Sept. 3, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message
9/6/15 3:57 PM
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Sept. 3, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message
North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/03/2015 02:38 PM EDT
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Sept. 3, 2015
Yesterday the State Board of Education received the annual
READY School Accountability report reflecting your schools’ and
students’ performance for the 2014-15 school year.
For the 10th consecutive year, North Carolina’s high school
graduation rate continued to improve and is now at a high mark of
85.4 percent. In addition, more than 72 percent of North Carolina
schools met or exceeded expected growth during last year, a
strong sign of the commitment of teachers and students to
learning.
For the second consecutive year, North Carolina public schools
(including charter schools) received School Performance Grades
(A-F grades). For the first time, some schools received A+NG
grades signifying that they met the requirements for a letter grade
of A and also did not have any performance gaps larger than the state’s largest average gap. This
distinction is required to comply with federal requirements regarding a state’s highest designation for
school performance.
In my comments to news media and others, I reiterated the challenges that you face in serving
students in a time of budget uncertainty and also the relationship that persists between schools with
high poverty rates and low school performance grades. I know that you and your faculties make a
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Sept. 3, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message
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difference in the lives of your students every day – in ways that are reflected in the accountability model
and also in ways that cannot be measured by any test.
State Board of Education Meeting
Highlights
At their September State Board of Education meeting, members
received reports on 2014-15 Accountability Data, School
Performance Grades, Cohort Graduation Rates and Career and
Technical Education Credentials earned during the previous school
year. Members approved the Digital Learning Report, funded
Average Daily Membership for charter schools with approved
dropout prevention and recovery programs, and Read to Achieve local alternative assessments. Board
members also discussed Global Educator Digital Badge requirements, revisions to CTE Essential
Standards and guidelines for Academically or Intellectually Gifted programs. A complete list of Board
actions will be available later today on the State Board of Education website.
Welcome Back!
Greetings, colleagues! I hope you enjoyed your summer!
Across the state, school has begun and our students have returned to us with
much excitement and anticipation. We share in their excitement about returning
to school as we prepare to provide each of them with high-quality instruction.
Despite the many challenges we are facing in public education, particularly in North Carolina, it is
critical as school leaders we continue to keep the best interests of our students at the forefront of our
decision-making. Remaining in constant contact with our legislators about how their decision-making
impacts schools is necessary more now than ever.
I would like to challenge you to do four things to make this a successful year:
1. Tell everyone you meet how proud you are to be an educator in North Carolina public schools.
2. Showcase the wonderful things you are doing in your schools to educate children.
3. Treat your teachers extra special and keep them motivated by reminding them that their work is
valued and they are appreciated.
4. Lastly, remember that despite the odds that seem stacked against us, you are making a difference!
The days ahead of us are full and bright! Have a great 2015-16 school year!
Steve Lassiter, principal, Pactolus School, and 2015 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year
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Be Aware and Prepare: September is North Carolina
Preparedness Month
Emergencies can occur at any time and in any place – even at school. That’s why Gov. McCrory has
proclaimed September as North Carolina Preparedness Month – to encourage residents to take simple
steps to prepare for emergencies at home, work or school. Faculty, staff, students and parents need to
know what to do should severe weather or another emergency interrupt a normal school day. Four
simple steps – make a plan, practice your plan, have an emergency supplies kit, and stay informed –
can make all of the difference. For details, visit www.ReadyNC.org.
Multi-Tiered System of Support Update
MTSS Cohort Blended Learning Course Scheduled. MTSS is a
multi-tiered framework that promotes school improvement through
engaging, research-based academic and behavioral practices.
The framework is designed to maximize growth for all students and
is based on the following critical components:
o Leadership
o Building the Capacity/Infrastructure for Implementation
o Communication and Collaboration
o Data-Based Problem Solving
o Three-Tiered Instruction/Intervention Model
o Data-Evaluation
Cohort 1 and 2 will experience the specially designed, cohort-blended learning, which focuses on
district teams establishing readiness for implementation, as well as the development and assessment
of core academic and behavioral practices. Additional professional development for all other LEAs,
charters and state-operated programs is planned to strategically facilitate the development of the six
critical components. The first session, focused on district teams and school leaders, is being offered in
six different locations, beginning in October. All LEAs, charters and state-operated programs will be
invited to participate in a MTSS Cohort Blended Learning Course.
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Contacts. The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a
framework supporting and impacting the work of multiple areas and has been adopted by NCDPI as
the structure for framing overall work and support.
