Number 10

EdNC: "Playlab Launches Inaugural Cohort in NC, Partnering With School Districts to Help Educators and Students Design Custom AI Tools"

"In late September, leaders from school districts across North Carolina huddled around tables at the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in Raleigh. With laptops open, principals and district administrators set to work designing custom artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help address specific challenges they face in their roles.

One built a tool to help coach teachers through a thorough Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) data review; another designed a tool to help IT staff resolve help desk tickets effectively. In each instance, participants drafted custom instructions and uploaded reference materials to guide the tool.

This work was made possible by Playlab — a national nonprofit working to ensure educators and students have the agency to not just use AI, but to shape it.

Supported by funding from The Leon Levine Foundation, an inaugural cohort of eight school districts and one charter school in North Carolina will partner with Playlab this school year to help teachers and students build custom AI tools together. The cohort includes:

• Ashe County Schools
• Catawba County Schools
• Henderson Collegiate
• Hertford County Public Schools
• Johnston County Public Schools
• Martin County Schools
• Orange County Schools
• Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
• Wake County Public School System"

Read the full article here. 

Number 9

Project Kitty Hawk Offers No-Cost Support for District Projects

Oftentimes districts have important projects that are delayed due to limited staff capacity or time. Project Kitty Hawk, a nonprofit affiliate of the UNC System, can help move that work forward.

Working on behalf of multiple UNC System universities, Project Kitty Hawk connects districts with university-trained students for short-term projects, typically lasting three to eight weeks. Districts define the need and scope, and participating universities identify students whose coursework aligns with the project. Support is available year-round at no cost to districts and requires no long-term commitment.

Potential projects may include analyzing data, improving operations, strengthening cybersecurity practices or researching new opportunities.

To discuss a district’s needs, contact Lynne Barbour, vice president of workforce, at lgbarbour@projectkittyhawk.com or visit the Project Kitty Hawk Workforce Solutions webpage.

Number 8

Statewide Professional Development Opportunities for 2026-27 Available

Statewide professional development from NCDPI’s Office of Teaching and Learning for 2026-27 is now available online. The catalog includes information about upcoming webinars, in-person events and resources for each content area. Be sure to check back regularly for updates.

Find learning opportunities, registration information and more here.

Number 7

Apply for Go Outside Grant - Field Trip Funding

Go Outside Grants are now open for FY 27. North Carolina educators can apply for up to $5,000 to fund field trips that connect students with outdoor learning experiences and hands-on education.

North Carolina public and private K-12 schools and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Grant funding supports trips to parks, recreation areas, outdoor education centers, historical sites and other destinations that include an outdoor learning component.

The grant cycle will end on May 31. Learn more and apply here. 

Number 6

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.:
🗓️ 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 5

WRAL: "NC Wants Students to Read 10 Million Books, as Reading for Fun Drops"

"North Carolina school leaders are challenging the state's children to read 10 million books in 2027, after nearly two decades of decline in the percentage of students nationally who say they regularly read for fun.

Reading for fun is associated with higher test scores in reading. It's a subject area that North Carolina and the nation has posted more middling results in over the past decade, though the state recently posted some improvements in reading proficiency.

The 10 Million Book Challenge will launch in January and last the calendar year. Nearly every school district and 53 charter schools so far plan to participate.

That's roughly seven books per student, among the roughly 1.5 million students in the state's traditional public and charter school students. The challenge will promote novels, picture books, graphic novels, plays and audiobooks. For students who need an accommodation, schools can offer alternative text suggestions."

Read the full article here. 

Number 4

District Highlight: Polk County Schools - "Future Teacher Program Gives Polk Students Early Pathway into Education Careers"

"Polk County Early College senior Bonnie Bailey is getting an early look at what it means to work in education – not from a textbook, but inside a Polk County school.

Bailey is the first student to participate in Polk County Schools’ developing Future Teacher Program, an initiative designed to give local high school students meaningful experience in education before they choose a college or career path.

This fall, Bailey is completing her internship at Sunny View Elementary School, where she will spend the semester learning alongside educators and working with students under the mentorship of principal Ronette Dill and school counselor and administrative intern Monica Barber.

By semester’s end, Bailey will have completed 140 hours of internship experience.

The program is part of Polk County Schools’ effort to 'Grow Our Own' future educators by introducing students with local roots to careers in teaching, counseling and other areas of education.

District leaders say the effort is particularly important as schools across North Carolina continue working to recruit and retain educators."

Read the full story from Polk County Schools here. 

Number 3

North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Accepting Applications for 2027-28

The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Early Action application is officially open!

Students interested in becoming educators can apply through Nov.1 and receive their Early Action decision in December. The regular decision application window will open Jan. 4. 

North Carolina Teaching Fellows receive up to $5,000 per semester in forgivable loans while preparing to teach in North Carolina. Fellows also gain classroom experience, enrichment opportunities and a community of future educators and mentors.

Learn more and apply here. 

Number 2

EdNC Perspective Piece: "Gov. Stein Celebrates NC College Connect in Wilmington"

"Gov. Josh Stein visited Laney High School in Wilmington on Sept. 15, the day that portals opened for North Carolina students eligible for NC College Connect.

He commemorated the day by sitting with students and talking to them about the opportunity presented by the program.

'On this day, many people are going to learn a whole bunch of schools to which they’ve been accepted to admission for next year,' he said. 'And they didn’t even have to apply to do it.'

NC College Connect is a program that directly admits North Carolina public high school seniors who are on track to graduate, have a weighted 2.8 GPA or higher, are enrolled in a fourth-level math, and meet program requirements of participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities, and their local North Carolina community college.

Students without a 2.8 GPA who are on track to graduate will be directly admitted to their local community college.

Stein described the program as an 'innovative way to smooth the transition from' high school and help students on their path to the future.

'What we’re trying to do is make it easy for you to find opportunities and options here in the state because we want you to stay here and we want you to succeed,' he said."

Read the full perspective piece from associate director of communications for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, Alex Granados, here. 

Number 1

NCDPI Awarded $7.5 Million to Expand Project AWARE

"The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has been awarded a $7.5 million, five-year Project AWARE grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to strengthen school behavioral health systems and expand access to mental health supports for students.

The 2026–2031 award will bring Project AWARE Cohort 3 to Ashe County Schools, Carteret County Public Schools and Person County Schools. The initiative will support comprehensive, three-tiered school behavioral health systems focused on prevention and early intervention, access to treatment, crisis response, workforce development, family and youth engagement, and partnerships with community behavioral health providers.

'This new investment allows us to build on eight years of Project AWARE work in North Carolina while helping three additional communities develop sustainable systems that support student mental health and well-being,' said Dr. Heidi E. Austin, NC Project AWARE/ACTIVATE Director.

Project AWARE supports the work of NCDPI and the State Board of Education outlined in Pillar 4: Ensure Healthy, Safe and Secure Learning Environments of their strategic plan, Achieving Educational Excellence. It provides funding for projects that support a comprehensive approach to school mental health, connects students and families to services, and strengthens prevention and crisis-response systems."

Read the full press release here.