PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2011

DECEMBER 16, 2011 - Principals' Biweekly Message

Tenth graders across North Carolina have been taking the PLAN assessment over the last week or so to help them gauge readiness for college-level work and to assist them in identifying areas where they need to focus more attention in preparation for high school graduation and life beyond. In March, 11th graders will be taking the ACT, and in May, high school seniors who are Career and Technical Education completers will take the WorkKeys assessment. This suite of assessments is developed by ACT to help gauge career and college readiness, and North Carolina public schools are piloting their use for our state in 2011-12. In 2012-13, we anticipate that all three assessments will be given again and will that the ACT will become a formal part of the state's new high school accountability model in 2013-14. But, ACT will provide more to our state than accountability. Students will have portable college admissions scores that they can use during their college selection and admissions process, and students who are CTE completers taking WorkKeys will have tangible results to demonstrate their career readiness to future employers and to community college admissions staff. This is the first time that North Carolina has supported every student's access to college admission tests. It is my hope that this access will help students address academic shortcomings, consider college options also leave high school with demonstrated career skills. This is a win for our students and also for our schools.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. What Will Next Generation Assessments be Like?
2. Webinar Addresses Updates to Online Evaluation System
3. Webinar Focuses on Implementing Common Core Mathematics Standards
4. Dec. 5 ACT Accommodations' Webinar Recording Online
5. Updated "Working in North Carolina Public Schools: A Look at Employee Benefits" Online
6. New Electronic Resource Guide
7. Potential Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors
8. NC Council for the Social Studies Offers Grants/Awards/Scholarship Opportunities
9. Kenan Fellows Program Open for Applications
10. Principals' Message Breaks for Holiday

What Will Next Generation Assessments be Like?

Beginning in the 2012-13 school year, the new Common Core State and NC Essential Standards will be taught and assessed in all North Carolina public schools. Schools are currently participating in the stand-alone field tests for the new assessments in ELA, Math and Science. Test specifications are available on the website to describe the information that will be included in the new assessments (by content area and grade level). You can find the new assessments specifications at www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/assessment/online/ .

Additional information available on the online assessment website includes a quick reference document about the Next Generation of Assessments. This document describes the benefits of the new assessments and the timeline for administration, references the alignment with the SMARTER Balanced Assessments, and provides additional resources for more information about plans for the transition to these new assessments. You can find the quick reference document at www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/acre/assessment/assess1pageroct11.pdf .

Webinar Addresses Updates to Online Evaluation System

NCDPI's Educator Recruitment and Development Division is pleased to announce three webinar opportunities for principals focused on updates to the online evaluation system including the abbreviated version and new writeable sections of the PDP. Staff also will review the latest information on Educator Effectiveness including the addition of Standard 6 to the Teacher Evaluation and Standard 8 of the Principal/AP Evaluation. The schedule for these webinars is below. All webinars are the same so choose the time that best fits your schedule.

• Monday, Dec. 19, 2-3:30 p.m. Registration Web Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/951002912
• Friday, Jan. 6, 9-10:30 a.m. Registration Web Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/620510545
• Friday, Jan. 6, 3:30-5 p.m. Registration Web Link: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/504631457

Questions regarding the webinar may be directed to Eliz Colbert at Eliz.Colbert@dpi.nc.gov .

Webinar Focuses on Implementing Common Core Mathematics Standards

We know districts around the state are at very different places as they enter the world of Common Core mathematics. Staff have received a lot of feedback saying people just don't know how to get started. In this webinar, staff will provide ideas on first steps, pacing, and organization of materials. If you are just starting the planning process, this webinar, is for you. The webinar will be held Jan. 10 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. To participate, please register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/137465529 . After you register, you will receive an email message with participation instructions. Questions regarding the webinar may be directed to Susan Hart Susan.Hart@dpi.nc.gov or 919.807.3846.

Dec. 5 ACT Accommodations' Webinar Recording Online

The Dec. 5 ACT Accommodations' Webinar recording and PowerPoint are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/. The Webinar and additional information on the ACT may also be found online at www.act.org/aap/northcarolina/.

Updated "Working in North Carolina Public Schools: A Look at Employee Benefits" Online

"Working in North Carolina Public Schools: A Look at Employee Benefits" summarizes benefits generally available to state-paid employees and most federally- and locally-paid personnel. The subject guide was discontinued in May 2008. With several requests to have the guide reinstated with current updates, NCDPI personnel staff have revised and posted the guide online at www.ncpublicschools.org/humanresources/district-personnel/key-information/under "Key Information."

New Electronic Resource Guide

The new edition of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education's "Electronic Resource Guide" is now available online. It has many additional search options and other features that will enhance its usefulness in identifying the great supports for schools that exist in North Carolina. The revised guide is available online at http://erg.ncbce.org/ .

Potential Scholarship Opportunity for High School Seniors

High school principals are asked to share the following information with school counselors. The Wake Electric Scholarship Program has kicked-off and students can apply for both the coveted Fred M. Alford Scholarship, as well as a number of Touchstone Energy Scholarships. All applications will be under consideration for one of the two scholarship categories. Students only need to submit one application to be considered for both scholarship programs. Students may visit www.wemc.com/scholarships.aspx to download an application and to learn more about requirements. March 30 is the deadline to submit applications to the Wake Electric Scholarship Program.

NC Council for the Social Studies Offers Grants/Awards/Scholarship Opportunities

Principals: given the short response time, please inform your social studies teachers of these opportunities. The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies announces grants, awards, and scholarships for current and pre-service social studies teachers in North Carolina. Guidelines, applications, nomination forms and conference information for the following are posted on the NCCSS website at http://ncsocialstudies.org .

• NCCSS Student Teacher Scholarship - The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies offers a $1,000 scholarship to an undergraduate student in North Carolina who will be student teaching in social studies in 2012 or 2013. Dec. 31 is the application deadline.
• NCCSS Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year - The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies recognizes exemplary teaching in the field of social studies at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Dec 31 is the nomination deadline.
• NCCSS Teacher Grants - The North Carolina Council for the Social Studies provides grants of up to $1,000 to help teachers make an even greater impact in their classroom, school district, and community through innovative social studies programs. Dec. 31 is the application deadline.
• NCCSS 42nd Annual Conference - The NCCSS 42nd Annual Conference will be held Feb. 23-24 at the Koury Convention Center Four Seasons, Greensboro. The Conference will have sessions for K-16. Sessions will be held on the new Essential Standards.

Kenan Fellows Program Open for Applications

The Kenan Fellows Program offers a unique opportunity for K-12 public school teachers from all disciplines to collaborate with research and industry professionals to integrate relevant science, technology, engineering and math into classroom instruction. Fellows develop new, inquiry-based curriculum to share with other teachers and become part of a respected network of accomplished teachers who serve as leaders in their districts and across the state of North Carolina. The application period to become a Kenan Fellow for the Class of 2013 is now open. You can nominate an innovative teacher or teachers can apply on the program website at www.kenanfellows.org . The application period ends Jan. 23.

Principals' Message Breaks for Holiday

This will be the last Principals' message for 2011. The next Principals' message will be sent Thursday, Jan. 19. We will send interim messages as appropriate. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction staff wish you a holiday filled with the love of family and friends.