Wednesday, January 18, 2012
If you know someone who would like to be on this listserv, 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!
Archived Race to the Top Weekly Updates are available here:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/rttt/updates/
NEW THIS WEEK
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New RttT Point to Point Column
Professional Development Dates for Remainder of January
Recorded Webinar from IIS Update for Teachers
Professional Development Survey
NEW THIS WEEK
New RttT Point to Point Column
We all have been hearing about the significant changes coming to North Carolina’s public
schools in 2012. Take a moment to read State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison’s take
on why they bring so much promise for our state’s students in the latest Point to Point entry on
the Race to the Top website. It can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/rttt/point/.
MORE INFO: Michael Yarbrough, Michael.Yarbrough@dpi.nc.gov
Professional Development Dates for Remainder of January
Jan. 19-20 – Science and SS Essential Standards PD for LEA/Charter Leadership Teams, NWRESA
24 – Science and SS Essential Standards PD for LEA/Charter Leadership Teams, NERESA (Senator
Bob Martin Eastern Agriculture Center, Williamston, NC)
26 – Science and SS Essential Standards PD for LEA/Charter Leadership Teams, PTEC (Room 1,
Special Events Center, Greensboro Coliseum)
30 – Phase III Principal Training on ITES and Common Core/Essential Standards, Sandhills RESA,
1-4pm ONLY (Robeson Co. Dept of Social Services)
31 – Science and SS Essential Standards PD for LEA/Charter Leadership Teams, Sandhills RESA
(Mid Pines Inn)
MORE INFO: Yvette Stewart, Yvette.Stewart@dpi.nc.gov
Recorded Webinar from IIS Update for Teachers
Last month, the NCDPI Information Improvement System (IIS) team presented an update
webinar for members of the North Carolina Association of Educators. This was an opportunity
for NCDPI to reach out to local educators and inform them of the current vision and plan for the
Instructional Improvement System.
Teachers also were asked to provide feedback regarding the kinds of resources educators are
currently using, what they like best about them and suggestions for additional resources that
would be helpful. You can access a recorded version of this webinar by visiting
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/improvement/resources/ and following registration
directions.
MORE INFO: Eric Moore, Eric.Moore@dpi.nc.gov
Professional Development Survey
The Race to the Top evaluation team is interested in gathering your feedback on the online
professional development learning modules and resources provided by NCDPI. The short
questionnaire (8-12 items) can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EEFUGSDH4 . Thank you in advance for your
participation!
MORE INFO: Jeni Corn, Director of Evaluation Program, Friday Institute for Educational
Innovation at NC State University, (919) 513-8527 or jocorn@ncsu.edu.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
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NC Race to the Top Gets Positive Report from USED
High School Math Sequencing
Next Generation of Assessments: Technical Requirements
Race to the Top Early Learning Grant
Phase I Instructional Modules
PLAN Diagnostic Assessment Interpretation Data Training
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
NC Race to the Top Gets Positive Report from USED
North Carolina is making great progress in its Race to the Top efforts, according to a Year One
report from the United States Department of Education. These efforts include stronger
standards for learning and accountability, improved data systems, increased teacher and
principal effectiveness, and further strengthening the state's lowest performing schools. While
federal officials singled out three states for struggles with implementing terms of the grant,
North Carolina was among nine states described as making tremendous progress and on target
with its plan of work. Read more about the report at
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/2011-12/20120110-01.
MORE INFO: Adam Levinson, Adam.Levinson@dpi.nc.gov
High School Math Sequencing
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction held a webinar on November 17 titled
Common Core High School Mathematics 2012 and Beyond. This webinar and PowerPoint can
be accessed at http://www.ncdpi.wikispaces.net.
The webinar discussed ensuring that students entering ninth grade in the 2012-13 school year
are proficient in the Common Core High School Mathematics Standards by 2014-15 school year
and launching the Common Core High School Mathematics Standards within the current course
titles.
