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Some Upcoming Dates of Note
- August 24th- SRO Grant application due
- September 1st- Hard deadline for legally required Eliminating DEI attestation
- September 15th- OCS Virtual Office Hour; EVAAS
- September 15th- PBOR submissions due
- September 17th- OCS Virtual Office Hour; Advanced Learning and Gifted Education
- September 29th- NCED Symposium
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NCOCS is providing this summary of legislative changes as a guidance document. Please see the "Key Action Items" section for required items you may have missed. Specific reporting requirements or exemplars (for example, the DEI reporting) will also be pushed out via our newsletters as they become available. If you have questions or discover an error, please let us know!
Senate Bill 227 Annual Certification Due September 1, 2026
Senate Bill 227 Annual Certification of CompliancePursuant to Senate Bill 227 (Session Law 2026-20), Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education, each Public School Unit (PSU) is required to annually certify compliance with the requirements of the law.
Action: Please complete the SB 227 Annual Certification Form by 5:00 PM on September 1, 2026.
The certification requires the Superintendent or Executive Director to attest that the PSU has conducted a good-faith review of applicable policies, practices, programs, organizational structures, personnel assignments, instructional materials, and professional development activities and has taken any necessary actions to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 227. Supporting documentation should be maintained locally and made available upon request. Consider working with your legal team for assistance.
Linked is the list of questions included in the reporting form.
All public schools, including charters, must submit the certification form by Tuesday, September 1st. If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact ocs@dpi.nc.gov.
Important Reminders: Amendments & Relocations/Subcampuses
Your original charter application is binding. Any material change to the charter application must be approved in accordance with state law and applicable policy before implementation. Many amendments require approval from the Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB). If you are unsure as to whether a change requires an amendment, please contact the Office of Charter Schools (OCS). Further, OCS must be notified of all relocations (including temporary) or subcampus expansions, and an ECO must be provided before student occupancy.
SRO Grant
The Center for Safer Schools School Resource Officer Grant application period will close Monday, Aug.24 at noon.
To ensure you receive the most accurate and timely assistance, all questions regarding the SRO Grant should be submitted to SchoolSafetyGrants@cfssnc.gov. Using the grant email address allows the CFSS to respond more efficiently and ensures that you receive consistent and accurate information. The CFSS will hold weekly, virtual SRO/School Safety Grant Office Hours until Sept. 2. CFSS staff will be available to answer any questions you have on topics including allowable and nonallowable items, legislative requirements and the scoring rubric. Check the CFSS Training Calendar for dates and access links. -
Protect Our Students
As the new school year begins, this is a reminder that General Statute 143B‑1209.100 requires all North Carolina public school units to show the Protect Our Students videos to students in grades 6-12 within the first five days of school. While the staff training video is optional, it is strongly recommended to help reinforce school safety awareness and reporting practices.
The Protect Our Students videos are available on the Center for Safer Schools’ YouTube channel. If you have questions regarding the Protect Our Students videos or implementation requirements, please contact SchoolSafety@cfssnc.gov.
September Office Hours
The Office of Charter Schools at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has two offerings for PD sessions in the month of September, so take advantage of as much learning as you can to start the new year. We look forward to welcoming you to the first of several support sessions planned throughout the year.
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September 15th Virtual Office Hour:
Paul Marshall, the state’s EVAAS consultant, will provide annual updates and guidance for schools responsible for claiming core teachers in EVAAS. This session will equip schools with the information needed to meet September deadlines and explain how to contact Paul for additional support.
September 17th Virtual Office Hour:
Join the Office of Charter Schools and the Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education for a collaborative office hour highlighting available resources, services, and support. Schools interested in developing a state-approved AIG plan can learn more about the process, explore College Connect, and discover additional OALGE offerings.
Updated School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual
This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators.
Current SASA Manual
Register for 2026 NCED Connect Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2026 NCED Connect Symposium, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
Educators, technology leaders, school library media coordinators, student information systems professionals and education partners from across North Carolina will explore digital learning, artificial intelligence, instructional technology, leadership and more. Attendees will discover new ideas, connect with colleagues and expand their professional networks.
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Parents’ Bill of Rights Reporting: Parents’ Guide to Student Achievement and Data
Due September 15, 2026
Based on legislation and SBE PRNT-002, it’s time for you to update your Parents’ Guide to Student Achievement and submit data regarding the Parents’ Bill of Rights appeals. Please complete the reporting form by September 15, 2026; but we hope you will submit by June 30 so you can have it all wrapped up before the next school year. Please make sure your links are clear and accessible for the PGSA. Remember that what you submit is what will be exactly shared with the NCGA.
Linked is the report that SBE submitted last year to the NCGA.
Linked is the list of questions that are in the reporting form, essentially the same as last year.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Jennifer Lloyd at jennifer.lloyd@dpi.nc.gov.
Nominations Open- NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year
Dear Superintendents and BT Coordinators,
Nominations for the NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year are now open. Please submit your district or charter school’s nominee to this link by Friday, October 2nd. Details regarding eligibility and awards can be found at the BTOY webpage- www.nccat.org/btoy. Should you have any questions, please contact emily.langdon@nccat.org
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August 13, 2026
The FBS website continues to be updated with information related to School Business and our ongoing operations. Please check the FBS homepage regularly for updates. Please review the upcoming deadlines for due dates.
