PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2004

SEPTEMBER 16, 2004

My first week as State Superintendent has been eventful. Last Friday, the Compliance Commission for Accountability considered the issue of the ABCs growth standards for middle schools. The Commission's recommendation to recalculate growth for schools (regardless of whether it is considered a true middle school) without including 6th grade reading scores will go to the State Board of Education in October for consideration. North Carolina educators can be proud of the fact that our state has been consistent in supporting the ABCs accountability model, but the time has come to re-evaluate the formulas and the model overall. Many of the data relationships upon which the original formulas were based have changed over time. That review process is underway and on a fast track. Our goal is to provide recommendations to the Board by spring 2005. We will keep you updated as news unfolds.

Regards,
Tricia Willoughby

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. "Learn and Earn" Program Announced
2. CECAS Rollout
3. National Guard Deployment and State Board Policy
4. SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor to Meet
5. SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Schedules Initial Meeting
6. North Carolina Stock Market Simulation
7. Principals' Executive Program Schedules Symposium/Law Update for New Administrators
8. Regional Meetings Scheduled for Healthful Living Department Chairs
9. Listserv Targets LEA Science Supervisors
10. Current Events Lesson Plans Needed
11. Register Now for Hispanic Achievement Conference
12. North Carolina Theatre Conference Fall Theatre Gathering Scheduled
13. Learning Differences: Ensuring Success for Every Mind

"Learn and Earn" Program Announced

Last week, Gov. Mike Easley announced a new program called "Learn and Earn," which will provide students with "the option of a five-year high school program that enables them to earn a high school diploma and a community college associate degree while gaining necessary skills to pursue a career in the new economy." Learn and Earn will have 15 initial pilots, five of which are currently in operation (Buncombe, Catawba, Durham, Guilford and Nash Counties) with 10 additional sites admitting students next school year (Anson, Chatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Edgecombe, Iredell, New Hanover, Robeson, Rutherford and Sampson Counties). The Governor plans to expand the program statewide.

CECAS Rollout

The Comprehensive Exceptional Children Accountability System (CECAS) is set to deploy statewide today. This system will improve exceptional children student data management by providing automated student accountability, case management, workflow management and compliance monitoring. Those who implement the full capabilities of this system will realize time and cost saving benefits in preparing and exchanging IEP information, generating standard and ad hoc reports, and compiling the periodic child count reports. The CECAS deployment has been timed so that our train-the-trainer plan has ample opportunity to deliver essential user training down to the local schools and LEAs, charter schools and state operated programs. CECAS is prepared to process the Dec. 1 child count. For more information, please contact Mary Watson, Exceptional Children, 919.807.3969, or by email, mwatson@dpi.state.nc.us.

National Guard Deployment and State Board Policy

We have recently learned from the National Guard Family Programs that over 5,000 North Carolina students will be affected by the deployment of North Carolina National Guardsman over the next few years. The mission of the National Guard Family Program is to facilitate on-going communication, involvement and support of Guard families. As part of that role, the National Guard has contacted Mary Easley and the State Board of Education to alert education policy-makers of a particular problem concerning children of guardsmen who are being deployed. During deployment, family members are encouraged to take part in deployment ceremonies and other activities related to deployment. The problem is that students who attend these activities are being charged with unexcused absences. The SBE wants to clarify that SBE Policy EEO-L-002, Policy Defining Excused Absences, in section (b) states that "LEAs may excuse temporary or occasional absences for other reasons in accordance with local board policies, provided that the student has been in attendance for at least one-half of the school day." Therefore, local boards of education may establish policy to define reasons for excused absences, over and above the seven reasons explicitly stated in the State Board policy. We urge superintendents, principals and teachers to examine their local policies to ensure that they are aligned with the intent of the SBE policy on excused absences and to give students of deployed parents the support they need and deserve during these stressful times. Deployment can be very challenging for families, and policy-makers, superintendents, principals, counselors, teachers and communities should all be working together to help our students and families through these difficult transitions. The National Guard Family Program also offers its assistance in working with school systems interested in learning more about the role they can play in deployment. Please contact, Captain Sherrell Murray, State Family Program Coordinator at Sherrell.Murray@nc.ngb.army.mil for additional information. For additional information about the State Board policy, please contact Jane Worsham at 919.807.3400, or by email, jworsham@dpi.state.nc.us

SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor to Meet

The State Board of Education's Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor will meet next Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 3-5 p.m., in the 7th Floor Board Lounge, Education Building, Raleigh. At the meeting, members will discuss revisions to its draft policy defining academic rigor, relevance and relationships. For more information about this meeting, please contact Betsy West, State Board of Education, 919.807.3405, or by email, bwest@dpi.state.nc.us.

SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Schedules Initial Meeting

SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Schedules Initial Meeting - The State Board of Education's Teacher Retention Task Force will meet Thursday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh. SBE Vice-Chair Jane Norwood will chair this committee, which has been directed to study impediments to teacher recruitment and retention, strategies for increasing recruitment and retention efforts, and strategies for increasing the numbers of highly qualified beginning teachers. The Task Force findings are to be reported to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee prior to Feb. 15, 2005. For more information about this meeting, please call Jane Worsham, State Board of Education, 919.807.3400, or by email, jworsham@dpi.state.nc.us.

