Number 10

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.

Learn more and register for the 2026 NCED Connect Symposium here.

Number 9

NCDPI World Languages 2026–27 Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency (TAP) Webinar Series

Join us the NCDPI World Languages team for the 2026-2027 World Languages Standard Course of Study (SCOS) Webinar Series: Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency! Educators will explore practical strategies for bringing the World Languages Standard Course of Study to life while building real-world proficiency for students.

The 2026–27 webinar series features four sessions throughout the school year. All webinars begin at 3:45 p.m.:
🗓️ Sept. 9 — Using Integrated Performance Assessments
🗓️ Nov. 4 — Strengthening the Interdisciplinary & Literacy Connections Strand
🗓️ Feb. 3 — Supporting the Intercultural & Communities Connections Strand
🗓️ April 7 — Providing Effective Feedback with Performance Assessment Rubrics

Educators who participate in three of the four sessions, live or on-demand, will earn the Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency Completer Badge. 

Learn more and register for individual webinar sessions here. 

Number 8

Register for the 2026 North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Conference

Join the NCDPI Arts Education Team at the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Conference (CAEC) on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Greensboro.

This day-long conference serves as a statewide professional development opportunity for dance, music, theatre and visual arts educators, district arts education leaders, teaching artists, arts integration specialists and pre-service teachers from across North Carolina working in K-12 programs, independent studios, performing arts organizations and higher education institutions.

The mission of this conference is to support the three essential components of the North Carolina Comprehensive Arts Education Model: Arts Education, Arts Integration, and Arts Exposure. Sessions will be centered on the four K-12 Arts Education Standards core strands of Connect, Create, Present and Respond.

Learn more and register for the 2026 CAEC here.

Number 7

Call for High School Student Artists - Create Original Artwork for Public School Forum's 2026 Impact Report

The Public School Forum of North Carolina is seeking a talented high school student artist to create original artwork to be featured in their 2026 Impact Report. This is a paid opportunity for a creative student to contribute their voice to materials that will be shared with audiences across the state both digitally and in print throughout the next year.

Students interested in applying will submit 2-3 examples of current artwork and their name, grade and school. 

Learn more and submit student art here. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 4. 

Number 6

EdNC: "How a Federal Grant Brought Mental Health Services Into Schools Across 6 North Carolina School Districts"

"Teri Putnam has worked in mental health and school-based mental health services for most of her career. With experience as both a licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed clinical addiction specialist, she knows what it takes to make mental health programs work in schools.

In 2002, Putnam sought licensure to be a mental health worker in schools. Fast forward to 2018, Putnam stepped into the role of Project AWARE director for Cleveland County Schools — one of the three school districts piloting the five-year, multimillion dollar federal grant program designed to improve the way mental health services work in North Carolina’s schools.

Then, in 2021, when North Carolina received a second round of five-year grant funding and the opportunity to pilot Project AWARE in three more districts, Putnam was asked by Heidi Austin at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to help Austin codirect the grant program at the state level.

With her background in mental health, Putnam said one of her goals has been to help her colleagues consider the role mental illness and environmental stressors play in students’ overall well-being.

While schools primarily exist to educate children, they also impact health as students eat, play, and build social skills. Schools are places where students already receive a variety of services, and therefore are a key entry point for youth mental health services.

In North Carolina, Project AWARE addresses the relationship between education and health by embedding mental health service delivery into schools. According to the program’s website, this strategy replaces “fragmented and reactive approaches” to student well-being."

Read the full article here. 

Number 5

United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Accepting Applications

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) gives high school juniors and seniors interested in studying history or political science an opportunity to spend a week in Washington, D.C. meeting legislators, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and officials from federal agencies and the White House.

The program will select two North Carolina students as delegates. Each delegate will receive a $12,500 scholarship and attend a week-long educational program in Washington, D.C. from March 6-13.

Learn more about the program, including eligibility information, and find the application here. The deadline to apply is Oct. 4. 

Number 4

NC High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2026

"The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) is proud to announce the NCHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing eight individuals whose contributions have had a lasting impact on high school athletics across the state. The 2026 class includes Michael Baker, Zoe Bell, Patty Evers, Greg Frey, Vicki Hamilton, Beecher “B.W.” Holt, Leonardo “Leo” Lockhart, and Bobby Reynolds.

These honorees represent decades of service as coaches, administrators, officials, and advocates for student-athletes. Their achievements include state championships, national coaching honors, pioneering leadership in school systems, and lifelong commitments to mentorship, sportsmanship, and community service. Collectively, their work has shaped programs, opened opportunities for students, and strengthened high school athletics throughout North Carolina."

Learn more about the members of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and see photos from the celebratory banquet here. 

Number 3

Video: Superintendent Green Welcomes School and District Staff Back for the 2026-27 School Year

"A new school year brings fresh energy, new opportunities and renewed purpose." In his convocation message kicking off the 2026-27 school year, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green greets educators, school and district staff as they prepare to to welcome students and families for a new school year.

Superintendent Green reflects on the promise of public education, thanks the educators and school staff whose work changes lives, and celebrates North Carolina's continued progress in graduation rates, college-level opportunities and industry-recognized credentials. He encourages every member of the public school community to begin the year with optimism, purpose and a shared commitment to student success.

Watch the video message from Superintendent Green here. 

Number 2

NC Department of Justice: "Attorney General Jeff Jackson Secures up to $645 Million for North Carolina in Landmark Child Safety Settlement with Meta"

"Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, will pay up to $645 million, with a guaranteed minimum of $451 million, to North Carolina and make major child safety upgrades to its apps in a landmark settlement with Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 51 bipartisan attorneys general. Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion to the states – the second-largest state consumer protection settlement in history and the largest big tech settlement ever.

The child safety upgrades will include comprehensive new measures to determine users’ age and keep children under 13 off the platforms. In addition, Meta will set default limits on the amount of time teens ages 13 to 17 can use Facebook and Instagram and give parents more control to adjust those settings in ways that work for their families.

Meta will also shut off feeds overnight, stop sending feed push notifications during the school day, and hide like counts, all by default. In addition, Meta will disable filters that mimic plastic surgery and tell parents when a suspicious person is contacting their teen. An independent auditor will check Meta’s work and publish what it finds."

Read the full press release here. 

Number 1

Statement from North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice "Mo" Green on Meta Social Media Settlement

"Today, North Carolina joined 51 bipartisan attorneys general in announcing a historic settlement with Meta to address the harm social media has done to the mental health of young people. North Carolina will receive up to $645 million from this settlement to support student well-being across our state.

I am grateful for the years of work by Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Governor Josh Stein, our former Attorney General, and their colleagues on this lawsuit and settlement.

Student well-being and academic success are interconnected. Students cannot reach their full potential in the classroom when they are struggling outside of it. While North Carolina public schools celebrate historic results with graduation rates, participation and performance on college-level courses and exams by high school students, and the number of industry-recognized credentials earned, continued progress on these results will not happen if our students are struggling with mental health challenges."

Read the full statement from Superintendent Green here.