October 10, 2012 If you know someone who would like to be on this list, please send their email address to Michael.Yarbrough@dpi.nc.gov. ***PLEASE NOTE: Each entry in this Weekly Update features the email address of at least one contact person, department or website. For questions, concerns or technical assistance, please email the appropriate contact(s) directly. Thanks! ***LINKS: PC users might need to press the CTRL button when clicking on a hyperlink in this document. Archived Race to the Top Weekly Updates are available online at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/rttt/updates/ NEW THIS WEEK • • • Inter‐Rater Reliability (IRR) Training Opportunities for Principals October Webinars for New Local RttT Coordinators ASCD Launches Free Digital Common Core Implementation Tool IN CASE YOU MISSED IT • Teachers: Register for Webinar on Common Exams • Speak Up National Research Project Assists in RttT Research • What Assessments May Be Administered Online in 2012‐13? • 2012‐2013: Assessment Reminders for Algebra I/Integrated I and ELA • Teachers of Advanced Learners Webinars NEW THIS WEEK Inter‐Rater Reliability (IRR) Training Opportunities for Principals The Inter‐Rater Reliability professional development will ensure that all observers are more uniform in their ability to identify and mark observations with consistency. Each session will examine a case study of a teacher. The deliveries will include profiles, scenarios and/ or video to provide a common lens of observation. These sessions are for anyone who evaluates teachers and seeks to build their expertise marking the rubric. Collaboration among participants will guide the facilitated process of examining teacher behaviors and data to ensure inter‐rater reliability. IRR Session 1: Evaluating and Coaching Teachers This 3‐hour refresher session is designed for experienced administrators to review the ratings, elements of a 21st century classroom, teacher coaching and using the online tool with Inter‐rater reliability. IRR Session 2: Teacher Evaluation Process This full‐day session will review the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards and Teacher Evaluation Process. Participants will develop inter‐rater reliability of Standards 1‐5 through the use of classroom observation with video and a full scenario. Professional coaching techniques will be covered. Through the analysis of observation notes, observers can plan for crucial conversations with teachers to help them grow professionally. Please visit the RESA Calendar with all professional development opportunities. Users can search by region or by topic, at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/profdev/calendar/. MORE INFO: Dr. Lynne Johnson, Director of Educator Recruitment and Development, lynne.johnson@dpi.nc.gov October Webinars for New Local RttT Coordinators The NCDPI’s RttT Program Management team will provide two webinar opportunities later this month for new local RttT Coordinators with an overview of the RttT Program, particularly requirements and procedures for managing local plans. New Superintendents, Finance Officers, and other local district staff also are welcome to attend. To accommodate busy schedules, the webinar will be offered at two different times: Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 3 to 4:30 pm, and Thursday, Oct. 25 from 9 to 10:30 am. Content, which will be identical for both sessions, will include goals of RttT, the role and responsibilities of the local RttT Coordinator, the DSW and BUD processes, and procurement guidelines. Each session will provide time for discussion of participants’ questions. Space is limited, so please register now: October 24, 3 to 4:30 pm https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/502383729 October 25, 9 to 10:30 am https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/121177032 MORE INFO: Adam Levinson, RttT Director, adam.levinson@dpi.nc.gov ASCD Launches Free Digital Common Core Implementation Tool ASCD introduces the new EduCore™ digital tool for educators implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in both mathematics and literacy. Funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the EduCore tool is a repository of evidence‐based strategies, videos, and supporting documents that help educators transition to the CCSS. The EduCore tool supports CCSS implementation for mathematics and features a variety of formative assessment lessons and videos ready for classroom use, including more than 20 formative assessment mathematics lessons. Developed by the Shell Centre, these middle and high school Classroom Challenges include problem‐solving and content‐development formative assessments on subjects such as solving linear equations in two variables and applying angle theorems. Useful plans, student materials, PowerPoint slides, and other materials round out the many mathematics resources available. Visit the EduCore tool at http://educore.ascd.org. Additional ASCD resources that aid educators who are implementing the Common Core State Standards can be found at www.ascd.org/commoncore. MORE INFO: Dr. Maria Pitre‐Martin, Director of K‐12 Curriculum, maria.pitremartin@dpi.nc.gov IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Teachers: Register for Webinar on Common Exams Join the NC Department of Public Instruction and the NC Association of Educators for a webinar on the new Common Exams (formerly referred to as Measures of Student Learning). Find out more about the creation of these new assessments, and how they will be used in the sixth standard rating for teachers. