Race to the Top (RttT) Monthly Report for US Department of Education (USED)
NC RttT
April 2011
Please provide information in the following areas:
 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
RttT Management (includes Project Management, Budget, Communications):

Conducted several State Initiative-focused webinars to inform LEAs’/Charters’
development of their DSWs for the 2011-12 submission

Preparing RttT Monitoring Plan for submission to USED (4/29)

Preparing for USED site visit (5/12)

Continued developing amendments to State DSW to submit to USED

Presented monthly RttT status report to State Board of Education (SBE) and the Governor’s
Education Transformation Commission (GETC) Subcommittee on Program Management
(4/7)

Continued processing amended LEA/Charter School DSWs and budgets (for initial budget
approval)

Began development of LEA/Charter School DSW Exemplar to guide local districts in the
process of finalizing their DSWs

Continued work on online calendar for teachers for the 2011-12 school year with
embedded information about key RttT and ACRE deadlines, along with additional
professional development initiatives

Continued work with public relations firm (developing and distributing messages, revising
communications package)
Standards & Assessments:
Standards

Met with Curriculum and Instruction staff on 4/9 to determine Priority II Instructional Tools

Edited Module 1 and implementation guide based upon feedback received from internal
and external reviewers

Prepared draft of Module 2 for internal and external review
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
Presented on Common Core and Technology at Teachers Teaching Technology Conference
(WSSU) on 4/9
Assessments

Completed draft of online assessment best practices guide and submitted for internal
review
Data Systems to Improve Instruction:

Held vendor interviews for IIS Planning team 4/4

Submitted recommendation for IIS Planning team vendor to DPI Purchasing 4/13

Received bids for the IIS IT Lead Project Manager 4/14

Evaluate bids for IIS IT Lead Project Manager 4/28-29

IIS Workgroup meetings were resumed

Website populated with initial vision 4/19
Great Teachers & Principals:

TeachCharlotte Alternate Certification Proposal discussed at SBE 4/6

Several activities delayed due to McREL contract processing delay because of changes in
staff at McREL

Continued research to formulate options for wording of the 6th and 8th standards of the
Principal and Teacher Evaluation Processes

Generated listing of non state-tested subjects in the Standard Course of Study

Internal DPI staff continued review of the Request for Proposal for development and
validation of student academic growth factor. Plan to post RFP by 5/1

Continued recruitment and selection process for Northeast Regional Leadership Academy
(RLA) Cohort 2, and Sandhills Regional Leadership Academy Cohort 1

Hired Academy Supervisor and Executive Coaches for Sandhills Regional Leadership
Academy and the Project Director for curriculum design in the Piedmont-Triad RLA

Continued the selection and recruitment of 2011 Teach For America corps members

Continued development of training modules for 2011 Teach For America corps members

Teacher Effectiveness Work Group continued meeting to discuss links between teacher and
principal effectiveness and student growth measures

Receiving bids for strategic staffing Request for Proposal released in March (bids closed
4/21)

Analyzing data from Diagnostic Needs Assessment conducted in March 2011

Adopt a Professional Development Framework for NCDPI PD, to be used with summer RttT
PD (by 4/30)
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
Began developing comprehensive PD plan for summer RttT professional development (to
be completed May 2011)

Began adopting and training staff on PD Framework for NCDPI (by 5/31)

Gathering possible PD offerings from all C&I departments to be considered for fall 2011
LEA training topics in collaboration with Regional PD Leaders (to be completed by 4/30)

Hired final Regional PD leader and 2 module developers. Made final recommendations to
Human Resources for 2 web content managers

Began module development with DPI Online Module Developers of four online modules
identified from diagnostic needs assessment

PD leaders finished taking Teaching Online Courses Course and began course on
Facilitating Online Collaboration

Nearing execution on contracts for the following:
o Teach For America expansion
o Additional evaluation instruments
o Online PD modules on the Common Core and Essential Standards
o Training on online facilitation for new PD leaders
o Regional Education Service Alliances hosting the face-to-face professional
development and teacher effectiveness meetings
o Distinguished Leadership in Practice expansion for current principals

Began design of new interface for PD repository on NCDPI website (to be completed by July
2011)

Continued interagency collaboration within the NCDPI to develop online modules and
integrate technology for statewide Summer Institutes to include content and process
components for all content areas

Determined Summer Institute Trainers and designed two-day agenda (to be completed by
4/30)

Continued designing training for school administrator distinguished leadership in practice
cohort

Completed DLP Cohort 1 and recognized 33 of the original 40 participating principals for
full completion of the program. Began Cohort 2 of DLP training with 225 principals from all
eight regions of the state.

