American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) AI Leadership Working Group Opportunity
The AAPT AI Leadership Working Group is looking for 10 educators (K–12, TYC, Higher Ed) for a 1-year action-research project on AI in physics education.
- Travel support: Up to $1,800 reimbursement to the AAPT Winter Meeting
- Kickoff: Jan 8–11 in New Orleans
- No prior AI technical expertise is required. We are looking for a range of experiences with AI!
Deadline: October 12
AQ-IQ Contest for North Carolina 7th Grade Students
 Hello 7th grade Educators, and welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
As you are creating lesson plans and preparing for the year ahead, what better way to get your students involved in REAL WORLD learning AND introduce a new PROJECT-BASED activity than a STATEWIDE CONTEST that meets the North Carolina Science Standards!
Each year the North Carolina Division of Air Quality invites 7th grade students to participate in the AQ-IQ Contest which combines S.T.E.A.M. education and project-based learning with student creativity to teach air pollution science to students across the state. The contest gives these students an opportunity to learn about air quality and think about solutions to air pollution and put THEM in charge of creating a project to educate others about an air quality problem.
The AQ-IQ contest allows students to explore their interests and strengths while engaging with the material and learning about air quality. Students are asked to think creatively while designing their projects. Past projects have been posters, videos, Minecraft creations, games, and artistic projects off all sorts!
Each year the AQ-IQ Contest highlights special topic areas with additional recognition because they highlight current air quality challenges, successes, and educational goals. The topics for 2026-2027 contest are:
From the Directors Office: 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act (Enacted June 20, 2002) - Celebration is near! On June 20, 2027, we will be celebrating 25 years of the NC Clean Smokestacks Act. The NC Clean Smokestacks Act was created to cut air pollution from the state’s coal fired power plants. This helped create cleaner air, removed haze from the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, and improved the health of all North Carolinians. Help us celebrate clean air through your project.
In the news: Wildfire Smoke: Impacts of wildfire smoke on air quality and health – Cough. Cough. "Did you know wildfire smoke can travel far beyond the location of the fire?" Explore how wildfire smoke is made, investigate how it changes the air quality as it travels, and discover why certain pollutants can pose risk to human health.
Camera, Lights, Action, Sing! Air pollution in song and film – We’re looking for projects that bring all the drama to the big DEQ screen. Whether you are singing an original air quality song, acting out a skit about an air quality challenge, or filming your own air quality news, we want to see all your creativity and learn about how we can work to keep the air clean for all.
Air Quality Acronyms – Give me a “A”, Give me a “I”, Give me a “R”, what does that stand for? AIR. This special topic explores acronyms commonly found in an Air Quality specialist’s vocabulary. From AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and NAAQS, there are many acronyms used to help scientists and communities understand what’s in the air, and how it affects health and the environment. Explore the meaning of one, or a few, of these acronyms and develop your own creative way to help others understand these important air-quality terms.
Winners will be recognized at a REGIONAL and STATEWIDE level and will receive AWESOME prizes!
This year, projects are due to the NC Division of Air Quality by March 8, 2027! So, PLENTY of time for students to make the most amazing project!
For details about how to enter, general information and past project examples, please visit the NC Environmental Education webpage. This is a great resource to utilize as your students are starting to work on their projects (“How To” Guide for Teachers and Students, examples of past projects, Submission link, AND SO MUCH MORE!)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Keith Bamberger at keith.bamberger@deq.nc.gov, or Janina Millis at janina.millis@deq.nc.gov.
Instructional Resources
The Multilingual Multimodal Science Inventory (M2-Si)
 The Multilingual Multimodal Science Inventory (M2-Si)Links to an external site. is a collaborative project between NCDPI and the Center for Applied LinguisticsLinks to an external site.. M2-Si is a research-based e-portfolio assessment that educators can use to adjust instruction. It is intended to increase proficiency of students in grades 3-5 science. The assessment design centers multilingual students and supports educators in understanding what students know and can do in science, not just what students know and can do in science in English. Each activity is designed so that students may interact and respond in using all and any of their linguistic resources. Activities are also designed so that students can use other expressive modalities such as drawing, recording digital audio or video files, or making models.
Each activity is aligned with standards and objectives in the 2023 North Carolina Standard Course of Study, K-12 Science.
We invite you to explore our innovative e-portfolio infused with multilingual and multimodal supports. You’ll leave with classroom-ready resources and best practices for implementation.
M2-Si Activities
Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™
The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program is pleased to share new and updated curriculum resources that help students learn about environmental health and lead in drinking water through engaging, classroom-ready lessons. As part of North Carolina’s effort to address lead and asbestos hazards in public schools and licensed child care facilities, the program provides educational resources that support healthy learning environments and increase awareness of environmental health topics.
The refreshed curriculum features free K-12 lessons, activities, and Project-Based Learning Units, organized by grade band and designed for use across disciplines, in social studies, ELA, math, and science. To support multi-cultural learning communities, many resources are available in Spanish.
Educators are invited to explore the updated curriculum and discover ready-to-use resources that can enhance instruction, engage students in real-world learning, and support the lead exposure prevention work that’s been ongoing in North Carolina schools through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program, and in programs across the country.
Please share this opportunity with educators and school staff across your network.
K-12 Science Standards Resource Hub
 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.
The Periodic Table of the Elements, Biology Reference Table - Amino Acid Sequence Chart, Chemistry Reference Table, and Physical Science Reference Table are updated to use for classroom instruction and assessment. You will find links to them in the K-12 Science Support Documents section on the K-12 Science Resource Hub. You can also click on the individual buttons below for faster access.
Awards, Grants, and Other Opportunities
North Carolina Science Curriculum Collaborative
The Science House is looking for a small cohort of North Carolina middle school science educators to help us develop classroom-ready, research-based instructional units aligned with the NC Science Standards. We have the foundation and resources in place. Now we need thoughtful, creative classroom teachers to help us turn them into cohesive, practical units using modeling that we can share freely with science teachers across North Carolina.
This is a stipend opportunity. Selected educators will learn about modeling instruction, work in grade-level teams to review and curate existing resources, develop and refine lessons, and help create materials designed with real classrooms and real students in mind.
Our in-person collaborative work days will be held from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on:
- December 15
- February 23
- April 21
- Fourth collaborative date TBD
Participants will also collaborate virtually with their teams between sessions.
We are looking for educators who are passionate about student-centered science instruction, collaboration, and making great teaching resources accessible to educators across our state. Previous Modeling Instruction training is preferred, but it is not required to apply.
You don't need to be a professional curriculum writer. We want great teachers who know what works with students and are willing to bring their ideas, experience, and teacher perspective to the table.
Applications are due November 16.
We hope you'll consider joining us!
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Toshiba America Foundation STEM Grant: Grades 6-12
Office of Teaching and Learning: News & Updates
2026-2027 OTL Statewide Professional Learning
The NCDPI Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) provides leadership and support for the review, revision, installation, and implementation of the NC Standard Course of Study, which includes resources and professional learning for providing high-quality, standards-aligned core instruction for every K–12 student.
Use this guide to register for professional learning and access newly released resources during the 2026- 2027 school year.
ML/Title III Webinar Series
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.
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:
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
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
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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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