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The NCDPI DL/I Team and the NCDPI World Languages Team would like to share this bonus bulletin with these upcoming professional development (PD) and networking offerings, as well as two new grant opportunities.
- NCDPI World Languages Webinar Series begins at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, September 9
- 10th International Conference on DL/I Proposals are due Friday, September 11
- New NCDPI Grant Programs
- Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Applications are due September 19
- NC Competency-Based Education Innovation Grant Applications
If you or someone you know would like to subscribe to the NCDPI listserv(s), please go to the NCDPI Email Updates page and follow the steps to add your email address to any of the topics available.
NCDPI World Language Webinar Series
Begins this Wednesday, September 9
Join us for the 2026-2027 World Languages Standard Course of Study (SCOS) Webinar Series: Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency! This series provides practical strategies that bring the new standards to life in your classroom and build real-world proficiency for your students.
Each session features the SCOS toolkit resources like the Unpacking’s “In the Classroom” examples, along with national tools such as the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements and Guiding Principles for Language Learning. We’ll dive deep into the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication, showing you how to weave in literacy, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and community connections from the strands. Best of all, you’ll focus on how to adapt and implement Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) tailored to your K-12 program(s), language(s), and course(s).
Dates & Registration
The 2026-2027 World Languages SCOS Webinar Series will be held on the following Wednesdays at 3:45 - 5:15 pm. Register for each session using the links below or via the webinar series brochure.
- Using Integrated Performance Assessments - September 9
- Strengthening the Interdisciplinary & Literacy Connections Strand - November 4
- Supporting the Intercultural & Communities Connections Strand - February 3
- Providing Effective Feedback with Performance Assessment Rubrics - April 7
Certificates & Badge
Your professional growth is important to us! All participants at the live broadcasts will receive a Certificate of Attendance. If your schedule is full, don’t worry—recordings and activities will be posted with an asynchronous option available so you can still earn credit on your own time.
Educators who participate in at least three of the four sessions, synchronously or asynchronously, will earn the Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency Completer Badge!
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10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education
Proposals due this Friday, September 11
Dual Language/Immersion (DL/I) educators are invited to submit a session proposal by September 11, 2026, for the 10th International Conference on Immersion & Dual Language 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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2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the 2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program, a new funding opportunity designed to help North Carolina public schools develop, maintain, or expand educational and competitive speech and debate teams for students in grades 9–12.
Grant Opportunity at a Glance
Who is eligible? Any North Carolina public school unit (PSU) that includes a high school serving students in grades 9–12 may apply.
How much funding is available? A total of $250,000 in nonrecurring funding is available statewide for the 2026–2027 school year. NCDPI may award up to $10,000 per participating high school team.
What can grant funds support? Grant funds may be used for:
- Coach stipends, including up to $2,500 for one lead coach and $1,500 for one assistant coach
- Fees associated with participation in speech and debate leagues or competitions
- Travel to and from speech and debate competitions
What are the program requirements? Teams receiving grant funds must participate in both the Tarheel Forensic League and the National Speech and Debate Association.
What will be prioritized? Funding will be awarded through a competitive process, with consideration given to applications that support access, broad geographic representation, economically disadvantaged student populations, and a clear plan for measuring the program's impact on academic achievement and other student outcomes.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: September 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET
Anticipated Award Notification: No later than October 31, 2026
PSUs will submit one application on behalf of participating high schools. The application will be submitted through the Google Form provided to PSU leaders.
We encourage interested PSUs to review the Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program Guidance & Planning Document carefully before applying. The document includes eligibility requirements, allowable uses of funds, application guidance, evaluation rubrics, budget requirements, and other information to support the development of a competitive proposal.
Important Links
This grant provides an exciting opportunity to expand student access to speech and debate experiences that strengthen communication, engagement, academic learning, and student voice.
Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov and details are posted in the Grants section on the Office of Teaching and Learning page.
NC Competency-Based Education Innovation Grant Program
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the North Carolina Competency-Based Education (CBE) Innovation Grant Program, a new multi-year opportunity designed to support schools ready to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment through competency-based education.
Through this competitive grant program, 10 North Carolina schools will be selected to receive $330,000 each to support the planning and implementation of competency-based education models.
About the Opportunity
The CBE Innovation Grant Program is designed to support schools and districts in transitioning to educational models that focus on mastery of learning rather than instructional time. Participating schools will explore innovative approaches that provide students with more personalized learning pathways, flexible opportunities to demonstrate mastery, and rigorous learning experiences grounded in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
The initiative will focus on four key areas:
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Redesigning learning pathways to support personalized learning and flexible student progression
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Innovating assessment practices, including formative and performance-based approaches that measure student mastery
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Building educator capacity through sustained professional learning and implementation support
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Developing strategies and promising practices that can inform the expansion of competency-based education across North Carolina
Funding
NCDPI will award grants to 10 participating schools, with each selected school receiving $330,000 over the life of the program.
Participating schools will use $95,000 each applicable school year for training on the implementation of competency-based education. Remaining grant funds may support costs associated with the transition to CBE, including travel and competency-based education resources.
Who May Apply?
The grant program is open to all North Carolina public school units.
NCDPI will prioritize schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to competency-based education and assessment innovation and show readiness to undertake this significant instructional transformation.
Program Timeline
The initiative is a multi-year commitment.
2026–2027: Planning and preparation
2027–2028: Implementation begins
2028–2030: Continued implementation, learning, evaluation, and refinement
June 30, 2030: Grant funding and services conclude
Selected schools will participate in professional learning, technical assistance, collaborative learning opportunities, monitoring, evaluation, and quarterly progress reporting throughout the initiative.
Important Application Dates
Application Deadline: October 18, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Tentative State Board of Education Approval: December 2026
Interested PSUs are strongly encouraged to review the North Carolina Competency-Based Education Initiative Guidance & Planning Document and application materials carefully before beginning a proposal.
Important Links
This opportunity is intended for schools ready to engage in meaningful, sustained work to rethink how students experience learning, demonstrate mastery, and progress toward rigorous academic expectations.
Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov and details are posted at the bottom of the Grants section on the Office of Teaching and Learning page.
Connect with the NCDPI DL/I and World Languages Teams
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
Email Dr. Ann Marie Gunter, K-12 World Languages Consultant
Go to the World Languages Resources Hub: go.ncdpi.gov/WLresources
See the NCDPI World Languages Networking page at go.ncdpi.gov/WLnetworking
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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