Employee Bonuses FAQ - All PSUs
SBS has updated the Employee Bonus FAQ posted on our What's New page with additional questions we have received from the field. Please review those revisions and reach out to Salary@dpi.nc.gov if you have any further questions. We will continue to update our guidance as we receive them.
2025-2026 EC Transfer Funding - Charters Only
Section 7.56 of SL 2026-41 directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to allocate additional Exceptional Children (EC) funding to eligible charter schools that did not receive an additional prorated allocation for a child with disabilities enrolled during the first 60 days of the 2025-2026 school year.
This survey is only for charter schools that did not complete the survey during the 2025-26 school year. If your school completed the survey during the 2025-26 school year, you are not eligible and should not submit another response.
A direct link to the survey was emailed to each charter school that did not complete the survey last school year. If you received the link, please complete the survey by September 15, 2026. If you did not receive a survey link and believe your school is eligible, please review the eligibility list posted in the What's New section of our webpage.
As a reminder, being eligible to complete the survey simply means your school did not complete it during the 2025-26 school year. Survey eligibility does not indicate eligibility to receive funding. One survey is required per every ten eligible students.
Funding eligibility requirements and the verification process are outlined in the guidance document available on our webpage. Please review that document for additional information.
If you have any questions, please contact cody.edwards@dpi.nc.gov.
FY2026-27 Allotment Update - All PSUs
The following items of interest will be allotted by end of week:
- Child and Family Support Teams (CFST) Initial Allotments
- PRC 0042 - Nurses
- PRC 0043 – Social Worker and Other
- PRC 0055 – Cooperative Innovative High School (CIHS) Allotments
Prior Year Refunds Update - All PSUs
This week, SBS processed all prior year refunds submitted in the Cash App by noon on Friday, July 31st. The next processing date for prior year refunds will be noon on Monday, August 31st. Any entries not made by that time will not be processed until September. We are working on processing amounts for FY2025-26 refunds due to DPI, but those are not yet posted.
As a reminder, effective in mid-April the process for returning prior year State funds for overspent PRCs, overspent months used, overspent salaries, and penalties has moved to the Cash App. In order to facilitate a clean transition into the new process, they are no longer available on the Refunds and Repayments Droplet form and SBS will no longer accept manual checks for these refund types. PSUs should continue to use the form and manual checks to return TD-19, IDEA Maintenance of Effort, Questioned Costs, Sales Tax funds, and other state refunds.
LEAs can view their prior year overspent State funds and penalties using the "Prior Year Refund" menu in the Cash App. Please contact CashMgt@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions.
From the Office of Exceptional Children
TIME SENSITIVE: 2025-2026 Competitive Grant Recipients
For PSUs that were awarded competitive grant funds (PRC 118/119) last school year, please work with your finance officer to ensure that the expenditures associated with your approved competitive grant are encumbered by September 30, 2026, and liquidated by December 30, 2026. A review of cash draw downs in the NCDPI CashApp for these funds show that 53% of PRC 118 dollars and 31% of PRC 119 dollars have NOT been pulled down to the PSU for expenditures.
This is very concerning because:
- Expenditures associated with an approved competitive grant may have been charged against the IDEA 611/619 grant instead of PRC 118/119.
- The 2025-2026 Competitive Grant funds were paid out of Grant Year 2025 that expire for both the state and the PSU on September 30, 2026.
- The unexpended fund balance may adversely impact future efforts to make a competitive grant program available to PSUs.
Please note that this message will be duplicated for the EC Administrator and Superintendent listserv.
Deadline Reminders
ALL PSUs
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DUE DATE
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TOPIC
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NEWSLETTER
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08/31/2026
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Prior Year Refunds - August Processing
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07/30/2026
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08/31/2026
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CCIP Formula Application - Full Approval
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05/14/2026
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Free Course from NC Department of Insurance
The North Carolina Department of Insurance is excited to introduce Protecting Yourself and Others: Teen Driving, a new, free educational resource designed for high school classrooms and driver education programs. This interactive program helps young drivers build a better understanding of automobile insurance, including how it works, why it matters, what affects insurance costs, and common insurance terminology. The program also supports financial literacy standards, helping students connect insurance concepts to real-world financial decisions they will face as new drivers. Educators can request an in-person presentation, virtual presentation, or classroom materials to facilitate the lesson themselves.
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Legislative Change for Driver's Ed
After October 1, 2026
SL2026-46 eliminates driving eligibility certificate requirements for the issuance of learner’s permits and provisional driver's licenses.
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After Oct. 1st, 2026, teen drivers will no longer be required to show an eligibility certification to apply for a license.
Grant Opportunity: Transform Your School’s Air Quality with Mini-Grants!
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Who: American Lung Association
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What: The American Lung Association’s three-level mini-grant program assists K–12 public, charter, and some tribal schools to assess, develop, and implement plans to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy management. Schools are eligible for up to $9,500, and districts can receive up to $190,000!