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/217537432 MORE INFO: Jennifer Preston, RttT Coordinator for Teacher and Leader Effectiveness, jennifer.preston@dpi.nc.gov, or Angela Farthing, NC Association of Educators, angela.farthing@ncae.org. What Assessments May Be Administered Online in 2012‐13? End‐of‐Course (EOC) assessments have been available online since 2007. For the 2012‐13 school year, the EOC assessments will continue to be available online along with end‐of‐grade (EOG) science and all NCEXTEND2 assessments. All of the EOC and EOG assessments for the 2012‐13 school year are fully aligned with the Common Core State Standards and NC Essential Standards. The following assessments will be available through the NCTest online assessment system. Algebra I/ Integrated I EOC Biology EOC English II EOC Grades 5 and 8 Science EOG NCEXTEND2 (EOC assessments in Biology, English II, Algebra I/Integrated I, and EOG assessments in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Grades 5 and 8 Science) Paper‐and‐pencil versions of these assessments will be available for order, but the NCDPI strongly encourages administering these assessments online. MORE INFO: Kayla Siler, Policy Analyst, kayla.siler@dpi.nc.gov or http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/ 2012‐13: Assessment Reminders for Algebra I/Integrated I and ELA Algebra I/Integrated Math I: The following chart provides the required mathematics assessments based on the course of study for the 2012‐13 school year. As a reminder, all students must have a test score for Algebra I or Algebra I/Integrated I by the end of their 10th‐grade year for federal reporting of Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO). 2012‐13 Standards Course Assessment 1 2010 CCSS Algebra I or Integrated I Algebra I/ Integrated I 2010 CCSS Math I (local option) 1 Algebra I/ Integrated I 2010 CCSS Transitional Course2 No Assessment 1 The NCEXTEND2 is available for students who meet the eligibility criteria. 2 The 2012‐13 transitional course is recommended for students who were enrolled in Algebra I in 2011‐12 who did not demonstrate mastery of the current content standards. The transitional course is an elective, and it will provide an opportunity for instruction on the Algebra I/Integrated I Common Core State Standards prior to this cohort taking geometry in 2013‐14. English II: Participation in an end‐of‐course assessment is based on enrollment in the course. Students currently enrolled for credit in English II for the 2012‐13 school year, must participate in the English II assessment (i.e., based on the 2010 Common Core State Standards). The 2012‐13 Courses for Credit Requiring the North Carolina READY End‐of‐Course Assessment or READY NCEXTEND2 End‐of‐Course Assessment document provides additional information and a list of course codes that require the administration of the appropriate EOC assessment. This document is available at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/eoc/. MORE INFO: Kayla Siler, Policy Analyst, kayla.siler@dpi.nc.gov or http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/ Speak Up National Research Project Assists in RttT Research The Speak Up National Research Project provides participating schools, districts and non‐profit organizations with a suite of online surveys and reports to collect authentic feedback from students, educators and parents. In addition, the Project summarizes and shares the national findings with education and policy leaders in Washington and here in North Carolina. The top three reasons schools and districts participate in Speak Up are to: • collect unique data from their stakeholders; • conduct a needs assessment and create a vision for 21st century learning; and • use the data to create and inform technology initiatives or create strategic plans. Across the nation, educators say that Speak Up: • gives them a better understanding of issues important to their stakeholders; • provides a mechanism to empower students to voice their opinions; • provides meaningful input into their planning process; • enhances their ability to implement technology initiatives more closely aligned to students’ expectations and needs; and • helps identify meaningful benchmarks for measuring success. Since 2003, educators from more than 30,000 schools have used the Speak Up data to create and implement their respective visions. Register at http://www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2012 to participate in Speak Up. MORE INFO: Ouida Myers, Instructional Technology, ouida.myers@dpi.nc.gov Teachers of Advanced Learners Webinars NCDPI’s Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Programs announces professional development webinars focused on “Advanced Content for Teachers of Advanced Learners in Math and Science.” This series is developed in partnership with NC School of Science and Mathematics. These one‐hour webinar sessions are open to all interested personnel. Registration is required. This professional development is geared largely toward teachers in grades 6‐12. Sessions will be archived and posted on NCDPI’s iTunesU site, http://www.ncpublicschools.org/itunesu/. Topics range from Recursion to Biomimicry to Integrating “E” in STEM. Please see attached flier for more information and registration links. The series will run from October 2012 to April 2013. Attend one or all sessions. MORE INFO: Sneha Shah Coltrane, AIG Director, Sneha.ShahColtrane@dpi.nc.gov