TO:
NC Public School Principals
FROM: State Superintendent June Atkinson
DATE: Aug. 15, 2013
Last week, the latest graduation rate for our state was presented to the State Board of
Education, and I was pleased that North Carolina’s high school graduation rate is the
highest in state history, 82.5 percent. I know all of you read or heard this in the news,
but I mention it this week because each of you played a major role in helping these
students be successful and graduate from high school. Improving graduation rates is
not the role of high school educators alone. It begins in kindergarten and continues
every year. Elementary and middle school educators play a significant role in our
graduation rates. Some students decide to give up on school well before they make it to
9th grade. I know all of you have seen this occur. Thank you for this success in 2013. I
know this success depends on many factors, including resources for schools, and I
continue to make the point that investments from even 15 years ago are displayed in
the 2013 graduation rate. We must continue those investments if we want to see similar
positive results year after year.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals’ Message:
1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Class Size Modifications
3. General Assembly Requirements for Testing and Teacher Evaluation
4. Budget Bill Includes Changes to School Improvement Planning
5. Webinar Scheduled to Receive Feedback on the Common Exams and Roster
Verification
6. NCVPS Creates a "No-Show" Report Beginning this Fall
7. Informing Instructional Improvement Through Data Literacy
8. Resources for Differentiation, Global Awareness and Critical Thinking
9. New Services Available on NC WiseOwl
10. Apply Now for 2013-14 Green Ribbon Schools’ Award
11. NASA Sponsors Exploration Design Challenge
12. American History Teacher Award
1. State Board Meeting Highlights - At last week’s State Board of Education meeting,
members approved the 2012-13 Cohort Graduation Rate report which noted another
record high graduation rate of 82.5 percent, the proposed temporary waiver of the paid
employment graduation requirement for the Future-Ready Occupational Course of
Study, 21st Century Community Learning Center grants with modifications, and changes
to policy delineating the components of the READY Accountability model to include
Annual Measurable Objectives. Board members also heard a presentation from the
Governor’s Education Advisor Eric Guckian regarding the Governor’s position on
teacher salary issues and student assessments. As one of its final actions, members
approved the nomination of member Becky Taylor to represent the Board on the North
Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board. A summary of all Board action items is
available online at http://stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/highlights/2013.
2. Class Size Modifications - As you welcome your students to the 2013-14 school
year, please be aware that the General Assembly has changed the teacher allotment
ratios as part of the budget process; however, class size requirements in grades K-3
remain unchanged. Superintendents and principals are required to ensure that their
classes are in compliance with these requirements by the end of the 2 nd school month.
Following are the requirements for the 2013-14 school year:
Kindergarten through 3rd grade (no change from 2012-13)
- LEA average maximum 1:21
- Individual class maximum 1:24
Grades 4 through 12 (no change from 2012-13)
- No maximum class size in grades 4 through 12
In addition, there are no daily load maximums (previously 150 students for teachers in
grades 7-12).
Any questions related to this may be sent to Andrew Cox at Andrew.cox@dpi.nc.gov.
3. General Assembly Requirements for Testing and Teacher Evaluation Following is a summary of testing and teacher evaluation requirements passed by the
General Assembly during this year’s long session.
- Pay for Excellence Act, Section 9.5. Requires teacher evaluation system, including
student growth.
- 115C.83.11 - School Performance Grades, A-F. Requires achievement growth and
performance scores as well as inclusion of all necessary data into the Education ValueAdded Assessment System (EVAAS) in order to calculate school performance scores
and grades.
- 115C-325.3 - Teacher multiple year contracts depend on a teacher showing
“effectiveness as demonstrated by proficiency on the evaluation instrument...” (Teacher
Evaluation Instrument has six standards, one of which is student growth.)
- 115C-325.4 - Dismissal of teacher for inadequate performance
“Inadequate performance for a teacher shall mean ("i") the failure to perform at the
proficient level on any standard of the evaluation instrument or ("ii")
otherwise performing in a manner that is below standard.
- 115C-333.1 - Evaluation of teachers. “A local board shall use the performance
standards and the criteria adopted by the State Board and may adopt additional
evaluation criteria and standards.”
- 115C-325.13, Section 9.6(g). “Beginning September 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, all
superintendents shall review the performance and evaluation of all teachers who have
been employed by the local board of education for at least three consecutive
years. Based on these review, the superintendent shall identify and recommend to the
local board 25 percent of those teachers for four-year contracts. . . . The superintendent
shall not recommend . . . any teacher . . . unless that teacher has shown effectiveness
as demonstrated by proficiency on the teacher evaluation instrument.
4. Budget Bill Includes Changes to School Improvement Planning - Session Law
2013-360 (S402), Appropriations Act of 2013, includes language that changes state
school improvement planning laws. These changes are effective with the 2013-14
school year and will impact some of the content required in School Improvement Plans
(SIP). The NCDPI staff are analyzing these requirements now; the scheduled release of
an updated SIP guide and template planned for mid-August now will occur the first week
of September to ensure staff have time to integrate these legislative changes in the
revision. School Improvement Teams should continue their work on School
Improvement Plans; the changes are primarily focused on school safety requirements
and a few other clarifications. No changes to the guiding principles or to the
recommended planning process are involved. If you have further questions, please email Rob Hines at Rob.Hines@dpi.nc.gov.
5. Webinar Scheduled to Receive Feedback on the Common Exams and Roster
Verification - Principals are asked to share the following information with teachers. The
NCDPI and NC Association of Educators will host a webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from
4-5:30 p.m. to receive feedback on the 2012-13 administration of the Common Exams
and the Spring 2013 roster verification process. Teachers may register to participate at
http://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/251489857. Once you register, you will receive
an e-mail message with participation directions. If you have any questions in the interim,
please e-mail them to educatoreffectiveness@dpi.nc.gov.
