TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007

FEBRUARY 8, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message

Last week, the State Board of Education approved cut scores for four end-of-course tests: Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry and English I. In setting these scores, the Board strongly considered teacher input that was collected on expectations and performance of students. As these cut scores are applied, teachers may see fewer students scoring in the higher levels of achievement. This is not surprising in some ways. Expectations for students and understanding of workplace and post-secondary demands have increased significantly in the last decade. Teachers know this and reflected this in their determination of where cut scores should be set. The change in cut scores does not impact the growth component of the ABCs or the incentive awards/bonus money provided under the accountability model. It does give students a better sense of how well their performance matches up with the expectations of teachers statewide and of "real world" needs.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. State Dropout Rate Increases in 2005-06
3. NCVPS Recruiting Teachers
4. LOVE THE BUS! Valentine Cards from Students to School Bus Drivers
5. REAL D.E.A.L. Schools Named
6. 2006-07 "Super Safe" Schools Announced
7. U.S. Department of Education to Visit Laurel Hill Elementary
8. Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative: The Power of K
9. Spirit of Freedom Exhibit
10. March 2 Success
11. North Carolina in the World Offers Web Resources for Teachers

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's Board meeting, members approved recommended interim academic achievement cut scores for Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and English I; discussed its Reading Literacy Strategic Plan and the use of the Praxis II option for birth-kindergarten teachers to be designated Highly Qualified and received the 2005-06 Dropout Data Report. Complete Board highlights will be available online tomorrow afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link.

State Dropout Rate Increases in 2005-06

North Carolina's dropout rate increased slightly in 2005-06 and is now 5.04 percent, an increase of 6.33 percent according to the "Annual Dropout Event Report for School Year 2005-06" presented to the State Board of Education last week. The dropout rate in 2004-05 was 4.74 percent. State law requires school officials to record the reason for a student's decision to drop out of school. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of students who report they are dropping out of high school to enroll in a community college. In 2003-04, 7 percent of dropouts reported community college enrollment as the reason; in 2004-05, the percentage was 9.6. In 2005-06, 12.1 percent or 2,692 students gave community college enrollment as the reason for dropping out. A majority of dropout events continue to be related to attendance issues. To access the complete report, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the "More" news link.

NCVPS Recruiting Teachers

The North Carolina Virtual Public Schools (NCVPS) is recruiting teachers who have taught on-line or who have interest in learning how to teach online. NCVPS will begin offering a series of professional development sessions later this month to assist teachers with the transition from traditional classroom instruction to online instructional delivery. As NCVPS falls under the State Board of Education, state licensure requirements do apply to instructional staff. To meet these requirements, NCVPS courses will be taught by North Carolina certified teachers working in the field. If you have interest in teaching for NCVPS, please forward your resume and contact information to Linda Austin at laustin@dpi.state.nc.us. If you have already submitted your resume for a teaching position with NCVPS and have not received an acknowledgement, please check with Gloria Williams at 919.513.8550 or by email Gloria_williams@dpi.state.nc.us before resubmitting.

LOVE THE BUS! Valentine Cards from Students to School Bus Drivers

The American School Bus Council (ASBC, www.americanschoolbuscouncil.org) is a new organization dedicated to the education of parents, school officials and lawmakers about the essential role of the yellow school bus. ASBC research has shown that one reason that parents often feel alienated from the school transportation process is that they do not know their school bus driver and very often do not even know the NAME of their school bus driver. Local initiatives to help close this gap can only strengthen your school transportation system. This year, focusing on a Valentine's Day theme, the ASBC is promoting a campaign called LOVE THE BUS, using the time around Feb. 14 for a special bus driver appreciation emphasis. Promotional and educational materials, including suggested school bus safety resources for teachers and Valentine Cards that can be printed off and used by students to show their appreciation to their school bus drivers are posted on the LOVE THE BUS Web site at www.lovethebus.com. School districts also are encouraged to hold special events of interest to the media to help spread the word of the vital role of school bus drivers. For more information, please contact Derek Graham, NCDPI Transportation Services, 919.807.3571, or by email dgraham@dpi.state.nc.us.

REAL D.E.A.L. Schools Named

Congratulations to the following schools for recently being named REAL D.E.A.L. (Dedicated Educators, Administrators & Learners) schools in recognition of their strong teacher working conditions and high student achievement: Ranger Elementary-Middle (Cherokee County), East Elementary (Cleveland County), Jack Britt High (Cumberland County), J.P. Knapp School (Currituck County), Morehead Elementary (Guilford County), Shepherd Elementary (Iredell-Statesville), Walter L. Parsley Elementary (New Hanover County), West Rockingham Elementary (Richmond County), Rutherford Early College High (Rutherford County) and Salem Middle (Wake County). These schools represent elementary, middle and high schools and both rural and urban areas of the state. Gov. Easley announced the recipients at a luncheon highlighting 2006 Teacher Working Conditions Survey results.

