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The NCDPI DL/I Team is pleased to share these upcoming professional development (PD) offerings, as well as opportunities, for Dual Language/Immersion (DL/I) educators that are included in this month's newsletter.
This edition features the following:
Professional Development & Networking Opportunities
- Statewide & Regional
- DL/I Leaders Meetings for 2026-2027
- mCLASS Lectura Training
- FLANC 2026 Fall Conference in Winston-Salem
- SALC 2026-2027 All Things Immersion Webinar Series
- National & International
- Villa Albertine Online Workshops with the Alliances Françaises
- Call for Proposals for the 10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education
Competitions, Feedback, Funding, & Service Opportunities
- NCDPI Innovation Leadership Council Applications
- ACTFL First-Time Convention Attendee Stipend Applications
- NCDPI Review Survey(s) for the NC SCOS for Social Studies
- Raíces National Essay Contest Submissions
If you or someone you know would like to subscribe to the DL/I Educators listserv, please go to the NCDPI Email Updates page and follow the steps to add your email address to any of the topics available.
Professional Development & Networking Opportunities
Statewide & Regional
DL/I Leaders Meetings for 2026-2027
The DL/I in NC Committee is evolving! Starting this school year, we are transforming into the DL/I Leaders Meetings—a dynamic, statewide collaborative network open to all dual language/immersion (DL/I) practitioners across North Carolina.
Participants will:
- receive policy updates and understand their direct impact on DL/I programs at the elementary, middle, and/or high school levels.
- review and access high-quality materials, research, and resources to support program implementation and long-term growth.
- collaborate, share solutions, and network with peers on the topics you need to talk about the most. Please note: this will take place during the final hour of each meeting as a virtual working lunch.
Dates & Registration
With over 300 DL/I programs driving success across North Carolina, leadership takes many forms. We have the virtual capacity to welcome at least three leaders from every single program (central office leaders, school administrators, and/or instructional leads).
Please click on the dates below to register for each meeting and receive a calendar invitation with your connection details for these Fridays from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm:
- October 30, 2026
- February 19, 2027
- June 4, 2027
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mCLASS Lectura Training
NCDPI and Amplify are offering mCLASS Lectura Training as full-day remote sessions to district and school staff who will assess K-3 students in Spanish DL/I programs using mCLASS Lectura.
The virtual Wednesday session from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm will focus on learning about the research behind the assessment and the scoring and administration of all measures for grades K-3. Find out about Lectura reporting and targeted lessons through Instruction to drive differentiated support for all students, along with the new biliteracy report and cross linguistic transfer opportunities highlighted in this resource.
Please review the available slots on July 29 and August 5 and register for the one that best suits your schedule. You will be automatically placed on a waiting list if your preferred day is full. DO NOT register for multiple days as this takes slots away from other participants.
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FLANC 2026 Fall Conference
Join our state professional organization, Fostering Language Acquisition in North Carolina (FLANC), in Winston-Salem on October 3–4 for the 2026 FLANC Fall Conference. This year’s theme, “Languages as Our Light, Culture as Our Compass,” celebrates the power of language and culture while providing meaningful professional learning opportunities to help grow world languages in our classrooms, schools, and communities, including DL/I programs.
Participants can earn up to 22 attendance hours while connecting with K-20 colleagues from across North Carolina, and the conference features engaging sessions for Dual Language/Immersion programs, as well as Classical, Heritage, and Modern Languages professionals. There will also be 3-hour workshops on Sunday, October 4, at no additional cost; however, advance registration is required to reserve a spot.
Conference registration includes:
- Two pre-conference webinars
- General sessions - Sneak Peek here!
- Scavenger hunt activities in the exhibit hall
- Continental breakfast and 2 lunches during the conference
- Allied organization meetings
FLANC is especially honored to welcome Dr. Bobby Hobgood as their keynote speaker. An award-winning educator, author, and technology leader in language education at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Hobgood is the author of How to Study a World Language and the recipient of numerous national and regional teaching excellence awards. This year also marks his 33rd consecutive year presenting at FLANC, making his keynote even more meaningful as FLANC celebrates its 60th anniversary!
