PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008AUGUST 8, 2008 - Principals' Biweekly Message
This week, Gov. Mike Easley met with local superintendents at a special meeting on to highlight the opportunities for students to earn college credit while they are still in high school. A number of activities are underway to promote Learn and Earn Online and Learn and Earn with students, families and teachers and principals. To learn more about all the options for low-cost or no cost college, please go to www.nclearnandearn.gov. By helping youngsters see the great opportunities available to them, we hope that all students will be motivated to graduate from high school. Please remember that Graduation Awareness Week is Sept. 7-13 - a good opportunity to remind your community of the importance of high school graduation.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
State Board Meeting Highlights
The State Board of Education met this week and approved the ABCs growth rates, cohort graduation rates, the ABCs incentive award formula, and program approval requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act. Board members discussed changes regarding eligibility criteria for accommodations and alternate assessments designated for students identified as limited English proficient, More at Four pre-kindergarten curricula recommendations, and teacher evaluation policies in addition to hearing a presentation on the North Carolina Virtual Public School's first year of operation. Complete Board Highlights will be available online later next week at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights. News releases about the ABCs growth and incentive awards and the cohort graduation rates are at www.ncpublicschools.org under News.
USDA Releases 2008-09 Policy on Free and Reduced-Price Meals
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has announced the 2008-09 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy on free and reduced-price meals for children enrolled in the state's public schools. The USDA's school meals programs help ensure all students have access to a nutritious diet. To read more, please go to the NCDPI Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."
Cost Savings Tip
How much is it worth to you to turn off your office equipment? A recent study by NCDPI staff evaluated the cost of leaving desktop computers, printers and other office computing/printing equipment on overnight when employees have left for the day. The finding? Turning off these items at the end of the workday is a significant cost savings. If your school isn't already doing so, consider encouraging employees to turn off desktop computers and printers when the workday is over. The savings can really add up!
Dropout Prevention Brief Online
The Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University has published "Dropout Prevention: Strategies for Improving High School Graduation Rates," and has placed the brief on its Web site at www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/familyimpact. An earlier version of the brief was made available at the Center"s 2008 North Carolina Family Impact Seminar held in June. The brief includes the following data and insight regarding the dropout problem:
- Brief 1: Tough Questions for Policymakers to Consider in Addressing the Dropout Problem
- Brief 2: Assessing the North Carolina Dropout Challenge
- Brief 3: What is a Dropout?
- Brief 4: State-level Dropout Prevention Programs, Strategies and Policies
In addition, the appendices include glossaries of relevant education acronyms and education terms, a lis t of organizations addressing dropout issues, a publications list and two tables: Compulsory School Attendance Laws by State and North Carolina Dropout Event Rates by LEA. If you would like additional information about the Center or NCFIS, please contact Jenni Owen at 919.613.9271 or jwowen@duke.edu.
Upcoming October Workshops
Educators will want to grab their calendars and consider attending the following DPI sponsored workshops:
"Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement" will be held Oct. 29-30 (date changed from Oct. 7-8!), from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., in Room 150 of the Education Building, Raleigh. Central office administrators, lead teachers, principals, school counselors and 21st Century community directors are encouraged to attend. The registration fee is $125 per person. Pre-registration is required. For more information, please go online to www.ncpublicschools.org/racg or contact Sonja Leathers at 919.807.3687 or sleather@dpi.state.nc.us.
Ruby Payne's "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" will be held Oct. 8-9, from 8 a.m. -4 p.m., in Room 150, Education Building, Raleigh. Superintendents, central office staff, principals, social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school parent involvement coordinators and 21st Century Community Learning Centers' representatives are encouraged to attend. For more information, please go online to www.ncpublicschools.org/racg or contact Kenneth Babineaux at 919.807.3657 or kbabineaux@dpi.state.nc.us.
LEARN NC Offers Virtual Mentoring Program
New teachers can often have the toughest teaching assignments. If you're worried about sending an inexperienced biology or civics teacher into the classroom, point them toward LEARN NC's Virtual Mentoring program for guidance and expert help. Their time commitment will be minimal. It's available at any hour, day or night. And best of all, it's yours at no cost to participating teachers, your school, or your LEA. For more information, please visit http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4191
Small Grants Available for Youth Civic Education Projects
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has provided the Civic Education Consortium with another year of funding to support the Small Grants Program. To that end, the Consortium is now seeking grant proposals from organizations working to prepare North Carolina's young people for active, responsible citizens. The Small Grants Program provides grants of $1,000-$10,000 to fund innovative, collaborative youth civic education programs that take place in communities, schools, or government organizations. The grant is for a period of one year or less, beginning January 1, 2009. Collaborative projects, such as partnerships between schools and community organizations, other nonprofits, and/or government agencies, are strongly encouraged. Applicants must be a 501 (c) (3) or a government agency. The application deadline is Oct. 15. More information on the Small Grants program, including the grant application and a sample completed application can be found on the Consortium's Web site at www.civics.org or at http://www.sog.unc.edu/programs/civiced/programs/small_grants.php
Mock Trial Competition
The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers is sponsoring its annual Wade Edwards High School Mock Trial Competition. The competition provides students with an opportunity to gain a strong understanding of both the U.S. legal system and their rights and responsibilities as a citizen. Students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and work alongside local attorney volunteers who advise the student teams as they prepare for competitions, which are held at local courthouses across the state. The competition case will be available online on Oct. 13 at http://ncatl.org/page/community_projects/. This year's competition will be held on Feb. 21, 2009 with winners competing for the title of state champion on March 21-22, 2009. For more information, please contact Liz Avery-Jones, NC Academy of Trial Lawyers, liz@ncatl.org or 919.835.2808.
If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv
group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.