 The New LIEP Template is Here!
The ML/Title III team is excited to share an important update to North Carolina’s Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) planning process for the 2027–28 school year.
The team has redesigned the annual LIEP template and accompanying guidance to help Public School Units (PSUs) more clearly describe how their programs support multilingual learners in developing English proficiency, accessing grade-level instruction, and achieving academic success.
The updated LIEP places greater emphasis on:
- Clearly defined LIEP models and levels of service, including frequency and duration
- Alignment of ELD and content instruction with the NC Standard Course of Study
- Coordinated services for MLs who also receive EC, AIG, and other academic supports
- Student, family, and community voice
- Professional learning and staff capacity
- Program evaluation, implementation accountability, and continuous improvement
- Clear coordination of Title I, Title III, and other funding sources, including supplement-not-supplant expectations
Why It Matters
The revised LIEP is designed to move beyond documenting what a PSU offers and provide a clearer picture of what is actually implemented, how implementation is monitored, and how the PSU knows its program is effective. The updated process also strengthens connections to the NCDPI ML/Title III Strategic Framework and 16 NCAC 06D .0106.
Tell Your Team
Completing the LIEP should be a collaborative process. ML/Title III coordinators are encouraged to begin identifying the staff who should contribute to the plan, including representatives from curriculum and instruction, federal programs, EC, AIG, school leadership, student services, and other relevant areas.
Action Steps
View the updated LIEP template and supporting resources to start planning. Please begin planning now for the collaboration, data collection, and local review needed to complete your PSU’s 2027–28 LIEP.
PSUs may begin submitting completed LIEPs in May, with final LIEPs due during the first week of June 2027.
Mark your calendars!
To support PSUs in understanding and completing the redesigned LIEP, NCDPI will offer regional professional learning sessions in January 2027 to support this transition on the following dates:
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January 13: Northeast:
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January 14: Southeast and Sandhills
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January 19: Piedmont-Triad
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January 20: West
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January 21: Northwest
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January 26: North Central- Chatham County
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January 27: Southwest
These sessions will provide an overview of the changes, dive deep into the new template and completion guidance, explore areas needing clarification, and prepare PSU teams for the submission process.
Stay tuned! Additional details, and registration information will be shared soon.
Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring multilingual learners across North Carolina have meaningful access to rigorous instruction and the language development support they need to thrive.
 Reminder: EL Headcount Due November 10th
The 2026-27 EL Headcount window closes November 10. While the official count is pulled directly from the Infinite Campus.
Verifying headcounts includes:
- Reviewing all student records included in the headcount
- Confirming the accuracy of the classification for each student
- Identifying and correcting any discrepancies prior to November 1st.
Please review the directions provided in these EL Headcount slides to guide you through the verification process and ensure accuracy before submission. If you have any questions, please email susan.walz@dpi.nc.gov
ACCESS Testing Pre-ID File Due November 13th Including Tier T Designations
NCDPI has begun preparing the PreID file for ACCESS 2027.
As a reminder, schools must identify eligible WIDA Alternate ACCESS students in Infinite Campus with a designation of Tier T prior to the NCDPI completing the PreID file transfer.
Detailed directions on adding the Tier T designation into a student’s record is provided here. Please collaborate with your EC teams and testing coordinators to assign these designations and ensure an accurate PreID file.
Fourth Annual ELD Recognition Award (ERA): Call for PSU Nominations
The nomination window for the annual English Language Development (ELD) Recognition Award (ERA) is opens this month!
The ERA recognizes exemplary North Carolina ESL/ML teachers whose dedication, instructional excellence, leadership, and advocacy make a meaningful difference in the lives of multilingual learners. This recognition supports the NC Strategic Plan's commitment to Revere Public School Educators and advances Principle 2 of the NCDPI ML/Title III Strategic Framework, Strengthen Core Instruction.
Each district and charter school is invited to select and submit one nominee for the 2026–27 ERA. PSUs have flexibility in establishing their local nomination and selection processes, including how candidates are identified and evaluated. We encourage you to involve colleagues and school leaders in recognizing outstanding ESL/ELD educators within your PSU.
Key Dates:
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October 26, 2026: Nomination period opens
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May 17, 2027: Deadline for PSU nominations to NCDPI
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June 2027: ERA recipient announced at the NCDPI ML/Title III Summer Conference
Resources and Submission:
Help us recognize and celebrate the exceptional educators who support North Carolina's multilingual learners. We look forward to learning about the outstanding ESL/ML teachers across our state!
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