Early Bird Registration is now open and available until September 11, 2026! Take advantage of discounted rates and join FLANC for an unforgettable conference experience. Questions can be directed to Kelly Ortiz at 1vp@flanc.org as she is serving as 1st Vice President & Program Chair.
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2026-2027 All Things Immersion Webinar Series
The Southern Atlantic Language Collaborative (SALC) team, representing Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, has opened registration for the 2026-2027 All Things Immersion (ATI) Webinar Series for both classroom instructors and program leaders.
Note: SALC’s ATI webinar series are provided for free but registration is required.
Instructional Strand
The ATI Instructional Strand aims to provide teachers with a platform to explore and engage in best practices related to immersion education. Educators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia will facilitate sessions on all matters that positively impact teaching and learning in a dual language/immersion (DL/I) classroom.
Please go to the 2026-2027 ATI Webinar Series for Educators form and check all the sessions you plan to attend. You will receive a Zoom link invitation via email approximately one week before the sessions you have selected, so be sure to save these Tuesdays from 4:30-5:30 pm on your calendar.
- September 22: Bridging in the DL/I Classroom
- October 27: Aligning Language Goals with Content Goals in DL/I
- November 17: Embedding Cultural Content in the DL/I Classroom
- January 26: The Acquisition of Language and Vocabulary in DL/I
- February 23: DL/I at the High School Level
- March 23: Data Conversations that Drive Language Content Growth in DL/I
Note: Dates and topics may be subject to change.
Attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation for renewal credit from the South Carolina Department of Education upon completion of a survey at the end of each session.
Leadership Strand
The ATI Leadership Strand is a monthly professional learning series for DL/I program leaders and administrators. Sessions will be held on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year, except in November and March from 10:00 - 11:00 am Eastern Time. The series will kick off on September 15 with the topic of Leading with Intention: Scheduling and Support Systems for Strong DL/I Programs.
Each monthly session will feature a specific focus topic, along with time for open questions and discussion. The series is open to DL/I leaders and administrators from the Southern Atlantic Language Collaborative (SALC) region: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Register once and attend any session. Topics and presenters will be shared as they are confirmed, and attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation from the Virginia Department of Education.
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Professional Development & Networking Opportunities
National & International
Villa Albertine Online Workshops
Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, is a division of the French Embassy in the United States, and they are collaborating with the Alliances Françaises d'Amérique du Nord to provide online professional workshops. These free sessions provide practical tools and resources to engage and motivate students learning French in K-12 classrooms, including DL/I, while supporting professional growth.
Upcoming sessions, like those below, are posted on the Villa Albertine Online Teacher Workshops page and include registration links.
- August 13: Construire et animer un cours de Français Professionnel
- August 28: Utiliser les ressources de TV5 MONDE en classe de FLE
Participants will receive (upon request) a certificate of participation for the professional development program. Participation in each session in full is required to receive a Certificate of Completion.
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10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education
Submit proposals by September 11
DL/I educators are invited to submit a session proposal by September 11, 2026, for the 10th International Conference on Immersion & Dual Language (ImDL) Education—a signature gathering for educators and researchers committed to advancing multilingual learning.
Join educators, researchers, and advocates from around the globe to explore the future of immersion and dual language education. Engage in rich discussions, share research and classroom strategies, and build lasting connections at this milestone event.
Additional details and the submission form are at dli-alliance.org/event/global27/, including information about the four topic strands and the various Fresh Take presentation types listed below.
- 50 minute sessions:
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Ignite Sessions sharing innovative practices, applied research, or transferable ideas and examples.
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Deep Dives exploring a case study, research, or best practice via in-depth discussion or modeling.
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Peer Connections facilitating conversations around shared challenges amongst job-alike peers.
- 30 minute sessions:
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Brain Bursts troubleshooting a problem of practice through collaborative analysis.
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Vision Sparks imagining a bold future with “What if…” scenarios that challenge current assumptions.
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Looking for additional PD options?
Please see FLANC's K-20 Professional Development page for details about conferences, courses, events, webinars, etc. available from various organizations that serve many World Languages and/or types of programs, including DL/I. FLANC's PD page is continuously updated and, as you scroll through the list, you will find offerings available in the coming weeks and months.
