Race to the Top Weekly Update
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
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In this issue:
DSW Deadline TODAY
Summer Institutes Completed
Wanted: Teacher Input on Student Learning Measures
New Location for NC FALCON and WIS
Common Core State Standard and NC Essential Standards Facilitators’ Guide Online
‘The Call for Change’ Credits and Update
Teacher/Principal Survey Extended through Labor Day
DSW Deadline TODAY
Today (August 3) is the deadline for each LEA and charter school to submit a completed
RttT Detailed Scope of Work (DSW) for the 2011-12 school year. Please submit the
completed RttT DSW to RacetotheTop@dpi.nc.gov . Please be sure to copy the
appropriate regional lead or Charter School Consultant (listed below).
Note: All new activities that have been added and all changes made to the most recently
approved DSW must be identified in RED font.
Region
Contact Person
Email Address
Region 1
Tamara BermanIshee
tamara.bermanishee@dpi.nc.gov
Region 2
Sherry Broome
sherry.broome@dpi.nc.gov
Region 3
Rob Hines
rob.hines@dpi.nc.gov
Region 4
Priscilla Maynor
priscilla.maynor@dpi.nc.gov
Region 5
Michael Hickman
Region 6
Carolyn Means
carolyn.means@dpi.nc.gov
Region 7 & 8
Keith Eades
bobby.eades@dpi.nc.gov
michael.hickman@dpi.nc.gov
Charter Consultants:
Contact Person
Email Address
Joel Medley
joel.medley@dpi.nc.gov
Jackie Jenkins
jackie.jenkins@dpi.nc.gov
Dottie Heath
dottie.heath@dpi.nc.gov
MORE INFO: Adam Levinson, Adam.Levinson@dpi.nc.gov, or Eric Thanos,
Eric.Thanos@dpi.nc.gov
Summer Institutes Completed
A major component in the preparation of local leaders across the state to implement the
new Common Core State Standards and the NC Essential Standards was completed last
week in Moore County. Approximately 2,300 local Professional Development
Coordinators, Instructional Technology staff, Exceptional Children staff, Career and
Technical Education staff, and Lead Teachers participated in the six sessions statewide in
June and July. In addition, instructional coaches and team leads from District and School
Transformation, local curriculum facilitators, curriculum directors, and central office
administrators participated.
LEA teams will now begin local training on the Common Core and Essential standards
for teachers, developing their implementation plans, and designing local curricula
resources. NCDPI teams have created online modules and tools to show teachers what is
“different,” how to connect the new standards directly to our evaluation processes, and
tools to identify district strengths and areas of improvement. Once identified, these
facilitator groups may use online tools for independent, face-to-face or group facilitated
professional development.
Regional Professional Development dates for the local leadership teams who attended the
summer trainings will be included in the teachers’ calendar in September, and will be
listed in future Weekly Updates.
MORE INFO: Yvette Stewart, Yvette.Stewart@dpi.nc.gov
Wanted: Teacher Input on Student Learning Measures
As part of the Race to the Top initiative, NCDPI is bringing together teachers from across
the state to engage in a dynamic discussion around student learning in all grades and
subjects. These teachers will play a vital role in the design of measures of student
learning that accurately reflect what students know and are able to do in a broad range of
classes, ranging from fourth grade social studies to high school physics.
Educators participating in these work groups will receive training on assessment and
curriculum to prepare them for their work. Through Race to the Top, NCDPI will
reimburse districts for substitute pay for teachers participating in the work groups, and
participants will receive reimbursement for travel expenses, as well as meals and
overnight accommodations. The first round of training will be held over two days in late
August or early September. It is expected that teachers will need to return to Raleigh for
two additional two-day work periods during the 2011 - 2012 school year.
Educators can register for one of the work groups by visiting
http://tinyurl.com/NCDPIworkgroups.
MORE INFO: Jennifer Preston, Jennifer.Preston@dpi.nc.gov
New Location for NC FALCON and WIS
The NC Formative Assessment Learning Community Online Network (NC FALCON)
will be accessible at https://center.ncsu.edu/nc after August 11. District and charter
teams who have never implemented this formative assessment online module are
encouraged to include this as a component of your professional development. The new
addition to NC FALCON, Student Ownership, will be complete and ready for use in
October.
The North Carolina Writing Instructional System employs a philosophy of writing by
which children incorporate writing throughout the school day, school year, and
curriculum. The primary goals of the Writing Instruction System are:
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To emphasize the importance of incorporating writing and writing instruction in
all classrooms, and
To provide numerous opportunities for teachers to monitor students’ growth
throughout the school year.
After August 11, district and charter teams will also be able to access the Writing
Instruction System through the NC Education site located at center.ncsu.edu/nc.
MORE INFO: To read more about NC FALCON, the Writing Instructional System, and
the overall Accountability Curriculum Reform Effort (ACRE) visit
www.ncpublicschools.org/acre. Also, contact Tracey Greggs,
Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov.
Common Core State and NC Essential Standards Facilitators’ Guide
DPI has received numerous requests for the Facilitators’ Guide, which was recently
shared during the Common Core State and North Carolina Essential Standards 2011
Summer Institutes. This “blueprint,” used to assist districts and charter teams as they
transition to and implement the new standards, can be located at
www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/resources.
Content specific presentations, presentations from the Transforming Professional
Development and Developing Local Curricula sessions, and sample agendas will also be
located on the ACRE site by the end of August. Information will be shared via this
newsletter to inform subscribers when the presentations are posted and ready for use.
MORE INFO: Tracey Greggs, Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov
‘The Call for Change’ Credits and Update
To receive a Certificate of Completion for The Call for Change module, each team
member must log in on his/her own computer and begin the process. Please note that
several activities intended for team discussion and collaboration are embedded in the
module. Local RttT Coordinators should identify the time and location a team should
meet to complete this portion. Once the discussion or activity is completed as a team,
each team member is to resume working individually.
To take this online module, go to https://center.ncsu.edu/nc and follow the
instructions. Once you are logged in, click on the link to New Standards, which lists all
courses. Then click on The Call for Change course and enroll. Be sure you have
updated your Web Browser and have the latest version of Flash in order to
effectively view videos. ALSO, please note that the spelling of the word “enrol” is the
result of the usage of an international platform on which the modules are built and, as
such, is correct.
New modules are still under development and will be accessible for LEA use by late
summer.
MORE INFO: Tracey Greggs, Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov
Teacher/Principal Survey Extended through Labor Day
The RttT Teacher Principal Survey link will remain open through Labor Day (September
5). As a reminder, this survey is a joint effort among NCDPI, the Friday Institute at NC
State University, UNC Chapel Hill, and SERVE at UNC-Greensboro. We encourage all
teachers and principals who have not yet had a chance to take the survey to do so, as this
information is invaluable in our ability to better address needs in individual schools and
districts.
The survey link is https://uncg.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3a8L3orSk4BNem0. For any
questions regarding the survey or getting logged on please contact Jane Meli
jmeli@serve.org or Alexa Edwards aedwards@serve.org, and they will be happy to assist
you. All teachers and principals who participate are eligible to be entered into a drawing
to win one of 20 Amazon gift cards, each valued at $40. Your support in this important
statewide effort is greatly appreciated.