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.
Professional Development Opportunities
2026-2027 Professional Development Series: K-12 Science Book Study: Ambitious Science Teaching
 The K-12 Science Team at NCDPI is offering a professional development book study based on Ambitious Science Teaching by Mark Windschitl, Jessica Thompson, and Melissa Braaten.
Participants will collaborate with fellow educators to:
- Explore effective instructional strategies.
- Share instructional practices and best practices.
- Learn about tools and resources from Ambitious Science Teaching.
- Increase student engagement and sensemaking.
- Reflect on and refine K-12 science instruction.
Participants are encouraged to purchase or borrow a copy of the book to support their learning.
Online Session Dates:
- September 29, 2026
- October 27, 2026
- December 1, 2026
- January 26, 2027
- February 23, 2027
- March 16, 2027
- April 20, 2027
Certificates of attendance will be provided for each session after participants submit a Google Form reflection.
The Summer Conference is Just Around the Corner!
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Teaching and Learning proudly presents the 2026 Growing Success for Multilingual Learners (MLs) and The Standards Academy Summer Conference. This unique professional learning opportunity brings together two outstanding conferences in one location, offering educators, instructional leaders, and administrators access to sessions focused on multilingual learner success, standards-based instruction, leadership, innovation, and equitable practices.
- In person on June 23rd - 25th in Johnston County at Cleveland High School, 1892 Polenta Rd., in Clayton
- Virtual Summer Conference sessions will take place from July 13th through the 16th
Science teachers—spark curiosity and language growth!
Join us July 13 through July 16 for the Virtual Summer Conference Sessions for MLs and The Standards Academy Summer Conferences including
- Static Electricity: Getting a Charge Out of Science Phenomena
- Supporting Multilingual Learners in Science
Participants can choose from a variety of leadership and instructional tracks featuring topics such as relationship-driven leadership, family engagement, teacher recruitment and retention, AI-supported instruction, academic discourse, literacy development, culturally responsive teaching, and equitable access for multilingual learners.
Administrators looking to strengthen school culture and build sustainable ML programs will benefit from several leadership-focused sessions, including:
- Empowered PD: Reimagining Professional Learning for ML Teachers Through Leadership, Choice & Impact
- Creating a District ML Pathway to Recruit Highly Effective (Future) ML Teachers
- Learn about Project Glad
- Equitable Practices for Multilingual Learners' Success in MTSS
- Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Partnering with Multilingual Families
Instructional leaders seeking ways to improve academic outcomes for MLs will find multiple sessions dedicated to rigorous and engaging instruction, including:
- Solving the Problem of Problem Solving: Five Instructional Shifts for Scaffolded Success
- Expanding Reading Instruction With Multilingual Learners
- Academic Discourse: Discussions to Support Language Acquisition & Content Learning
Content and ML teachers will have opportunities to explore practical instructional strategies, content-specific supports, and innovative approaches designed to increase ML academic success, including,
- Experts from NCDPI content areas will also be on hand to unpack standards, share instructional resources, and present additional sessions focused on supporting multilingual learners across content areas.
- When SIOP Meets AI: Keep the Heart in Your Teaching
- Simple Modifications, Big Impacts: Boosting ML Success
- Academic Discourse: Discussions to Support Language Acquisition & Content Learning
Share the brochure and register for the conference today!
NASA Techrise Student Challenge
 The challenge is expected to open this September and invites student teams in sixth-12th grade to submit experiment ideas to fly on a commercial space industry suborbital flight. This year’s flight vehicle is the high-altitude balloon.
The challenge includes information sessions for your department or organization upon request, free educational resources to foster classroom learning and an exciting student virtual field trip in the fall. Sixty winning teams will also receive $1500 to build their experiment, a spot to test it on a NASA-sponsored flight, and technical support from our awesome NASA TechRise advisors. The challenge is a great way to get hands-on with a NASA project this school year, and we encourage teams of all skill levels to apply. Updated challenge resources (including videos, slide decks, and educator pacing guides) can all be found on the challenge website HERE when the challenge opens.
Prior NASA TechRise Flights and a Winner From Your State:
You can also learn more about the 2025-26 NASA TechRise Student Challenge HERE, hear from educators about their experience with the challenge HERE, and view the NASA TechRise portfolio page and a short video of Triangle Math and Science Academy of Apex from Apex, North Carolina showcasing their winning experiment from the 2025-26 NASA TechRise Student Challenge https://www.futureengineers.org/nasatechrise2025/gallery/80674
Share this exciting opportunity with your community:
1. Share the Challenge:
Share the NASA TechRise Student Challenge Website HERE with your community of educators to have them pre-register for challenge updates and view the challenge flyer. Additional outreach resources (Logo, sample newsletter blurb etc.) HERE.