MTSS now reports to NCDPI Chief Academic and Digital Learning Officer Tracy Weeks. It previously
was a section within the K-12 Curriculum and Instruction Division. Additionally, four consultants from
the Exceptional Children Division have been re-allocated to the MTSS team, creating a team of eight
MTSS consultants. The work of this team, under the leadership of Amy Jablonski, is to build an
integrated academic and behavior system through an MTSS framework.
Initial professional development, technical assistance and coaching of MTSS will begin fall 2015 with
Cohort 1, and Cohort 2 in winter 2016. Statewide professional development opportunities for school
districts, charter schools and state operated programs not involved in Cohorts 1 and 2 are available
during the 2015-16 school year. Please visit the MTSS wiki for continuous updates.
Following is a list of the MTSS Team and contact information. The NCDPI MTSS Team looks forward to
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working with you!
Amy Jablonski, Director
Lynn Bailey, MTSS Consultant, Western
Angel Batts, MTSS, Consultant, Northeast
Beth Boggs, MTSS Consultant, Southwest
Angie Cloninger, MTSS Consultant, Southeast
Susan Laney, MTSS Consultant, Northwest
Amy Miller, MTSS Consultant, Piedmont-Triad
Correy Watkins, MTSS Consultant, Sandhills
Laura Winter, MTSS Consultant, North Central
National Board Certification Application Process Underway
The National Board Certification application process opened July 15. Interested teachers can
find information regarding this excellent form of professional development by visiting the NCDPI
National Board Certification website. This site includes detailed information on how to get started and
what to expect throughout the process. Also, feel free to reach out to your district coordinator. For more
information, please contact NC National Board Coordinator Sonja Brown.
NCVPS Fall Enrollment Largest Ever
The North Carolina Virtual Public School is experiencing its largest fall ever with over 26,500
enrollments. Regular registration continues through tomorrow, Sept. 4, while credit recovery
registration is open until Nov. 25. Schools can add to their existing Occupational Course of Study
courses throughout the semester.
NCPVS also accepts transfer students through Nov. 25. Transfer students must already be enrolled in
the course in the traditional classroom and have a grade to transfer in with. Transfers are not for
students new to a course, but work great for students who must go on homebound status, are
suspended, move in from another school, or have any unusual or unexpected scheduling problems.
Principal READY 2015
Video and Resources. Principal READY 2015 focused on
supporting instructional capacity through a strong, consistent
implementation of the North Carolina Educator Evaluation System.
Administrators worked in groups and collaborated with NCDPI staff to discuss the professional
standards and classroom observations and engaged in a tiered analysis of data and practice to
address performance of their school, PLCs, and individual teachers. The sessions focused on EVAAS,
NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey (NCTWCS), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
If you were unable to attend, please preview this video. Instructional materials and contact information
also are available online. Fall dates are in development and will be released in early September.
Universal Design for Learning: Video and Toolkit. Administrators, are your teachers using the
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Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to create lessons for students? Are you familiar with
this framework or want to learn more?
Principal READY 2015 offered strategies for coaching and supporting teachers by examining the
principles of UDL for individual student engagement while reducing instructional barriers. How teachers
adapt teaching practices to meet the individual needs of learners is addressed throughout The NC
Professional Teaching Standards and examples were discussed during the session.
Preview this video for a brief overview. Instructional materials and contact information also are
available online.
US Senate Youth Program Accepting Nominations
North Carolina Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis recently announced that the United States Senate
Youth Program (USSYP) has begun its annual statewide selection process.
Each year, the USSYP brings two students from each state, the District of Columbia and the
Department of Defense Education Activity to Washington (all expenses paid) to experience an intensive
week-long (March 5-12) educational program about the workings of the Senate and the federal
government overall. Student delegates also will receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship.
Delegates must be juniors or seniors and elected student officers for the 2015-16 academic year. The
2016 program brochure with detailed rules, selection process and the annual yearbook may be
accessed on the NC Senate Youth website. There also is a Senate Youth Q&A webinar scheduled for
Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 – 10 a.m. for interested students and parents.
All applications and entry materials must be submitted before Sunday, Oct. 4. Selected students will be
announced mid-December. Questions may be directed to NCDPI High School Social Studies Consultant
Michelle McLaughlin or by calling 919/807-3924.
Latest Messages Online
Aug. 27, 2015 Teachers’ Biweekly Message
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Sept. 3, 2015 Principals' Biweekly Message
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