SLMC webinars at go.ncdpi.gov/ncslmcplaylist
- Slides at: go.ncdpi.gov/slmcncees26
- When we designed these slides, we knew that many SLMCs & Library Leaders would access them to view asynchronously as resources to support the evaluation process. Therefore, we included some speaker notes on many of the slides. There’s also a Padlet still active for those of you who watch and want to contribute examples, questions, or comments. This recording would be helpful to play (or show highlights) in PLC meetings, or you are encouraged to review the materials and adapt this to your own agendas and trainings with your district teams. If you need a copy of anything to do so, please reach out to mollee.holloman@dpi.nc.gov & we’d be happy to share!
Save the Date: A session designed for evaluators & administrators around the SLMC & ITF instruments will be in June, hosted by Jennifer Bass & Heather Pennica! Details coming soon – will be shared via DL&SC Social Media & Eventbrite
For those of you advocating for SLMC positions:
Recent research continues to reinforce the impact of full-time certified school librarians on student success. Highlights from studies in both Missouri and North Carolina include:
- 📈 Higher student achievement: North Carolina students in schools with full-time certified librarians consistently scored higher in reading and math than peers in schools without them.
- 🔍 Strong research methods: The NC study used rigorous “apples to apples” comparisons between similar student populations, strengthening the reliability of the findings.
- 📚 Long-term impact: A Missouri study examined nine years of assessment data and found positive connections between librarian staffing levels and student proficiency across multiple subject areas.
- 🔗 Libraries as instructional hubs: Both studies emphasized the SLMC’s role in connecting classrooms, technology, curriculum, literacy, and research support throughout the school community.
- ⏰ Full-time presence matters: The collaboration, instruction, and leadership described in the studies are most effective when librarians are consistently available to students and staff.
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Free virtual summer PD opportunity!
Reimagining Information Literacy: A National Forum
Empowering Educators, Librarians, and Learners for a Knowledge-Driven Future
Dates: Tuesday & Wednesday, July 14–15, 2026
Times: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM Eastern Time (Both Days)
Location: Virtual via Zoom
🔗Sign up here: https://reimaginingliteracy.cmpinc.net/
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NCEES
NCEES EOY Guidance and Dates
As we begin preparing for our end-of-year processes, we want to ensure everyone has the information needed for a smooth and successful closeout. Please share the following guidance and important dates with your Site and District Administrators to support their planning.
Click here to view the End of Year Guidance Document
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EBSCO
BRITANNICA
Summer Reading 2026 with Britannica
This year's summer reading is going to be fossil-tastic. We asked educators and librarians across the United States to share their favorite books for school-age readers—and the recommendations stomped in faster than a racing Velociraptor! 🦖 Now it’s your turn to make the book list and dino-sized activity kit all yours! Visit for more information and to register.
https://pages.britannicaeducation.com/summer-reading-2026
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Britannica Education 2026 Summer Reading Kit
Britannica Education 2026 Summer Reading Kit: “Can You Dig It?”
Summer reading season is around the corner! Britannica Education’s 2026 “Can You Dig It?” digital summer reading kit is now available to help libraries and schools inspire curiosity and keep young readers engaged all summer long. The kit includes ready-to-use printable activities, reading materials, and promotional resources designed for school-age readers.
Libraries and schools can download the full digital kit and also request themed bookmarks and stickers to support their summer reading programs. Please note that printed materials are available while supplies last.
USA 250 Commemoration with Britannica
Britannica has created a new resource page to support educators as they begin planning around the USA 250 commemoration. It includes curated Britannica content and materials that can be easily shared with schools and libraries.
Feel free to explore and share with your network:
https://pages.britannicaeducation.com/usa-250
MICRO-CREDENTIALING
Introducing Student Micro-Credentials for AI and Social Media Literacy
The Office of Digital Learning and School Connectivity has developed a Student Digital Literacy Micro-credential Toolkit for Schools featuring competency-based assessments paired with student learning resources, teacher lesson materials, and parent resources.
The toolkit includes grade-banded pathways for AI Literacy and Social Media Literacy, aligned with HB959, to help students build the knowledge and skills needed to use technology thoughtfully, safely, and responsibly.
AI literacy pathways explore how artificial intelligence impacts learning, creativity, decision-making, and online experiences, while social media literacy pathways focus on media literacy, recognizing misinformation and manipulation, protecting personal information, respectful communication, and understanding the effects of social media on well-being.
Resources are available for elementary, middle, and high school grade spans in both Google LMS Materials and Common Cartridge LMS Materials formats.
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ISTE+ASCD and CoSN ANNOUNCEMENTS
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May EL Magazine: Putting the Professional Back in PD
As the school year comes to a close, it’s also the perfect time to begin planning for the next one. This month’s EL Magazine focuses on professional development and is packed with articles and practical ideas on coaching, designing effective PD, and thoughtfully planning professional learning from start to finish.
You can access your digital copy of EL Magazine through your ISTE+ASCD membership using the icon in NCEDCloud.
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U.S. State of EdTech 2026 Report
CoSN members can access the Consortium for School Networking’s U.S. State of EdTech 2026 Report, released on May 5, 2026. This report highlights national trends, challenges, and priorities shaping educational technology across the country. Check out: https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/state-of-edtech-leadership/ to download the full report.
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CYBERSECURITY
 NCEdCloud IAM Service MFA Requirement
Starting July 1, 2026, all NCEdCloud IAM Service staff users statewide must use multi‑factor authentication (MFA). PSU users without an existing MFA setup will be prompted to configure it at login, and those already using MFA are unaffected. PSUs may enable MFA earlier at their own pace, per individual employee, by uploading a staff UID list, by school code (applies only to current staff), or for the entire PSU (applies to current and future staff). Users should use any TOTP‑capable authenticator. LEA/Admin/Help Desk roles can “Reset OTP” for users (LEA Admin TOTPs can only be reset by another LEA Admin), and employees can reset their own OTP from their profile after login. Updated user instructions are on the NCEdCloud Docs site below.
NCEdCloud Staff Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Webinar
- This upcoming webinar will review the PSU Cybersecurity Program Plan, a customizable, documented strategy that consolidates existing PSU efforts and NCDPI K‑12 resources into practical people, process, and technology controls (including data management, audit logging, and vulnerability management).
I have Cybersecurity questions..
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