2. Request a NASA TechRise Student Challenge Information Session:
Complete the form HERE to request a NASA TechRise Student Challenge information session for The North Carolina Department of Education. This session will provide your colleagues with everything they need to know to help get your community involved in the NASA TechRise Student Challenge.
3. Let Us Know How We Can Help:
Email us at techrise@futureengineers.org to request additional information or resources to share the challenge with your community. Similar to The North Carolina Department of Education, we strive to ensure that youth have the opportunity to expand their horizons through hands-on learning and innovation. We hope you consider using the 2026-27 NASA TechRise Student Challenge to aid in that mission.
Introduction to Modeling Biology Instruction and Introduction to Modeling Chemistry Instruction
Two separate courses offered simultaneously on the dates and at the locations listed below:
Do you teach high school Biology or Chemistry? Are you interested in teaching with a structured inquiry approach that equips you with the content knowledge and pedagogical tools needed to transform your instruction and your students? Modeling Instruction is a great fit for the Science and Engineering Practices in North Carolina's science standards.
The Science House at NC State University is currently accepting applications for an exciting teacher professional development opportunity being offered this summer. Please note these are introductory courses (3 days in length) and not the full Modeling courses we have offered in the past. Participants will be introduced to the pedagogical principles of Modeling Instruction and shown examples of the course content in practice. These courses are intended for those interested in learning more about Modeling Instruction who have not taken a previous workshop. Introduction to Modeling Biology Instruction and Introduction to Modeling Chemistry Instruction will be offered in two different locations this July. The basic details are as follows:
2026 Dates and Location:
July 14-16, 2026 - Raleigh, NC
July 21-23, 2026 - Morehead City, NC
Hours and Credits: The workshops will include 6 hours of instruction per day, totaling 18 hours, and 1.8 CEU credits.
Cost: There is no cost to participating teachers. These workshops are free. We are unable to provide stipends for these courses as in the past.
Travel: Participating teachers are responsible for their travel expenses to the workshop locations. If you are not within commuting distance to either location and wish to attend, we can recommend nearby hotels.
Please get in touch with Scott Ragan at nsragan@ncsu.edu if you have questions about the courses or the application process.
ELA Standards Update Webinar Series
Join the NCDPI ELA Team throughout the 25-26 academic year to learn more about the proposed English Language Arts Standard Course of Study.
Webinars will allow participants to:
- Gain a greater understanding of the proposed standards
- Explore proposed revisions to the 2017 SCOS
- Dive deeper into the proposed SCOS organization and structure
- Receive updates on the installation timeline and supporting resources
Previous Webinars
View recordings of previous webinars to catch up on information you may have missed or share the recordings with colleagues to keep them in the loop! Recordings to previous webinars are available in the ELA Virtual Implementation Kit (VIK) on the Professional Learning Page under On-Demand Resources.
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
Apply to Serve on North Carolina's Leadership Council
NCDPI is accepting applications for the Innovation Leadership Council, a new statewide advisory council focused on identifying, vetting, and elevating innovative and evidence-based practices across North Carolina public schools.
The council will bring together leaders from districts, charter schools, lab schools, higher education, partner organizations, and NCDPI to help surface what is working, strengthen cross-sector learning, and support the spread of promising practices across varied contexts.
NCDPI is looking for applicants who bring field experience, practical judgment, evidence or evaluation expertise, implementation knowledge, and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. Council members will help shape annual focus areas, review promising practices, advise on evidence and scalability, and contribute to statewide learning and dissemination.
Applications are due July 22, 2026.
Learn more and apply here:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/office-research-promising-practices/innovation-leadership-council
Please consider applying or sharing this opportunity with someone who would bring a valuable perspective to this work.
Resources
K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub
 |
|
The NCDPI K-12 Science team has created a repository to provide a variety of resources for supporting school leaders, administrators, educators, and parents/caregivers. The NC K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub houses the standards, communications, and recommended resources related to the implementation of the North Carolina K-12 Math Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS).
The hub includes:
- K-12 science standards and support documents
- Previous PD presentations, recordings, and resources
- At Home Resource Guides for parent/guardians
- STEM Content Integration
Science educators are encouraged to browse, reference, download, share, discuss, and adapt resources.
|
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.
|