Competitions, Feedback, Funding, & Service Opportunities
NCDPI Innovation Leadership Council
Applications due July 22
 There's still time to submit an application to serve on the NCDPI 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 tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, and the online application, along with additional details, are posted on the NCDPI Innovation Leadership Council page.
ACTFL First-Time Convention Attendee Stipends
Applications due July 29
ACTFL, our national professional organization, sponsors the First-Time Attendee Stipend Award program to provide financial assistance in the amount of $500 to language educators who register for the full ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, which will be in San Antonio, Texas on November 20-22, 2026.
Any language educators who have never attended the ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo are invited to apply. ACTFL encourages teachers in their first three years of teaching and teachers with more than three years of experience to apply, as well as individuals who are members of historically underrepresented groups, working at Title I institutions, and/or with a demonstrated financial need.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the ACTFL Stipend Awards Program page has additional details and the online application form.
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NCDPI Review Survey(s) for the NC SCOS for Social Studies
Submit by August 1
As part of the North Carolina Social Studies Standards Review and Revision process, the K–12 Social Studies Team in NCDPI's Office of Teaching and Learning is seeking meaningful feedback from educators and stakeholders across the state. Your expertise and perspective are valuable in helping ensure that the Social Studies Standard Course of Study (SCOS) continues to meet the needs of North Carolina students and reflects high-quality, relevant instruction.
The information below provides important details regarding the purpose of this stakeholder input opportunity and how feedback will be used throughout the revision process.
State Board of Education policy specifies that the NC Department of Public Instruction will formally collect feedback on the current standards from educators, administrators, parents, students, institutions of higher education, business/industry representatives, national organizations, and other education agencies. The purpose of this survey is to obtain input from educators and stakeholders familiar with the Social Studies Standard Course of Study in order to inform revision decisions, which may include changes, clarifications, additions, deletions, or replacements to the current standards and objectives.
The NCDPI Social Studies Team requests your thoughtful input and comments on the current academic standards and objectives for Social Studies to inform the review and revision process.
Any individual who wishes to provide input on the Social Studies Standard Course of Study (SCOS) is encouraged to complete the survey(s) by August 1, 2026. Each survey is estimated to take approximately 10–20 minutes to complete, depending on the grade level selected for review, and should be completed in one sitting. If you would like to provide feedback on more than one grade or course, you will be able to submit additional surveys by clicking on the link that will be provided after the submission of each completed survey.
Please access the survey(s) you would like to complete by clicking on the button(s) below.
Raíces National Essay Contest Submissions
Entries due August 15
Raíces is a national essay writing contest for U.S. secondary students that shines a light on the living presence and contributions of the Hispanic community across the United States. Students in middle and high school are invited to tell the story behind a street name, a monument, a festival, a local leader, an organization, a family recipe, a culinary tradition, or even a neighborhood restaurant that connects their community to the Hispanic world. Essays with a maximum length of 3,000 words can be submitted in English or in Spanish.
Raíces recognizes that meaningful stories emerge from powerful student–teacher partnerships, so every prize honors both the student and the teacher behind each winning essay, along with their school. Additional details about the competition, along with the online contest form where entries can be submitted, are available on the Raíces: Celebrating Hispanic Roots in the United States page, which is also linked in the visual below.
 Wanting to find more opportunities for language educators and students?
Please see FLANC's K-20 Opportunities for Students and Educators page for details about awards, calls for proposals, grants, scholarships, etc. from various groups that support World Language educators, students, programs, and organizations. FLANC's Opportunities page is continuously updated in chronological order by due date, and you can scroll through the list to see what's available.
Connect with the NCDPI DL/I Team
Email the NCDPI DL/I Team at NCDLI@dpi.nc.gov
Go to NCDPI DL/I on the Internet at go.ncdpi.gov/NCDLIwebpage
See the NC DL/I Program Directory at go.ncdpi.gov/NCDLIdirectory
Follow us on Facebook as NCDPI Dual Language/Immersion
Find us on Instagram @NCDL_I
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