MORE INFO: Maria Pitre-Martin, maria.pitremartin@dpi.nc.gov
Next Generation of Assessments: Technical Requirements
The technical requirements for the online testing system, NCTest v 2.5, are available on the web
at https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/mod/page/view.php?id=9271. Below is a list of some of the
important requirements to note when planning for online assessments this year.
• NCTest utilizes web browser-based online assessment - all features should work with recent
browsers (listed below) running on workstations and laptop computers. Suggested browsers
include:
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IE 7, 8 on Windows XP & Vista
IE 7, 8, & 9 on Windows 7
IE 6 is NOT supported
Firefox 3.6+
Safari 5+
Chrome 10+
• Adobe Flash 10+ is required to be able to use the current virtual calculator (please note that
we are currently redesigning the calculator and other features so that Flash will no longer be
required).
• 1024 x 768 screen resolution is recommended for best performance. Lower vertical
resolutions for netbook devices are possible, but will increase the amount of scrolling required
to fully view items.
The complete list of requirements is available on the website listed above. Please note that
these requirements are changing as we continue testing new technologies and continue
development and redesign of the system’s features. If you have questions about the online
assessments or the technical requirements, please send them to acre-feedback@dpi.nc.gov.
MORE INFO: Kayla Siler, Kayla.Siler@dpi.nc.gov
Race to the Top Early Learning Grant
North Carolina is a recipient of $70 million in Race to the Top funding for the Early Learning
Challenge Grant. NCDPI is a participating agency, in partnership with the NC Department of
Health and Human Services and other state and local agencies in implementing the initiative
under this grant. To read about this funding, please visit
http://www.governor.state.nc.us/NewsItems/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?newsItemid=2186
MORE INFO: John Pruette, John.Pruette@dpi.nc.gov
Webinar on Integrating the Common Core Standards in K-12 Classrooms
Renowned author and expert Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs will present a Common Core Webinar,
“Mapping Curriculum, Planning Success: Integrating the Common Core Standards in Each K-12
Classroom,” on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 am to noon. The webinar will feature an
interactive Q&A session with Dr. Jacobs’ responses to your questions about curriculum,
assessment, standards, and mapping. The webinar will feature the following:
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Upgrade and transform education through the lens of 21st-Century readiness
Text complexity and 8 standards for mathematical practice
Formative assessment as the basis of diagnosing student needs
Curriculum maps as the basis for responsive prescription to those needs
4 Phase School Wide Systems Model in the LiveBook Mapping to the Core (available
only through School Improvement Network)
Q&A session with Dr. Jacobs
To find out more about the webinar and to register, please visit
http://www.commoncore360.com/webinars.php
MORE INFO: Tracey Greggs, Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov
Phase 1 Instructional Modules
During 2011, NCDPI created several instructional support modules to assist districts and charter
teams as they transition to and implement the new Common Core State and North Carolina
Essential Standards. All K-12 teachers should have experienced and completed these modules
prior to teaching the new standards in the 2012-13 school year. Please make the new modules
accessible to new teachers or those who were unable to participate in the first round of
training. Modules can be located at https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/
MORE INFO: Tracey Greggs, Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov
PLAN Diagnostic Assessment Interpretation Data Training
During the month of February, NCDPI will host, in collaboration with ACT and the North
Carolina Regional Educational Service Alliance (RESA), a series of half-day PLAN Interpreting
Data training. This training will provide guidance to district and school staff on how to
effectively interpret the PLAN student report in order to communicate to students, teachers
and parents areas for academic improvement and career planning. Time also will be spent
reviewing the aggregate reports that schools will receive. All information will support the goal
of improving student’s college and career-readiness. Audiences for these meetings are
principals, assistant principals, guidance counselors, data coaches, and district Curriculum and
Instruction leads.
A schedule of training sessions, dates, times and locations is attached. RESA directors will be
responsible for disseminating and collecting individual site registration.
MORE INFO: Tracey Greggs, Tracey.Greggs@dpi.nc.gov, or Tammy Howard,
Tammy.Howard@dpi.nc.gov. You may also contact the RESA director for any registration
questions.