6. NCVPS Creates a "No-Show" Report Beginning this Fall - NCVPS will no longer
drop students due to inactivity on day seven of courses. In order for you to choose the
best course of action for your students who do not log in or who have not participated,
the former policy of “Administrative Drops” is being suspended. Many of you have
expressed the need for special consideration with some students so we are replacing
our process with an informational “No-Show” report that will document student activity in
the first seven days. From this report, you will be able to make the decision to drop the
student or to follow up with him/her about participation. This report will be available
through the NCVPS registration system. For questions or further information, please
contact Adam Renfro (Adam.Renfro@ncpublicschools.gov) or Connie Joyner
(Connie.Joyner@ncpublicschools.gov) from the NCVPS School Support Team.
7. Informing Instructional Improvement Through Data Literacy - Informing
Instructional Improvement Through Data Literacy Wikispace pages are currently
providing educators with a five stage, cyclical process for data-driven decision-making.
A fillable fishbone diagram is available for download and can be used to identify causes
and effects in a classroom, school or district setting based on data analysis. A data
action plan template can be downloaded and used to develop a SMART goal, determine
specific strategies to be implemented, and identify data sources to be used to assess
goal achievement. Additional resources related to each of the five stages of the datadriven decision-making process also are available on the wikispace pages. The
Informing Instructional Improvement Through Data Literacy web pages can be found at
http://si2013.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Informing+Instructional+Improvement+Through+Data
+Literacy. For more information, please contact Lynne Johnson at
lynne.johnson@dpi.nc.gov or Lisa Amerson at lisa.amerson@dpi.nc.gov.
8. Resources for Differentiation, Global Awareness and Critical Thinking - Skills
students will need for college and career readiness include global awareness and
critical thinking - with and without technological tools. How widely are these embedded
within instructional delivery and learning? How often are teachers using data to
differentiate? Visit http://bit.ly/si2013p21 for resources to assist teachers with using the
framework for 21st century skills to differentiate instruction and meet the needs of all
learners. For more information, please contact Lynne Johnson at
lynne.johnson@dpi.nc.gov or Jessica Garner at Jessica.garner@dpi.nc.gov.
9. New Services Available on NC WiseOwl - The NCDPI Division of Digital Teaching
and Learning is pleased to announce new services are available on the NC WiseOwl
website. Due to changes in providers, we are now able to offer access to great
educational and professional databases, journals, newspaper articles and other
resources. This is in addition to almost 10,000 electronic books, and a primary source
database with millions of images, audio files, interactives and sound bytes. Want to
know more? Just visit www.ncwiseowl.org and click on the “New on WiseOwl” link. For
more information, please e-mail Dan Sparlin at dan.sparlin@dpi.nc.gov.
10. Apply Now for 2013-14 Green Ribbon Schools’ Award - It is time for districts’
and schools’ staff to begin preparing their applications for the U. S. Education
Department’s Green Ribbon Schools’ (GRS) award. The GRS award recognizes
schools and districts from across the United States that excel in three areas: reduction
of environmental impact and costs; improvement to the health and wellness of students
and staff; and, providing effective environmental and sustainability education,
incorporating STEM, civic skills and green career pathways. U. S. Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan started the program in 2011 to recognize these schools. In
2012, district achievements were added. Two North Carolina schools have received this
outstanding national award. LEAs or school principals should send their completed
applications to the NCDPI. Up to four North Carolina schools can be nominated by the
department and sent to the USED for national consideration. Additional information and
applications are available online at www.SchoolClearinghouse.org under “Green Ribbon
Schools.” You may also direct questions to Ron Collier at ronald.collier@dpi.nc.gov or
919.807.3562.
11. NASA Sponsors Exploration Design Challenge - In March, NASA launched an
exciting new partnership with Lockheed Martin to engage students in America's next
phase of human space exploration. The Exploration Design Challenge (EDC) invites K12 students to learn more about one of the biggest challenges NASA faces before
sending humans beyond low-Earth orbit: space radiation. Through a series of ageappropriate activities, participants will learn about radiation and its effects on humans
and hardware destined for asteroids, Mars or other deep space locations. Orion is the
vehicle for these space destinations and will make its maiden test flight in 2014.
The youngest explorers (K-4) will complete NASA education activities related to
radiation. Upon completion, a teacher or other adult may submit the students' names to
be flown on the 2014 Orion flight as honorary virtual crew members.
Those same opportunities are open to students in grades 5-8, but they also will design
and develop a radiation shield prototype. Instructions, guidebooks and related content
are provided on the EDC website.
High school students have an even greater challenge – and opportunity! In addition to
the activities listed above, teams of students will design a radiation shield prototype that
meets established criteria and constraints. Teams will submit their designs, and the top
five designs selected will be tested in a virtual radiation simulator. The winning team will
travel to Florida for Orion's launch and have its design flown aboard the spacecraft. The
deadline to register students to participate is March 14, 2014. Full Challenge details are
available online at www.nasa.gov/education/edc . Students must be registered before
beginning the Challenge.
12. American History Teacher Award - The Tom and Betty Lawrence American
History Teacher Award, sponsored by the National Society of the Sons of the American
Revolution, recognizes an outstanding history teacher whose instruction on the
Revolutionary War Era from 1750-1800 demonstrates educational efforts in the
classroom that exceed and excel above current accepted curriculum requirements. The
award winner will choose a trip to one of four seminars valued at $1,400. Award
information, including an application, is attached. All applications must be submitted by
Dec. 31 to be considered.
Previous Principals’ Biweekly Messages are posted online at
www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/