North Carolina Stock Market Simulation

The North Carolina Stock Market Simulation, sponsored by the North Carolina Council on Economic Education, provides "the most realistic, educational and reliable stock market simulation available to both teachers and students while teaching the fundamentals of investing, as well as how our overall economy works." Teachers and students in the fourth through 12th grades are encouraged to register to participate. The registration deadline is Sept. 27. For more information, please go online to http://www.nccee.org and click on the appropriate link.

Principals' Executive Program Schedules Symposium/Law Update for New Administrators

PEP's seventh annual Leadership Symposium for New Administrators (formerly called the New Principals' and Assistant Principals' Orientation Program) has been scheduled for Nov. 16-17 in Chapel Hill. This one-and-a-half-day event focuses on tactics and strategies to help new principals and assistant principals perform their jobs effectively. A $150 non-refundable registration fee is due by Oct. 25. Special room rates are available at local hotels. For additional information, including registration, please go online to http://www.ncpep.org/content.php/programs/lpap/index.htm and click on the appropriate link. This year, PEP's Fall Law Update will be held Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 17) immediately following the Leadership Symposium. The Law Update will address recent court cases and state legislation affecting public school administration. The cost to attend this session is $50. Additional information, including registration, is available online at http://www.ncpep.org/content.php/index.htm

Regional Meetings Scheduled for Healthful Living Department Chairs

DPI's Healthful Living Section will host regional meetings for all healthful living department chairs (middle and high school) and lead elementary physical education teachers. The meetings will be held on the following dates: Oct. 7 - East Carolina University; Oct. 8 - Duplin County Board of Education; Oct. 28 - Asheville - AB Tech; and Oct. 29 - Alamance County Ray St Complex. Registration forms and directions to each location are posted at http://www.learnnc.org/ Principals are asked to share this information with appropriate staff. For more information please contact Michele Wallen at 919.807.3857 (mwallen@dpi.state.nc.us) or Kymm Ballard at 919.807.3858 (kballard@dpi.state.nc.us)

Listserv Targets LEA Science Supervisors

Principals are asked to remind their science chairs that DPI offers a listserv that targets their specific communications' needs. This listserv is used to announce DPI science curriculum and safety updates, professional development opportunities and grants. All messages are moderated through DPI's Instructional Services' Science Section. If your staff members are interested in subscribing, please have them email their name, job title, LEA and email address to Susan Hart at shart@dpi.state.nc.us. The listserv is not intended to replace the NCSciteach listserv, which has many more opportunities from around the state and country. If you need information on that listserv, please contact Eleanor Hasse at eehasse@dpi.state.nc.us.

Current Events Lesson Plans Needed

The NC DPI Character Education office will be publishing a "how to" guide on recommended practices for teaching current events as part of a larger document. Programs such as Newspapers in Education and Kids Voting will provide sample lessons, but the guide needs lessons from K-12 teachers. Principals are asked to pass along this request to appropriate instructional staff. Teachers interested in submitting lesson plans are asked to include their name, school name, grade level(s), instructional goals and objectives (NC Standard Course of Study, any subject), time required, materials needed, activities or procedures, assessment and follow-up. Lesson plans should be emailed to the attention of Sandy Cook at sandynie@unc.edu or mailed to Sandra Cook, NCPF/NIE, CB #3365, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365. Questions may be directed to Sandy Cook at 919.843.5648. Lesson plans must be received by Sept. 27.

Register Now for Hispanic Achievement Conference

Register Now for Hispanic Achievement Conference - Principals are reminded that the Hispanic Achievement Conference 2004, "Crossing The Bridge Together" will be held Oct. 8, from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the McKimmon Center, Raleigh. This educational conference is presented by the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals (NCSHP), in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction, to empower education leaders, teachers, and community leaders with a better knowledge of the Hispanic student population and the factors that interfere with their educational performance. Successful practitioners will share their experience and expertise in ESL programs, bilingual education, parental involvement, and linguistically/culturally diverse populations as a positive resource. The registration fee is $60. For detailed information about the conference, including speakers and registration, please visit http://www.thencshp.org/conference2004 and click on the appropriate link.

North Carolina Theatre Conference Fall Theatre Gathering Scheduled

The NCTC Fall Theatre Gathering, "Theatre Educates! Exploring the Educational Mission of North Carolina's Professional, Academic and Community Theatres," will take place Nov. 4-6 at Catawba College, Salisbury. This year the State High School Play Festival will be held in conjunction with the Gathering, bringing hundreds of high school students and teachers together with theatre professionals and college/university representatives for three days of performances, admissions and scholarship auditions, workshops and networking meetings. CEU credits are available in performance, technical and literary aspects of theatre. For more information, please visit http://www.nctc.org and click on Programs, Projects and Events or call 919.832.9171.

Learning Differences: Ensuring Success for Every Mind

The North Carolina Medical Society Alliance in conjunction with NC DPI is sponsoring "Learning Differences: Ensuring Success for Every Mind," on Nov. 9, from 1 - 4 p.m., at the McKimmon Center, Gorman St. and Western Blvd., Raleigh. The featured speaker is Dr. Mel Levine, who will discuss ways parents, educators and clinicians can understand how brain functions affect learning, identify learning difficulties without labels, and bring optimism to the process of addressing children's challenges. The registration fee is $45. Concurrent morning sessions also are being held and will focus on "Child Abuse Prevention: The Educator's Perspective;" and "The Value of Sportsmanship: Building Strong Character." There is a $15 registration fee to attend either session. The registration deadline is Nov. 4. To guarantee lunch ($10), payment must be received by Nov. 2. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://www.ncmsalliance.org and click on the Symposium 2004 Learning Differences link.