Selected mentors for Kenan Fellows serving as model classrooms

Draft amendment for professional development evaluation (D5), professional development
learner management system, Distinguished Leadership in Practice program
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NC Virtual Public Schools:

Analyzed the project-based learning and STEM approach to teaching math and science
courses (Model detailed in STEM White Paper)

Developed by 4/30 a virtual delivery model for project based learning and STEM approach
for blended courses

Continued determination of professional development needs for project-based learning,
STEM, mobile teaching and learning, and blended teaching for all of the online and face-toface teachers (to be completed by 11/30)

Reviewed applications and interviewed school district finalists to participate in the project

Continued development of a course template and outline based on "chunking of material"
into project based modules to align with the current standard course of study and common
core standards (to be completed by 6/30)

Continued developing course development timeline and process and procedures for
teachers and contractors during the development phase (to be completed by 6/30)

Continued writing criteria for the Mobile Web App/App development Request for Proposal
(RFP) (to be completed by 6/1)

Wrote documentation for acquiring mobile devices (pending approval of amendment to
State DSW post IFB for public bidding by 6/15)

Continued development of LEA Technology Support Plan (to be completed by 8/31)

Continued identification of professional development and support needs for lead teachers,
face-to-face teachers and district teams

Several activities delayed pending approval of amendment to State DSW
Turning Around the Lowest-Achieving Schools:

Completed Comprehensive Needs Assessments at nine schools

Continued work on hiring for RttT positions:
o Identified DTCs for Weldon City and Hertford
o Placed Elementary STC in Durham
o Interviews continuing weekly for Instructional Coaches, DTCs, and STCs

Held transition meetings with Duplin County and Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools

Identified interim support for selected schools/districts until hiring process is complete for
permanent positions

Continued PD and coaching for currently served schools/districts

Began assignment process for deployment of PD and Coaching staff in newly served
schools – working with HR to align positions on org chart is ongoing

Continued designing of summer in-service for identified schools and districts
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NC Education Cloud:

Completed Phase 1 (48 LEAs) of LEA site surveys by 4/25; Began Phase 2 (Six largest
LEAs) site surveys

Continued development of the infrastructure blueprint (Have fully staffed architects for the
Program projects (6 key projects to inform the implementation plan) and work is underway
to determine needs/requirements and corresponding recommend strategies)

Held meetings of the LEA Shared Services Advisory Committee to discuss the role of the
advisory Committee, and the more specifically focused project related LEA Working Groups
(In all, nearly 100 leaders are engaged in the process in either the Advisory Committee or
the Working Groups)
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM):

New Schools Project convened 56 school and district administrators from 17 schools to
discuss STEM Network schools in the following (4/1):
o Energy and Sustainability
o Biotechnology and Agriscience

New Schools Project met individually with three school systems to discuss STEM Network
Schools: Durham (4/6), Duplin (4/8), Scotland (4/20)

New Schools Project met twice with Wake School System about their Early College Anchor
High School - Energy and Sustainability. Once was about funding (4/12) and once was with
partnerships from NC State University and Progress Energy (4/15)

Identified a seventh Health and Life Sciences Network School:
o
Scotland School of Health and Life Sciences, Scotland County Schools (4/15)

New Schools Project held Project Bases Learning Conference for five Health and Life
Sciences STEM Network Schools. Nine potential STEM Network Schools participated for a
total of 30 participants (4/12)

New Schools Project disseminated information on dates and content of professional
development for this summer’s Health and Life Sciences STEM Network (4/14)

New Schools Project conducted three meetings for prospective private funders of STEM
Networks so additional schools may be added to the network (4/14 & 19)
Evaluation:

By 4/30 conducted baseline analysis of local education expenditures in preparation for cost
analyses, which will specifically include the technology initiative

The District and School Transformation Research Team, led by Charles Thompson,
completed site visits to 27 schools that have demonstrated different levels of improvement
progress
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
Sample videos have been uploaded for analysis of impact of professional development
initiatives

Survey instrument (to collect data from teachers and principals) development ahead of
schedule and on track for deployment in Spring 2011

Completed individual project plans and budgets
Activities Projected for the Month Ahead
RttT Management:

Conduct webinars for LEAs/Charters on Professional Development/Strategic Staffing (5/3)
and Finance (TBD)

Identify and prepare other initiative budget and/or DSW amendments, as needed

Continue to approve LEA/Charter amended DSWs and initial RttT budgets

Finalize LEA/Charter DSW Exemplar and post to website by 5/15

Present monthly status report to SBE and GETC 5/5

Host USED site visit to NCDPI 5/12

Finalize plans for second-round LEA/Charter Technical Assistance Regional Meetings
(and/or webinars) to be held in June

By 5/31 consult with ACRE policy analysts, along with DST director and team to develop
ideas and teacher/administrator tips for inclusion in the online calendar for teachers for
the 2011-12 school year
Standards & Assessments:
Standards

