Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
1/20/16 9:14 AM
Weekly Message + State Superintendent June Atkinson
North Carolina Public Schools <NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com>
Tue 1/19/2016 6:48 PM
To: Lynda
Fuller <Lynda.Fuller@dpi.nc.gov>;
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Jan. 19, 2016
As many of you are aware, we initiated student surveys for the fall
semester. The student survey provides one more tool for improving
instruction.
In terms of the student surveys, please share the information tools
available online to provide additional information about the student
survey. Your Human Resources directors should have received an
email Jan. 7 from Tom Tomberlin, director of Educator Human
Capital Policy and Research, noting that NCDPI automated the
student-teacher assignments from PowerSchool course enrollment
data.
Even for districts that opted not to participate in the student survey
process this year, the student survey icon will be active in
PowerSchool for all students during each district’s scheduled administration window. There is a
possibility that students will complete the surveys even if the district has elected not to participate
formally. If we receive data from school districts that have elected not to participate, we will notify the
district that data are available and allow the district to make a decision about whether those data will be
shared with teachers and principals. NCDPI will not report or analyze student survey data without the
expressed consent of the district.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Educator Effectiveness, Jennifer DeNeal or Tom
Tomberlin.
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAIr5OH3AAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=77&ispopout=1
Page 1 of 5
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
1/20/16 9:14 AM
Omnibus Spending Act and School
Nutrition Programs
The Omnibus Spending Act, a sweeping $1.1 trillion spending deal
passed by Congress in December, continued the provision that
gives schools more flexibility on whole grain rich foods and blocks
future sodium restrictions until there is more scientific research to back those limits.
NCDPI School Nutrition Services Section Chief Lynn Harvey said this is a HUGE provision for school
nutrition programs in North Carolina that need these (and other) flexibilities in order to provide nutritious,
appealing, affordable meals to students AND operate financially sustainable programs.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization will resume in early February. We will keep you informed as more
information becomes available.
Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Completion of Readiness Instrument
This week, NCDPI’s MTSS Team sent the link to the MTSS
Readiness Instrument with a district submission date of March 4. A
key component in establishing readiness is a well functioning
district leadership team. In a Multi-Tiered System of Support, this
team exists and regularly meets to problem-solve student outcome data, both academics and behavior,
as well as implementation of key initiatives.
This team includes perspectives from multiple district leaders, such as curriculum specialists,
instructional coaches, program coordinators, directors, assistant superintendents and the
superintendent.
For more information on the Statewide System of Support Teaming Structures, visit Teaming Structures
on the MTSS wikispace. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Jablonski.
Implementation Science: A New Way of Work
Using the principles of implementation science helps staff effectively select, begin, evaluate and sustain
new initiatives. NCDPI has partnered with the State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based
Practices Center (SISEP) to increase capacity for implementation and scale-up of department initiatives
to maximize students' academic and social outcomes. View this brief video to learn more.
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAIr5OH3AAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=77&ispopout=1
Page 2 of 5
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
1/20/16 9:14 AM
The Office of Early Learning (OEL) is partnering with school districts across the state using
implementation science principles to scale-up the NC K-3 Formative Assessment process. Nine school
districts are early innovators, leading the way in this effort, as they apply this new way of work (using
implementation science principles) to scale up the NC K-3 Formative Assessment process: CharlotteMecklenburg, Chatham, Clinton City, Dare, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, Harnett, Iredell-Statesville, Swain
and Winston-Salem/Forsyth.
Middle School Math Summit a Success
NCDPI hosted a Middle School Math Summit in Greensboro on Jan. 13. Four hundred people attended
this important event including district leaders, math coaches, specialists, administrators and lead
teachers from 102 of the115 LEAs.
District leaders examined cohort data by math domain and conceptual category while math content
leaders attended three modules specific to middle school standards. The focus for the day was on
building teacher and student capacity in middle grades' mathematics.
The math content sessions will be repeated twice at the Collaborative Conference for Student
Achievement (CCSA) in March (see next item). One will be open to only charter schools and will be at no
charge. The other one will be for registered participants of CCSA.