2006-07 "Super Safe" Schools Announced

Congratulations to the following schools for being named 2006-07 "Super Safe" Schools: Supply Elementary (Brunswick County Schools); Butler Avenue Elementary and Clinton High (Clinton City Schools); Chowan Middle, White Oak Elementary and DF Walker Elementary (Edenton/Chowan Schools); Greene County Middle, Snow Hill Primary and West Greene Elementary (Greene County Schools); Sandy Grove Elementary (Hoke County Schools); Pineville Elementary (Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools); Codington Elementary (New Hanover County Schools); Hunters Creek Middle, Southwest Middle, Swansboro Middle and Richlands Primary (Onslow County Schools); Northeastern High (Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Schools); Perquimans County Middle and Perquimans Central (Perquimans County Schools); Richmond Primary and Rohanen Primary (Richmond County Schools); Southside-Ashpole, Rosenwald Elementary, Rowland Norment Elementary, Littlefield Middle and East Robeson Primary (Robeson County Schools); Hobbton Middle (Sampson County Schools); Monroe High, Sun Valley High, Unionville Elementary and Walter Bickett Elementary (Union County Schools); Vandora Springs Elementary and Reedy Creek Middle (Wake County Schools); and Forbush High and Yadkin Success Academy (Yadkin County Schools). NCDPI's School Safety and Climate Division established the Triple "S" School Award to recognize public schools' exemplary efforts to ensure the safety of students and staff. For more information, please contact Marguerite Peebles, School Safety and Climate, NCDPI, 919.807.3940, or by email, mpeebles@dpi.state.nc.us.

U.S. Dept. of Education to Visit Laurel Hill Elementary

Congratulations to Laurel Hill Elementary (Scotland County Schools) for being one of nine schools nationwide selected for a site visit by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the RMC Research Corporation. Laurel Hill Elementary was one of 281 schools to earn the distinction of 2006 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School. The team, which is scheduled to visit the school on Feb. 6-7, will look at the Laurel Hill's instructional program, what factors contribute to the school's success and which instructional practices can be shared with other schools. The information gathered also will be included on the USED's Web site.

Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative: The Power of K

As a reminder, NCDPI's Elementary Education Division is pleased to announce its North Carolina Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative; The Power of K. In response to the many challenges facing kindergarten teachers, NCDPI's Primary Team is launching a new project to enhance the leadership skills and content knowledge of a selected group of kindergarten teachers from each region of the state. The goal of this initiative is to establish a group of kindergarten teacher leaders for North Carolina. This group of teachers will participate in a three-year comprehensive professional development project that is designed to increase student achievement by implementing practices proven effective in addressing the educational needs of all kindergarten students. An application and directions are available online at http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ec. All applications are due by noon, Feb. 15. For more information, please contact Eva Phillips at 919.807.3850 or by email, ephillip@dpi.state.nc.us.

Spirit of Freedom Exhibit

The American Tobacco/Capitol Broadcasting Company Inc., will feature a special collection of Nelson Mandela's drawings from Feb. 1-April 27 in the main lobby of the American Tobacco Campus. The six original drawings and their accompanying text highlight Mandela's personal experiences while at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town South Africa from 1964 until 1982. Mandela's sketches take viewers on a journey through the barbed wire fences at the guard tower, to the stone quarry where the prisoners worked, to the prison hospital where they received updates on their families and through the Courtyard. The Exhibit is free and open to the public. School group tours will be offered. For more information on tours, please go online to http://www.americantobaccocampus.com/reservations_existing.asp or call 919.433.4260.

March 2 Success

March 2 Success is a free online test preparation program designed by Kaplan and Educational Options to provide high school and college students test preparation training. The U.S. Army sponsors March 2 Success to help potential applicants raise their scores on the entrance aptitude battery. This Web-based program has been shown to improve students' test-taking skills and can benefit students taking other standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, as well as state mandated tests. The site is free and available to anyone, regardless of their intentions to join the military. For more information, please go online to www.march2success.com

North Carolina in the World Offers Web Resources for Teachers

The North Carolina in the World Web site, www.ncintheworld.org, now has more than 650 Web-based resources available to teachers. Developed and hosted by Learn NC, the site gives teachers tools to infuse international content across the curriculum. Offerings include classroom strategies, professional development and grant opportunities as well as international experts available for classroom visits.