Begin working on Graphic Organizer tool (to be completed by 10/18)

Continue development of modules and implementation guide

Internal and external reviewers will provide feedback for Module 2 by 5/17

Prepare Modules 3 and 5 drafts for internal and external review by 5/20

Make final edits to Module 1 by 5/30

Create Learning Progressions template by 5/25

Continue development of PD Map

Conduct Summer Institute update webinars by 5/17
Assessments

Begin finalizing online assessment Best Practices Guide (finalize by 7/1 to be presented to
SBE during July meeting)
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Data Systems to Improve Instruction:

Hold vendor interviews for the IIS IT Lead Project Manager by 5/21

Submit recommendation for IIS IT Lead Project Manager to DPI Purchasing by 5/31

Continue IIS Workgroup meetings

Secure NCDPI IT support personnel by 6/30
Great Teachers & Principals:

SBE to take action on TEACHCharlotte Proposal during May meeting

Continue to process contract renewal for McREL contract

Present options for sixth and eighth standards of Principal and Teacher Evaluation
Processes to the Teacher Effectiveness Work Group

Group non state-tested subjects into 50 workgroups by 5/1

Issue Request for Proposal for development and validation of student academic growth
factor by 5/1

Complete recruitment and selection for RLAs as follows:
o Northeast RLA Cohort 2 by 5/1
o Sandhills RLA Cohort 1 by 6/1
o Piedmont-Triad RLA by 5/1

Matriculate accepted candidates into Eastern NC corps by 5/1

Teacher Effectiveness Work Group will continue to meet and discuss links between teacher
and principal effectiveness and student growth measures

Continue module development with DPI Online Module Developers of 4 online modules
identified from diagnostic needs assessment

PD leaders finish taking course on Facilitating Online Collaboration and begin Moodle Training
course.

Select vendor to provide strategic staffing assistance to identified districts by 5/1

Complete analysis of initial diagnostic needs assessment received from LEAs and Charter
Schools through RttT Coordinator and Professional Development Contacts to identify
professional development needs for upcoming school year

Continue adopting and training staff on PD Framework for NCDPI (by 5/31)
NC Virtual Public Schools:

Sign Memorandum of Understandings with three LEAs (Pending approval of D3
amendment to DSW )

Continue to determine professional development needs for project-based learning, STEM,
mobile teaching and learning, and blended teaching for all of the online and face-to-face
teachers
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
Continue development of LEA Technology Support Plan (to be completed by 8/31)

Post IFB for acquiring mobile devices by 6/15 (pending approval of amendment to State
DSW)

Procure Video Streaming services by 6/1 (pending approval of amendment to DSW)

Continue to identify professional development and support needs for lead teachers, faceto-face teachers and district teams.

Hiring of lead Project Director and Exceptional Children’s coordinator delayed pending
approval of amendment to State DSW

Several activities delayed pending approval of amendment to State DSW
Turning Around the Lowest-Achieving Schools:

Continue work on hiring for RttT positions (Interviews continuing weekly)

Hold transition meetings with additional new districts

Deliver ongoing PD and coaching for currently served schools/districts

Continue to assign PD and coaching staff for newly served schools - working with HR to align
positions on organizational chart

Continue to design summer in-service professional development for identified schools and
districts
NC Education Cloud:

Complete Phase 2 of Site Surveys by 5/13

Continue development of the infrastructure blueprint

Continue meetings of the Consortium/Cooperative Purchasing LEA Advisory Working
Group, Data Collection and Analysis Working Group, Identity and Access Management
Working Group and the Shared Services Advisory Council
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM):

Obtain additional Partnership Agreements with Network Schools

Continue to plan summer staff development
Evaluation:

Survey deployed and begin analysis in May

In May, begin developing formative assessment based on results from spring site visits to
27 schools
Changes Requested to Plan or Timelines Outlined in State Detailed Scope of Work (DSW)

Submitted to USED
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None

In development
o
o
o
o
o
o
RttT Management – add administrative assistant
Teacher Effectiveness – developing measures of student growth in “non-tested” areas
Effective Teachers through Virtual & Blended Courses – approach, timeline, budget
Distinguished Leadership In Practice Program – budget
Evaluation of Professional Development – eliminate duplication
Professional Development Tracking System (new) – establish deliverables and budget
Changes Being Considered to Key Project Personnel
None
Areas in Which Technical Assistance/USED Support Could Be Used

Research on use of student growth measures as an indicator of teacher and principal
effectiveness (particularly in “non state-tested” subjects)

Sharing of successful Communications strategies and materials – particularly regarding how
to reconcile excitement about RttT with reality of State fiscal crisis and effects on schools
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