Monthly Standards Update
2026 ELA Standard Course of Study Installation Under Way
On January 8, 2026, the NC State Board of Education (SBE) adopted Draft 4 as the 2026 ELA Standard Course of Study for implementation in the 2027-2028 school year. The current 2017 ELA Standard Course of Study will remain in place for classroom instruction for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The newly approved K-12 ELA SCOS aims to serve as the framework that guides each Public School Unit (PSU) in the development of the curriculum and instruction for English Language Arts.
In an effort to keep stakeholders informed, the NCDPI ELA Team will provide monthly standards updates that contain the latest announcements and current news regarding the adopted 2026 ELA SCOS. These updates are sent the first Friday of every month.
To receive these updates straight to your inbox, please subscribe to our listserv. To view past listserv messages, visit the NCDPI ELA Webpage.
Note: Due to July 3, 2026 being a state holiday, the July 2026 First Friday is being sent on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
2026 ELA SCOS Installation Resources Available
Installation resources to support implementation of the 2026 ELA Standard Course of Study are available in the Virtual Implementation Kit (VIK) on the 2026 ELA SCOS page. Currently available resources include:
- Unpacking Documents by Grade-level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-10, and 11-12
- Highlighted Vertical Progression
- Glossary
- Communications Toolkit
- 2017 and 2026 ELA SCOS Crosswalk
- Frequently Asked Questions Document
- NAEP and ACT Mapping Document
- Installation Timeline
Throughout the installation phase, supporting resources will be developed and shared. Stakeholders are encouraged to check the ELA Virtual Implementation Kit (VIK) often for updates and additional resources.
Standards Implementation Guide
The Standards Implementation Guide aims to provide general guidance to PSUs on the considerations that must be made as PSUs and schools install newly revised NCSCOS.
Implementation of Adopted 2026 ELA SCOS
Note: The current 2017 ELA Standard Course of Study will remain in place for classroom instruction and assessment through the 2026-2027 school year.
Public school units (PSUs) are expected to implement the 2026 North Carolina Standard Course of Study for K-12 English Language Arts starting in the 2027-2028 school year. Details regarding professional learning opportunities and forthcoming resources will be shared via listservs and social media channels. Consider encouraging colleagues to subscribe to the ELA Team general listserv and/or follow the ELA Team's Instagram and Facebook pages, so they can stay informed throughout installation and implementation of the 2026 ELA Standard Course of Study!
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2026-2027 ELA SCOS Webinar Series Kicks Off in September!
Join the NCDPI ELA Team throughout the 2026-27 school year for an exciting webinar series focused on the newly adopted 2026 English Language Arts Standard Course of Study! Each session in this series will spotlight a specific strand of the standards, providing educators with the opportunity to deepen their understanding and prepare for successful implementation beginning in the 2027–28 school year.
During each webinar, participants will:
- gain an overview of the featured strand, including its purpose, structure, and design.
- explore key resources and unpacking documents to build a deeper understanding of the standards and objectives within that strand.
- reflect on the instructional shifts needed to support effective teaching and learning aligned to the new standards.
Dates and Registration | Register for each session using the links below or via the promotional flyer.
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Apply to Serve on North Carolina’s Innovation 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 on the Innovation Leadership Council page on the NCDPI website and apply today!
Please consider sharing this opportunity with someone who would bring a valuable perspective to this work.
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