Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
10/1/15 1:52 PM
Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message
North Carolina Public Schools <NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com>
Thu 10/1/2015 1:18 PM
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To: Lynda
Fuller <Lynda.Fuller@dpi.nc.gov>;
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Oct. 1, 2015
In October, the schools participating in the Proof of Concept study
of a potential new model for end-of-grade assessments will give the
first shorter assessment to their fifth and sixth grade students.
While only 80 schools and approximately 9,000 students are
participating in the Proof of Concept study, we expect to learn a
great deal about the use of “through the year” assessments rather
than relying so heavily on one, longer end-of-grade assessment at
the end of the school year. Even if your school is not involved, it is
helpful if principals across the state know this work is underway.
The goal of the new model is to provide teachers with more
immediate feedback collected through four shorter assessments
throughout the year while still collecting key student academic
performance information for accountability purposes. If this model
proves to be a good one, local benchmark or interim assessments
would be replaced by the new shorter state assessments. Also, the Proof of Concept study
assessments are given in a less high-stress environment.
We will keep you informed as this work moves forward.
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Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
10/1/15 1:52 PM
State Board of Education Highlights
At this morning’s Board meeting, members received reports on
third grade performance under Read to Achieve and teacher
turnover in 2014-15.
Members approved the state’s READY Accountability results for
2014-15, the list of schools and districts identified as low
performing, guidelines for academically or intellectually gifted
programs, Read to Achieve local alternative assessments, and
requests for approval from two charter schools to be funded as dropout prevention and recovery
programs.
Board members also recognized Guilford County Schools’ The Early/Middle College at Bennett for
receiving the 2015 National Schools of Character Award and three Guilford County schools for receiving
the 2015 North Carolina Schools of Character State Award: Brooks Global Studies Elementary, James
Y. Joyner Elementary and The Early/Middle College at Bennett.
A complete list of Board actions will be available online Friday afternoon.
Principal READY Sessions Launch in
November
The fall Principal READY meetings are currently scheduled
regionally in November and December.
The 2014-15 Educator Evaluation System data, new legislation, Analysis of Student Work (ASW), and
student surveys are topics that will be covered in these sessions. Participants will interact with various
data points including EVAAS and student growth data using a PLN framework. Breakout sessions are
differentiated and focus on needs of principals in each region based on feedback shared with Service
Support Teams.
You may register online beginning Oct. 5.
Math Updates
NCDPI’s Mathematics team has released updated Notes and Unpacking Guides for teachers of Math I,
II and III as well as updated Indicators for Pre-Calculus, Discrete and AFM fourth courses. Teachers of
Math I, II and III will find updated clarifications on the Notes here.
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Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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Teachers of AFM, Discrete and Pre-Calculus: Indicators for Advanced Functions & Modeling, Discrete
Math and Precalculus have been added to the HS Math Wiki Page under Instructional Resources. These
documents, which include a list of vocabulary, skills, concepts and examples, are intended to help
teachers plan instruction for students in these 4th level math courses. Word and pdf versions of the
documents are included here.
Both of these resources were created and/or updated in collaboration with the NC DPI Accountability
Services Department and the Testing Section. If you have any questions, please contact one of our
secondary consultants Joseph Reaper or Lisa Ashe.
K-2 Math Assessments have been updated and revised. They are currently being vetted and will be
available in October. If you have any questions, please contact one of NCDPI’s elementary consultants
Denise Schulz or Kitty Rutherford.
Don’t Freak Out, ShakeOut!
Earthquakes in North Carolina are not usually severe, but they do happen. In fact, our state has had 14
minor earthquakes already this year. It only takes a few minutes to practice three simple steps – drop,
cover and hold on – that can keep your students and faculty safe.
North Carolina, along with six other Southeastern states, will participate in the Great Southeast
Shakeout on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10:15 a.m. We hope you’ll join us in the fourth annual earthquake drill
and take time to practice earthquake safety.
To learn more or register, visit the Great ShakeOut website and share that you are committed to
practicing earthquake safety in your school.
NCDPI Provides EdTech Platform for
Teachers
How effective are the instructional technology tools teachers will use this school year? How do teachers
know which technology products are best for their classrooms?
Thanks to a partnership with LearnTrials.com, NCDPI is providing a time-saving way for teachers to
connect with their professional learning communities, see what teachers in their school or across the
state are using to get results, share their thoughts and questions, and discover the products that are
best for their classroom.
NCDPI values every teacher's expertise, so please encourage your teachers to share their real
experience with any digital learning tool online. Their insights will not only help their professional
learning communities and other educators, but will help NCDPI staff make better decisions about the
tools and resources we provide to NC educators.
LearnTrials.com is a research-backed, online platform that combines verified educator insights with
multiple data sources to help educators make informed decisions when they try, buy and use education
technology. We hope you will encourage your teachers to visit the Education Technology Management
Platform website and share their feedback, find thousands of useful insights from verified educators,
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Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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connect with fellow educators to share products and best practices, and discover the digital tools that
are best for their classrooms.
America's Legislators Back to School
Program
America's Legislators Back to School Program, sponsored by the
National Conference of State Legislatures, kicked off Sept. 14 and
will run throughout the school year.
Educators are encouraged to extend invitations to their local representatives to visit and talk with
students about the legislative process and what it’s like to be a state legislator: the processes, the
pressures, and the debate - the negotiation and compromise that are the fabric of representative
democracy. Classroom discussions are being encouraged over school-wide assemblies.
North Carolina has actively participated in the America’s Legislators Back to School program since its
inception in 1999.
STEM Funding Opportunities Available
Many grant opportunities are offered to educators, students and
schools to enhance STEM education. Grants are offered on
national, regional and state levels.
Visit the NC STEM Center website to learn more.
Latest Messages Online
Sept. 24, 2015 Teachers’ Biweekly Message
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Oct. 1, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message - Lynda Fuller
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