PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2009

JULY 16, 2009 - Principals' Biweekly Message

Next week is the uniform release date for the preliminary Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results for each public school in North Carolina. As in prior years, the NC Department of Public Instruction will host a one-stop Web page at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/abcayp/ayp/(live on July 21 at 10 a.m.) with links to each school district's AYP reporting page. As a principal, you may find yourself called on to explain the facts of AYP and how it affects parents and students. There are resources online to help you to describe AYP, what it means in your schools and other related details. Many of these are located at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/abcayp/overview/ . You may want to begin with the "Adequate Yearly Progress in North Carolina" document. Notice also the target goals are available as are talking points about AYP results.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. AIG Program Standards Approved
3. School Improvement Plan Template and Guide
4. 2009 ABCs/AYP Background Packet Online
5. Online Writing Instruction System Enrollment Open
6. NC Committee on Dropout Prevention Schedules Conference Call
7. "NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey: Guide for School Improvement" Online
8. SECME Recognizes North Carolina Educato
9. Teachers Recognized for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's virtual Board meeting, members approved several items including revising the Academic Scholars Program, new state standards for Academically or Intellectually Gifted programs, an elementary mathematics add-on license, and QZAB/QSCB Bond administration. Complete Board highlights will be available online tomorrow at www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/highlights .

AIG Program Standards Approved

Last week, State Board members approved the North Carolina Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Program Standards. The AIG Program Standards are critical in providing a statewide framework for quality programming, while still honoring local flexibility. The standards will:

• convey expectations for quality local AIG programs and services;
• guide the development, revision, and monitoring of local AIG programs;
• articulate best practices for local AIG programs, including those related to student identification, differentiated curriculum and instruction, and comprehensive programming;
• provide a guide for AIG personnel and professional development;
• promote strong partnerships and communication between and among home, school, and community; and
• serve as a vehicle for continuous program improvement and accountability.

Please contact NCDPI AIG Consultant Sneha Shah-Coltrane at sshahcoltrane@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.3849 for more information.

School Improvement Plan Template and Guide

During the last academic year, NCDPI's LEA Council developed a new School Improvement Plan template and guide. We announced its completion some time back; however, a few of you have called to report difficulty finding the template on the NCDPI Web site. The permanent Web address for the template is www.ncpublicschools.org/councils/lea/previous/templates/ but also is available as a quick link under Highlights on the main Web page, www.ncpublicschools.org .

2009 ABCs/AYP Background Packet Online

A link to the ABCs/AYP 2009 Accountability Report Background Packet is available on the NCDPI Web site (www.ncpublicschools.org) under Highlights. This packet contains highlights of the 2009 ABCs program, information on the components of the K-8 and high school accountability models, a sample page of how the report will look online and answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Online Writing Instruc tion System Enrollment Open

Allschools interested in participating in the online pilot of the Writing Assessment System for the 2009-10 school year should contact Jim Kroening jkroening@dpi.state.nc.us or Phyllis Blue pblue@dpi.state.nc.usas soon as possible.

NC Committee on Dropout Prevention Schedules Conference Call

The North Carolina Committee on Dropout Prevention will meet via Webinar on Friday, July 24, from 10 a.m.-noon. Agenda items include approval of revised fiscal guidelines for the 2009-10 Dropout Prevention RFP, the 2009-10 Dropout Prevention RFP (new) and the 2009-10 Dropout Prevention RFP (reapplication) and discussion of funding options. Members of the public who would like to participate should contact Stacy Downing at 919.807.3694 for instructions or come to Room 693 of the Education Building, 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh. For more information, please contact Debora Williams at dwilliams@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.3925.

"NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey: Guide for School Improvement" Online

To help facilitate school conversations about improving learning, the New Teacher Center and the NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission created the "NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey: Guide for School Improvement" to support understanding and improve working conditions in schools. The Guide can be downloaded as a single large document or in each of its three sections. The "Facilitator's Guide" contains an outline to the drill-down process for examining and discussing survey results. It includes strategies for approaching the process, descriptions of how to utilize handouts and worksheets, and written prompts to lead discussions. The "Facilitator's Handouts" include all the documents referenced in the "Facilitator's Guide" and helps participants better understand how to interpret and utilize survey data. The final section is the "Individual Item Prompts" provided to assist educators in examining and discussing the specific survey items selected in order to improve working conditions. The "NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey: Guide for School Improvement" is available online at www.ncteachingconditions.org where the school results are found.

SECME Recognizes North Carolina Educator

Congratulations to Durham Public Schools Teacher Jamila Bowser (Lowe's Grove Middle School) who was recently recognized by SECME, Inc. (formerly the Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) as its outstanding educator of the year. SECME recognizes outstanding K-12 educators who have demonstrated leadership ability in advancing student development and outcomes in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Teachers Recognized for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Congratulations to Kathleen Conroy (Providence Spring Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and Carol Swink Wooten (Hunter Elementary, Wake County Schools) for receiving the 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Conroy was the state's 2008 Mathematics recipient and Wooten was North Carolina's 2008 Science recipient. The award is the highest recognition that a K-12 math or science teacher can receive in the United States for outstanding teaching. Recipients are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in math and science. Winners receive $10,000 awards from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a White House awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.

 

If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.