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If you have information or opportunities you'd like to share in the monthly K-12 Science newsletter, please send a request to gavin.fradel@dpi.nc.gov no later than the third Monday of every month. Note: Not all requested items are guaranteed to be included.
K-12 Science Support Documents Updates
The NCDPI K-12 Science Team released updates to the K-12 Science Support Documents in August 2026. The support documents were revised to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA requirements. The documents were also reformatted using the Document Tabs feature in Google docs to make navigation easier.
Any saved links for support documents will need to be updated. The updated K-12 Science Support Documents can be accessed on the NC K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub.
Please continue to provide feedback on these documents using the K-12 Support Document Feedback Form.
Navigating support documents with tabs:
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
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 9, 2027
- April 20, 2027
Certificates of attendance will be provided for each session after participants submit a Google Form reflection.
2026-2027 K-12 Science Office Hours
The K-12 Science Section will offer office hours during the 2026-27 School Year. Each session will focus on a particular topic and target a specific audience. Information about upcoming sessions and registration can also be found on the K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub.
North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR)
Join Us for Free Workshop on Regenerative Medicine
at Elon University
on November 12
Elon University is partnering with NCABR to host its inaugural Rx for Science Literacy workshop – in collaboration with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine – on Thursday, November 12, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Elon, N.C.
Regenerative Medicine: Where Are We Now & Where Are We Headed – Outer Space, AI & More, will be a one-day workshop that will be held at Elon University and will feature an overview of the updated and expanded regenerative medicine chapter – released in March 2026 – that is found in the Rx for Science Literacy curriculum manual.
Speakers will include WFIRM scientists and Elon faculty, and a tour of Elon’s new Health Science Building will be included.
This workshop is most applicable to high school teachers and those teaching advanced middle school students.
Incentives for attending include:
- 1 unit of certification renewal credit for North Carolina-certified educators (4 hours of additional work required)
• A free copy of the Rx for Science Literacy curriculum manual (a $208 value) and additional bioscience education materials to use in the classroom
• Free lunch
• Substitute teacher support (up to $110)
Funding for this workshop has been provided by WFIRM and the NSF Regenerative Medicine Engine in North Carolina (NSF Award #2315654) and Elon University.
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Do you deserve to be among the next NC STEM Schools of Distinction?
Intent to Apply due by Friday, October 9th. Communicating your Intent takes only minutes to complete!
Many schools across our state deliver high-quality STEM engagement, maximizing community partnerships and driving opportunities for students that develop the skills necessary for future success. NC DPI and the NC State Board of Education want to recognize each and every school that exemplifies the qualities associated with STEM success.
The STEM School Progress Rubric serves as an incredible tool for self-assessment and school improvement and is the key to achievement for STEM schools in North Carolina.
Schools that self-assess at the Prepared or Model level of achievement, based on the Rubric, are encouraged to complete an Intent to Apply with NC DPI. This intent does not obligate the school, but instead allows the opportunity for receiving additional information and resources toward becoming recognized as one of North Carolina's finest in STEM education.
Interested schools should complete their Intent to Apply no later than COB Friday, October 9, 2026. Please contact Howard Ginsburg at howard.ginsburg@dpi.nc.gov should you have further questions.
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ML/Title III Webinar Series Begins September 2nd!
The ML/Title III team is offering a PD Series Unpacking Language Demands in Content Standards to deepen understanding of language development and its role in content-area instruction for multilingual learners (MLs). Participants will explore connections between language and academic standards, analyze language demands in classroom tasks, and develop collaborative planning and instructional strategies. This series supports Principle #2: Strengthen Core Instruction, Priority 1 Key Action for the Classroom in the ML/Title III Strategic Framework.
The first webinar in the series will take place on September 2 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm, Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Build your foundational knowledge of second language acquisition and examine how multilingual learners develop language across listening, speaking, reading, and writing domains. The session will explore factors that influence language development and implications for classroom instruction. Participants will engage in learning that advances Principle 2: Strengthen Core Instruction Priority 1 - Key Action for the Classroom identified in the ML/Title III Framework.
Register for upcoming webinars:
Take Your Co-Teaching Partnership Statewide!
Applications are open for the 2026–27 Multilingual Learner Teacher Network (MLTN)!
Great co-teaching brings together the expertise of ML and content teachers to create stronger learning opportunities for multilingual learners. The NCDPI ML/Title III Team invites current ML–content co-teaching pairs to apply together for this statewide community of practice.
Approximately 10 selected pairs will study evidence-based guidance, strengthen their collaborative teaching practices, and develop classroom-ready resources to share with educators across North Carolina. Individual applicants are also welcome and may be matched with compatible participants.
From November 2026 through June 2027, members will attend three MLTN meetings and the Summer Conference and devote approximately one hour per week to required readings, partner collaboration, and resource development. Selected participants will receive sponsorship for approved costs associated with the required in-person convenings.
Why Apply?
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Collaborate with educators from across North Carolina.
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Strengthen your co-teaching practices using evidence-based strategies.
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Develop classroom-ready resources to share statewide.
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Grow as a teacher leader while making a lasting impact on multilingual learner instruction.
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Receive sponsorship for approved costs related to required in-person meetings.
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Join a statewide community dedicated to improving outcomes for multilingual learners.
First meeting: One day during the week of November 16–20, 2026.
Apply by Thursday, October 15, 2026
Resources
K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub
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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.
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Consolidating K-12 Science Listservs
Good news! The NCDPI K-12 Science Team is streamlining communications by combining the elementary school, middle school, and science supervisors (high school) listservs into one K-12 Science listserv. You can sign up to receive the K-12 Science newsletters/bulletins in the button below.
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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