TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2004

APRIL 8, 2004

Last week, the State Board of Education and I went on an historic "bus trip" to Washington, D.C., where we met with members of North Carolina's Congressional delegations, as well as Rep. John Boehner, chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and one of the architects of No Child Left Behind. In a separate meeting, we also met with leaders from the U.S. Department of Education. The meeting was very positive and began a dialog that could have a positive impact for North Carolina schools and NCLB. The State Board was invited to follow up with specific recommendations that could be considered. Key elements of North Carolina's position on different elements of NCLB can be reviewed at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/ under Items of Interest.

Regards,
Mike Ward

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Editorial Response
3. Governor Proclaims "Littler Sweep" Weeks
4. Supplemental Retirement Plan Helps Educators Budget for the Future
5. Elementary Social Studies Summer Institutes
6. Arts Education Literacy Institute Scheduled
7. Shakespeare Teachers Workshop Planned
8. Preserve America History Teacher of the Year

State Board Meeting Highlights

North Carolina's emphasis on student achievement growth was a strong theme of last week's State Board of Education meeting. Citing an interest in continuing to emphasize the state's growth model, members voted to continue having "Most Improved" recognition categories for K-8 schools and for high schools. In addition, the Board approved allowing nine charter schools to become alternative charter schools because they meet specific criteria involving the school's performance composite and because they serve a largely at-risk student population. Also, federal grants in five categories were approved. Complete Board meeting highlights are posted online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights/

Editorial Response

Some of you may have seen a recent editorial by Sen. Elizabeth Dole concerning North Carolina reversions of federal dollars. I wanted you to know that State Board Chairman Howard Lee and I responded to this editorial to set the record straight. Although the U.S. Department of Education has reported that North Carolina reverted $55 million in federal education funds, the facts are that we have only reverted $3.6 million from federal grants received since 1996-97. We cannot verify Sen. Dole's and the U.S. Department of Education's figure, and they have not supported the figure with details. By our accounting, North Carolina reverts less than two-tenths of 1 percent of our federal education dollars. As you know, some reversions are inevitable when dealing with a large grant such as the $923 million received annually in federal education funds, but our goal has been and continues to be to keep reversions low and to use all public funding to address the needs of citizens as intended.

Governor Proclaims "Litter Sweep" Weeks

Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed the weeks of April 17 - 30 "Litter Sweep" to coincide with the N.C. Department of Transportation's annual spring roadside cleanup. Local schools may want to organize campus cleanup events during this time to draw attention to the state's litter problem, the need to recycle, and the impact of a clean environment has on our quality of life. For more information, please contact Helen Landi, Office of Beautification Programs, NC DOT, 919.715.3188.

Supplemental Retirement Plan Helps Educators Budget for the Future

Through a supplemental retirement plan, educators have an opportunity to plan and budget for the future, which will be hear sooner than you know. As employees of the State of North Carolina, you have the opportunity to participate in the NC 401(k) Plan, which is sponsored by the state and administrated by Prudential Retirement. This supplemental retirement savings plan is the largest of its kind in the U.S., and enables educators to participate on a pre-tax basis, meaning that contributing to the NC 401(k) Plan reduces your current taxable income. There are 12 Education and Enrollment Regional Managers located across the state who are available to meet with you individually or at group meetings to answer your questions about the plan, about saving for retirement and about your savings options. Teachers are encouraged to look toward the future and to begin planning for it today by looking into the NC 401(k) Plan. To find out who your local Regional Manager is, please call 919.664.7101.

Elementary Social Studies Summer Institutes

NC DPI's English Language Arts and Social Studies Section is offering the following elementary Social Studies Summer Institutes:

"

Social Studies: The Key to Reading, Comprehending and Communicating" is designed to equip teachers with strategies needed to effectively integrate social studies and reading skills and standards. The seminar is scheduled for June 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at NC DPI, Raleigh. The cost is $50 and capacity is limited to 100 participants.

"North Carolina History and Geography" is a one-day institute for educators of North Carolina History and Geography, and specifically for fourth grade teachers. Topics include the first English settlement and life in colonial North Carolina. The institute is scheduled for June 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at NC DPI, Raleigh. The cost is $60 and capacity is limited to 100 participants.

Contact Tracey Greggs, English Language Arts and Social Studies Section, NC DPI, 919.807.3836, or by email, tgreggs@dpi.state.nc.us, for registration forms.

Arts Education Literacy Institute Scheduled

The NC DPI Arts Education Literacy Institute will be held June 14-16 at the Radisson Governor's Inn, RTP. K-12 Arts educators (Dance, Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts) will have the opportunity to recognize and identify reading and writing strategies that are an integral part of arts education programs and to explore ways to implement these strategies in their classrooms. All educators will have opportunities to work within their individual grade spans and disciplines and will receive a wealth of information and resources to support reading and writing methods and literacy across the curriculum. Upon completion, certificates will be provided worth 2.0 CEU credits with prior approval from the local school system, with an optional follow-up activity toward 1.0 additional CEU credit (all credit received may be applied toward the State Reading Methods Requirements for K-8 Teachers). The registration deadline is May 19. For more information and to register, please go online to

http://www.learnnc.org/ or call Christie Howell, Arts Education, NC DPI, at 919.807.3856 or 919.807.3855.

Shakespeare Teachers Workshop Planned

The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival is planning its 2004 edition of Hands-on-Shakespeare, a weekend workshop for English teachers. This year's workshop begins Friday afternoon, July 9, and ends Sunday noon, July 11, and will be held on the campus of High Point University. Hand-on-Shakespeare is for the novice as well as the veteran teacher at the middle or the high school level. Its goal is to help teachers rediscover Shakespeare and enhance their classroom skills and takes a performance-oriented approach to teaching Shakespeare in the classroom. Teachers will receive a certificate of completion should they seek continuing education credit for the workshop from their school system. Registration, including meals, is $225 for overnight participants and $175 for commuters. Space is limited and the deadline for registration is Friday, June 4. Teachers interested in Hands-on-Shakespeare should contact Casey Schmidt, NCSF's Director of Sales, at 336.841.2273, x226, via fax at 336.841.8627, or by email, groupsales@ncshakes.org.

Preserve America History Teacher of the Year

Preserve America is accepting nominations for its "Preserve America History Teacher of the Year" to honor outstanding teachers of American History. The national winner will be selected from state and territorial recipients. History teachers from elementary through high school are eligible. The nomination deadline is April 30. For full details, including the nomination procedure, please go to DPI's Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and look under "What's New?"