Race to the Top (RttT) Monthly Report for US Department of Education
(USED)
NC RttT
Please provide information in the following areas:
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Activities completed this month
Activities projected for the month ahead
Changes requested to plan or timelines outlined in state scope of work
Changes being considered to key project personnel
Areas in which Technical Assistance/USED support could be used
Activities Completed this Month
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Provided responses to several USED requests for clarification (continuing conversation)
regarding Nov. 22 submission of State Detailed Scope of Work (DSW)
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Hired 2 project coordinators, interviewed candidates for remaining two coordinator positions
(one is filled with a redeployed existing employee)
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Met with Evaluation Team to plan process for finalizing list of questions that will be
addressed by the Evaluation
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Gathered rough drafts of each initiative’s more detailed work plan; assembled rough draft of
master work plan
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Established contract tracking sheet; executed one contract (NC Education Cloud), took steps
toward completion of several others
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Clarified State procurement rules regarding when sole sourcing using RttT funds is justified
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Presented monthly RttT status report to State Board of Education (12/2)
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Conducted initial Governor’s Education Transformation Commission subcommittee
meetings (12/2-6)
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Presented RttT update at Superintendent’s Quarterly Meeting (12/2)
Activities Projected for the Month Ahead
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Receive USED feedback re Nov. 22 submission; work to address any questions or concerns
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Communicate with LEAs/charters to confirm:
o approval of initial DSW
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process for accessing funds
expectation for 2011-12 submission NC DPI, technical assistance provided in
advance
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Submit adjusted complete RttT budget (adjustments to several detailed initiative budgets)
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Establish several contracts with State-level initiative partners
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Present proposed Evaluation questions to State Board for review and input (1/5-6)
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Finalize list of Evaluation questions (by end of January 2011)
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Complete initial working draft of RttT master work plan
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Hire/redeploy existing staff for Project Coordinators, District and School Transformation
roles, Educator Recruitment & Development roles
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Release RFPs (e.g., for IIS Planning Services) and/or establish contracts to begin work in
several initiatives (e.g., Evaluation, Regional Leadership Academies, Professional
Development)
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Present monthly RttT status report to State Board of Education (1/6)
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Conduct Governor’s Education Transformation Commission meeting (1/6)
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Achieve various initiative-specific milestones (pending USED approval of State DSW)
Changes Requested to Plan or Timelines Outlined in State Detailed Scope of Work (DSW)
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N/A , since DSW still under USED review
Changes Being Considered to Key Project Personnel
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None
Areas in which Technical Assistance/USED Support Could be Used
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Research on use of student growth measures as an indicator of teacher and principal
effectiveness (particularly in “non-tested” subjects)
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Research on instructional improvement systems (including which components other states
are including in their proposals) and forums for sharing information across states
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Sharing of successful Communications strategies and materials – particularly re how to
reconcile excitement about RttT with reality of State fiscal cris(e)s and effects on schools