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Where: To learn more and sign up for the Clean Air School Challenge, visit
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
26-27 Webinar Series
The CTE Data and Impact team is pleased to share their upcoming webinar series for 2026-2027!
Please click the link below for the flyer and the Zoom link.
CTE Moodle Transition to Canvas
CTE Moodle has transitioned to the NCDPI Canvas platform as the CTE Resource Center. While the CTE Moodle is still available, it will be inaccessible beginning September 1, 2026. If there are any resources you need that are not currently available on the CTE Resource Center, you will need to download them prior to this date.
An informational webinar that includes an overview of the new platform will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 10:30am. The webinar will be recorded and posted to both Moodle and the CTE Resource Center if you are unable to attend.
Use the link below to join the webinar on August 20, 2026 at 10:30am.
Please note that users will need to access the NCDPI Canvas, which is found in NCEdCloud, in order to be added to the CTE Resource Center and Hub.
CFSS Student Advisory Council
The Center for Safer Schools Student Advisory Council is accepting applications from current eighth- and 10th-grade students who want to make a difference in school safety.
Council members work alongside education leaders to share student perspectives, address school safety concerns and help create positive change in schools across North Carolina.
We encourage students who are passionate about mental health, bullying prevention, school climate or student leadership to apply and make their voice heard. We are especially seeking applicants from the Northwest, Piedmont-Triad, Northeast, Southeast and Sandhills regions.
If you have questions, send an email to cking@cfssnc.gov.
Updated Computer Science Course Lists for SY26-27
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has published updated Computer Science Middle School Elective Offering and High School Graduation Requirement course lists. The updated high school course list adds ten new course options, and the updated middle school course list adds three new middle school elective options along with four additional high school courses that can be taught in middle school. Completion of any course identified on the approved High School Courses Eligible for Middle School list will satisfy both the CS middle school course elective offering and high school graduation requirement.
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), Local Implementation Delay Waiver Requests were available only for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026; no waivers are permitted for full implementation beginning in 2026–2027.
Link: NCDPI Computer Science Graduation Requirement
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Sign Up for NCDPI Newsletters
Did you know NCDPI produces a variety of newsletters on various topics across North Carolina K-12 education? Whether you’re looking for news on school counseling, digital teaching & learning resources, middle school science or K-12 education legislation updates, there is something for everyone.
A few examples of subscription offerings are:
- K-12 Education Legislative Update
- News Releases
- Digital Accessibility Newsletter
- Exceptional Children Information for Parents
Click here and enter your email address to see all the subscription lists and newsletters available to receive
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NOTE- To sign up for the Office of Federal Programs listserv, please contact your assigned Consolidated Program Administrator. Contacts can be found by clicking this link and selecting your region at the bottom of the page.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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GSNC Grant Opportunity
Great Schools North Carolina’s School Quality Cohort grant application opens soon! This 18-month opportunity is for leaders of existing charter schools to strengthen what's working, tackle persistent challenges, and implement meaningful, lasting improvements. The experience combines collaborative learning with individualized support, giving school leaders dedicated time and expert guidance to turn ambitious goals into measurable results.
Applications will be open August 19-September 8
Register for the Information Session on August 18, 4pm
Sign up for Office Hours, August 26-28, 10-11am
Selected school leaders will receive:
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Up to $150,000 in funding to support school improvement efforts.
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Personalized coaching aligned to their school's unique goals and needs.
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Access to expert partners and technical assistance.
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A community of charter school leaders learning alongside one another.
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Support to develop and implement a strategic action plan that leads to stronger student outcomes.
NCVPS Expands Computer Science Options for Spring 2027
NCVPS is expanding its Computer Science offerings with two new courses for Spring 2027.
These additions give students more opportunities to build knowledge and skills in growing areas of technology while giving schools additional options for meeting North Carolina’s Computer Science graduation requirement.
Current Computer Science Courses
- CP10 – Python Programming I Honors
- 2A02 – AP Computer Science A
- 0A02 – AP Computer Science Principles
- CS31 – SAS Base Programming Honors
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CS10 – Introduction to Computer Science - New course launched Fall 2026 for high school and middle school
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CS30 – Introduction to Data Science - New course launched Fall 2026 for high school and middle school
New for Spring 2027
NCVPS is continuing to grow our Computer Science offerings to support schools and districts across the state.I
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CA10 – Artificial Intelligence - New course launching Spring 2027 for high school and middle school
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CI30 – Cybersecurity I Honors - New course launching Spring 2027 for high school
View all courses at: ncvps.org/catalogs.
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Share excellence in education!
Post exceptional student work or exciting happenings at your NC Charter School. Then tag or mention OCS on Social Media for others to see!
Remember when you share on social media to use #WeAreNCCharters or @NCCharterOffice
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Charter School Job Postings
Job postings will include the posted date and will be removed after two months. Schools may request early removal or extension. Contact Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov with a posting link.
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Ashley Logue • Director, Office of Charter Schools
Please send general inquires to ocs@dpi.nc.gov
Contact information for area specialists can be found on the Office of Charter Schools Directory.
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