PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2004

MARCH 19, 2004

A study released last week by the University of Washington and the Urban Institute shows that North Carolina's efforts to encourage teachers to seek certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards are well placed. Not only does our model of financial incentives and professional support encourage teachers to seek National Certification, but this research shows that the teachers who receive the recognition are among our most effective teachers. As critical as it is to keep our best teachers in the classroom, I hope you will continue to be encouraging and supportive of teachers who pursue this high standard.

Regards,
Mike Ward

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. School Improvement Plans Must Incorporate Healthy Active Children Policy
2. Regional Principals of the Year Announced
3. Free&Reduced Information Confidential
4. Information Being Collected on Crime and Safety in Public Schools
5. 2004 SERVE Senior Project Institutes
6. Senior Project Recognition Awards
7. Three New Web Pieces Help School Leaders Communicate About Supplemental Educational Services
8. National Board Study Confirms Effectiveness of Certification

School Improvement Plans Must Incorporate Healthy Active Children Policy

Information regarding incorporation of the State Board of Education's Healthy Active Children policy into local school improvement plans has been sent to every local school system's central office. Since school improvement plans for 2003-04 are already finalized, the forms will need to be completed and sent to your central office for inclusion in your plans. The central office will then summarize the district school improvement plans and send to DPI by July 15. This plan will become a permanent section in the School Improvement Plans beginning in 2004-05. Principals need to be on the look out for this information and contact your central office if you don't receive it within a week.

Regional Principals of the Year Announced

Congratulations to the following North Carolina public school principals for recently being named the 2004 Wachovia Regional Principals of the Year: Western Region: Beverly Gregory, Saluda Elementary, Polk County Schools Northwest Region: John Black, Longview Elementary, Hickory City Schools Southwest Region: Kristy Thomas, Wingate Elementary, Union County Schools Central Region: Paula McCarthy, Mary Scroggs Elementary, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools South Central Region: Mary Black, Ferguson-Easley Elementary, Cumberland County Schools North Central Region: Patrick Rhodes, Jr., Riverside High, Durham Public Schools Northeast Region: Trip Hobbs, Cape Hatteras Secondary, Dare County Schools Southeast Region: Linda Williams, Bridgeton Elementary, Craven County Schools

The State Selection Committee, chaired by Rene' Corders, 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year and principal at E.E. Smith High, Cumberland County Schools, will visit each of the eight schools in March. The 2004 Wachovia State Principal of the Year will be announced on May 6 in Raleigh at the state luncheon sponsored by Wachovia Corporation.

Free&Reduced Information Confidential

Information obtained through a student's application for free and reduced-price meals is confidential. Parents are given assurances in the application that the information disclosed will be used only for the purpose of determining their child's eligibility for free or reduced price school meals. Recent guidance from USDA has allowed state education agencies to use the child's eligibility status to support funding for state or federally mandated educational programs that support the No Child Left Behind initiative. Law prohibits use of this information for any other purpose. Federal guidelines have been established which determine specifically to whom and under what conditions this confidential information may be used. These guidelines may be found in Part 8 Confidentiality/Disclosures of Eligibility Information of USDA's Eligibility Guidance for School Meals, which is available in your local Child Nutrition Program office. For additional information, please contact Lynn Hoggard, Child Nutrition Services, DPI, 919.807.3507, or by email, lhoggard@dpi.state.nc.us.

Information Being Collected on Crime and Safety in Public Schools

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Dept. of Education is conducting a national study of school principals that collects information about crime and safety in public schools. The survey, The School Survey on Crime and Safety, was first conducted in 2000. At least one North Carolina public school has been selected to participate in the national sample of approximately 3,700 schools. Although participation is voluntary, it's crucial to the survey's success. NCES hopes that you will participate if your school is selected for the study. The survey deadline is March 19. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please call the study's toll-free number at 888.743.7324.

2004 SERVE Senior Project Institutes

The State Board of Education will once again sponsor scholarships for teams from North Carolina public schools or local school systems to attend the 2004 SERVE Senior Project Institutes. This year's training will be held on three separate dates in three separate locations:

• June 23-25 - Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
• July 21-23 - San Diego, Calif.
• Aug. 11-13 - Williamsburg, Va.

The SBE Scholarship will cover the cost of the registration fee for Day 1, Senior Project Training (teams of two - $575 and teams of three - $675 plus $85 for any additional team members), as well for the Conference registration, Day 2 and 3 ($875 for teams of three, plus $235 for each additional team member). Local school systems will be responsible for supporting any travel and subsistence for the team members attending the training. Additional information (conference brochure, registration forms, etc.) can be obtained by contacting Jane Worsham, Executive Director of the State Board of Education, 919.807.3400 or by email, jworsham@dpi.state.nc.us. The scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with priority given to schools and school systems that have not previously been awarded scholarships. The deadline for applying is June 1.

Senior Project Recognition Awards

DPI, SERVE, and the North Carolina Business Committee on Education are coordinating the N.C. Senior Project Recognition Awards program for the State Board of Education. Deserving candidates and programs will be recognized at the August State Board meeting. Eligibility criteria and application guidelines were sent to all local superintendents and high school principals by email last Friday. Please note that applications must be postmarked by June 11. For more information, please contact Mary Anne Tharin, Special Projects Consultant, DPI, 919.807.3658, or by email, mtharin@dpi.state.nc.us.

Three New Web Pieces Help School Leaders Communicate About Supplemental Educational Services

Based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) outcomes, many North Carolina school districts will be announcing schools with supplemental educational service options this summer to be effective for the 2004-05 school year. A fact sheet, answers to frequently asked questions and a PowerPoint with talking points are now available at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb for district and school leaders to use in explaining supplemental educational services to a wide variety of audiences. Sample parent letters and other tools to use in communicating public school choice and supplemental educational service options will be posted in the near future.

National Board Study Confirms Effectiveness of Certification

An independent, multi-year study of more than 600,000 North Carolina student records found that children learn more from National Board Certified teachers. The study, which was funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education, found that students of NBCTs improved an average of 7 percent more on their year-end math and reading tests that students whose teachers attempted but failed to gain certification. Gains were more pronounced for younger and lower-income students whose scores improved up to 15 percent. To read more, please go to the Center on Reinventing Public Education's Web site at http://www.crpe.org and click on the appropriate link.