Early Registration Deadline Extended
for Home Base Symposium
The 2016 Home Base Symposium is less than a month away!
The deadline for early registration has been extended to Friday, Jan. 29. The Sheraton Greensboro
Hotel also has agreed to extend its rate deadline for the block of rooms reserved for the Symposium
until the 29th as well.
We are expanding the focus of this year’s Symposium to include course offerings across the Home
Base Suite. Expect new content, the latest and upcoming updates, presenters from PowerSchool,
Home Base (including field staff), and so much more.
All-day strands for PowerSchool, Schoolnet, Truenorthlogic and Canvas will be offered from field
experts. The latest updates and sneak-peaks will be showcased throughout the sessions. New
functionality on the 9.2 upgrade, which includes sessions on the New Gradebook and Data
Visualizations, will be presented by PowerSchool. These sessions are not just for PowerSchool users,
but for any user that supports classroom teachers. Other sessions will include Google Apps for
Education integration, a BloomBoard & OCT overview, and what is to come with NCEdCloud and IAM.
You don't want to miss this opportunity. Plan on attending, bring a well-rounded team, cull the
information offered, and return to your district bursting with fresh, new ways to utilize Home Base.
More Symposium information including online registration and hotel accommodations is available
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAIr5OH3AAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=77&ispopout=1
Page 3 of 5
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
1/20/16 9:14 AM
online.
2016 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement
The 2016 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA) will be held March 21-23 at the
Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. The conference features
a gallery of professional development and information sessions for educators, policy makers, innovators
and community members with an interest in innovative practices to improve educational outcomes for
today’s students and tomorrow’s.
The conference features 250 sessions with tracks for K-12 learning standards, K-12 online and blended
learning structures, policy, research, accountability, student engagement and more.
Event details, including registration and hotel accommodations, are available on the CCSA website.
Champions for Excellence in Public Education
Do you know a champion for excellence in teaching and learning? During the 2016 CCSA, the
Department of Public Instruction will recognize individuals who in many ways are champions for
excellence in teaching and learning.
The purpose of the Champion Award is to share our collective belief in the power of public education
and to celebrate everything that is right about our local schools and the people who make it so,
everyday. Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 31 so nominate someone today!
Principal READY: Principal and Charter Leaders
Discuss Collaborative Learning
Listen as principals and charter leaders discuss the importance of building strong
learning teams, learn to have hard conversations with staff, use data to improve
school improvement, and structure coaching conversations for instructional change. Also hear what
leaders are saying about statewide collaborative professional learning. This video is available online.
NC Reading Conference Scheduled for March
The 2016 NC Reading Conference will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center on March 13 - 15.
Geared to teachers and administrators, this year's conference offers sessions by NCDPI staff, nationally
recognized professional speakers and authors, college professors, classroom teachers and specialists.
Session topics include:
* preparing school literacy leaders in the 21st century
* best practices for implementing the current ELA NC Standard Course of Study Standards
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAIr5OH3AAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=77&ispopout=1
Page 4 of 5
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
1/20/16 9:14 AM
* integration of the ELA standards ( Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language) as well as
across content areas
* the best digital tools in the classroom
* supporting students in text complexity and close reading
* involving parents/community to increase student reading achievement
* proactive techniques to reduce discipline issues schoolwide
* strategies for teaching academic vocabulary
Educators may earn up to 1.5 reading CEUs. Discounted registration is available before Feb. 15. Visit
the NC Reading Association website for registration and detailed program information.
Latest Messages Online
Jan. 14, 2016 Teachers’ Biweekly Newsletter
Jan. 14, 2016 Home Base Biweekly Newsletter
Jan. 15, 2016 Finance Officers’ Newsletter
Stay Connected with North Carolina Public Schools:
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions | Help
This email was sent to lynda.fuller@dpi.nc.gov using GovDelivery, on behalf of: North Carolina Public Schools · 301 N. Wilmington
St. · Raleigh, NC 27601
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAIr5OH3AAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=77&ispopout=1
Page 5 of 5