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Number 10
Celebrate Arts in Education Week with Marching Band Performances at NCDPI
Join NCDPI in celebrating Arts in Education Week with two marching band performances on the Halifax Mall lawn. Both performances will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will also be streamed on the NC Public Schools YouTube channel.
- Tuesday, Sept. 15: Grimsley Senior High School (Guilford County Schools) - The 2025-26 High School OT Marching Band of the Year, Grimsley’s band program emphasizes musical excellence, community and discipline.
- Thursday, Sept. 17: Scotland High School (Scotland County Schools) - With roots dating to the 1950s, the Scotland Band proudly celebrates its Scottish heritage and has performed at prominent parades and competitions across the country.
Come enjoy the music and help recognize the important role of arts education in North Carolina’s public schools!
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Number 9
Apply for the Smithsonian's Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange Program
The application period for Cohort 7 (spring 2027) of the Smithsonian Institution's Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange Program is currently open! Join fellow educators in Washington, D.C. for an immersive 3-day summit with Smithsonian experts and resources. Then guide your students in place-based investigations as they explore innovation within their local community. Connect them with peers from a different part of the country to share their discoveries and reflect on their past, present and future.
Educators working with students ages 10-19 are invited to apply. CEU credits and costs for the January summit in Washington D.C. will be covered for participants.
Learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is Oct. 5.
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Number 8
Register for 2026 Color of Education Summit
The Color of Education Summit is a statewide convening dedicated to strengthening North Carolina’s commitment to racial equity in education. Each year, the summit brings together educators, policymakers, students, researchers, advocates and community leaders to explore the intersections of race, education and social justice.
The summit offers in-person, virtual and hybrid registration options.
Learn more about the summit, find the agenda and registration information here.
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Number 7
Help Students Build Financial Confidence with NC Treasurer's Cash Club
The NC Department of State Treasurer is launching The Cash Club, a statewide financial literacy initiative for high schools, home schools and other educational organizations beginning in fall 2026.
Designed as a weekly club, The Cash Club will help students build practical money-management skills through interactive lessons, hands-on activities and discussions based on the department’s award-winning Finance Fridays newsletter. Club leaders and advisors will receive ready-to-use materials including teaching slides, talking points, activities, review questions, quizzes and scholarship spotlights.
Cash Club members will also have the opportunity to participate in an inaugural statewide financial literacy competition, with details coming soon.
Learn more and access Cash Club resources here. For questions or to express interest in starting a club, email FinanceFridays@nctreasurer.gov.
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Number 6
Apply to Join NCDPI's K-12 Social Studies Standard Course of Study Data Review Committee
The NCDPI K-12 Social Studies Team is seeking volunteers for a Social Studies Data Review Committee to examine the current K-12 Social Studies Standard Course of Study and analyze trends and feedback collected through stakeholder interviews, focus groups and surveys.
Individuals with experience reviewing and compiling data are encouraged to apply, including K-12 educators, school and district leaders, educators at institutions of higher education and business and community leaders.
Learn more about the opportunity and apply here. The deadline to apply is Sept. 10.
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Number 5
Register for New Sept. 2026 Low-Performing Webinars
Following the release of the 2025-26 Low-Performing State Designations, NCDPI's Office of District & School Support Services will host informational webinars for leaders of designated schools and districts.
The webinars will cover requirements, expectations and key deadlines for the Comprehensive Plan required under N.C.G.S. §§ 115C-105.37 and 115C-105.39A. The intended audience includes principals of low-performing schools and appropriate personnel in low-performing districts.
Separate webinars will be offered for low-performing schools and districts, with two scheduling options for each. Participants should attend only one session applicable to their designation.
Low-Performing Districts Webinar
Low-Performing Schools Webinar
For questions or concerns, contact Cynthia Martin, director of transformation.
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Number 4
EdNC Perspective Piece from NCDPI's Dr. Shaun Kellogg: "When Students Aren’t in their Seats, Learning Can’t Happen"
"Before a student can benefit from a great teacher, engaging instruction, or any of the academic supports their school has to offer, they need to show up. And while that sounds obvious, for a growing number of North Carolina students, showing up is the hard part.
During the 2024-25 school year, nearly one in four students across the state were chronically absent, meaning they missed more than 10% of the school year, or roughly two days per month. For students experiencing poverty, the number increased to one in three students, which was 10 percentage points higher than the year before the pandemic.
Chronic absenteeism is not a minor problem. It touches nearly every school in North Carolina, and its consequences follow students far beyond a single missed school day."
Read the full perspective piece from Dr. Collin McColskey-Leary, vice president of program impact and innovation at Communities In Schools of NC and Dr. Shaun Kellogg, senior director of NCDPI's Office of Research and Promising Practice, here.
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Number 3
Queen City News: "1-on-1 with NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green"
Superintendent Green joined Queen City News for a wide-ranging conversation about record student achievement, changing enrollment trends, school choice and the future of public education.
Watch the interview here.
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Number 2
District Highlight: Columbus County Schools - Celebrating Ms. Everlene Davis as She Begins 70th Year in the Classroom
The Columbus County Schools community gathered Monday to celebrate an incredible milestone - Ms. Everlene Davis’ 70 years of teaching, service and dedication to generations of Columbus County students.
Watch this heartfelt celebration honoring her extraordinary legacy.
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Number 1
2026 Graduation Rate Reaches Historic High, Accountability Results Continue Positive Trend for North Carolina Public School Students
"North Carolina public school students marked another year of noteworthy academic progress in 2025-26, achieving a record-high graduation rate and improving performance on most standardized tests, according to data presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education.
The four-year cohort graduation rate rose to 88.8% in 2025-26, up from a record 87.8% in the previous year, thereby marking a new historic high. This graduation rate moves North Carolina’s public schools closer to reaching a “Best in Nation Measure” as identified in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) strategic plan, Achieving Educational Excellence.
'These academic achievement results are a testament to the incredible work happening across North Carolina’s public schools,' North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice 'Mo' Green said. 'While I am pleased to see these results trending positively, including our highest graduation rate ever, I look forward to continued progress as we aim to achieve educational excellence for all North Carolina public school students and become the best public education system in the nation.'”
Read the full press release here.
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