TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2011

DECEMBER 20, 2011 - Teachers' Biweekly Messages

Developing common assessments for the non-tested subject areas is an important part of implementing our state's new teacher effectiveness and evaluation model. In fact, more than 800 of you are involved in the assessment development to ensure that the products are on target and appropriate. To assist in this area, the NCDPI has entered into two partnerships that will help the work groups as they develop assessment items. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Wake County Public Schools have agreed to partner with the NCDPI and the educator work groups to share assessment materials that they have already developed in their districts. This will provide the educator work groups with a rich array of assessment items to review and consider in the development of the assessments needed for statewide use. I appreciate Wake Superintendent Tony Tata and CMS Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh for their willingness to be collaborative partners in this area. I also want to thank all of you who are participating in these work groups. By bringing all of our knowledge and expertise to the table, we will end up with better assessments that serve teachers and students well. You will receive updates and opportunities to give us input as we develop these common assessments. Happy Holidays!

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. Measures of Student Learning and the NC Testing Program
2. What Will Next Generation Assessments be Like?
3. Webinar Focuses on Implementing Common Core Mathematics Standards
4. Nov. 17 Webinar on Mathematics Common Core State Standards and Math I Standards Online
5. Updated "Working in North Carolina Public Schools: A Look at Employee Benefits" Online
6. NC Council for the Social Studies Offers Grants/Awards/Scholarship Opportunities
7. Kenan Fellows Program Open for Applications

Measures of Student Learning and the NC Testing Program

Measures of Student Learning (MSLs), sometimes called "common exams," are a shared way to gauge student growth in all currently non-tested grades and subjects in the Common Core State Standards for Math and ELA and the NC Essential Standards. While these measures will be used statewide, they are not the same as our statewide summative assessments in the NC Testing Program: the End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments. Districts and charter schools will have flexibility to decide how to use the MSLs as part of students' grades. The State Board of Education will not collect or publish the results of the MSLs, although the NCDPI will assist with scoring and data analysis.

Eight hundred North Carolina teachers from over 100 LEAs and 10 charter schools are involved in the design process for the Measures of Student Learning. The design group members began their work in October, and will continue to provide feedback for the remainder of 2011-12 school year. NC will implement the MSLs statewide during the 2012-13 school year.

For more information about the Measures of Student Learning, please contact Jennifer Preston at Jennifer.Preston@dpi.nc.gov or 919.807.4187.

The NC Testing Program will continue delivering statewide summative assessments in grades 3-8 in Mathematics and English Language Arts, grades 5 and 8 in Science, and at the high school level for Algebra I, English II, and Biology. Beginning in 2014-15, the NCDPI expects to implement the assessments developed by the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). The assessments planned through SBAC will include ELA/Math for grades 3-8 and one High School Assessment in ELA and Math (w/ Performance Tasks in grades 9 & 10) and would replace the current NC developed EOG and EOC assessments in ELA and Math. For more information about the NC Testing Program, please visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/acre/assessment/.

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 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 which Jan. 10 from 3-5 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.

Nov. 17 Webinar on Mathematics Common Core State Standards and Math I Standards Online

The Nov. 17 webinar targeted to high school mathematics teachers on the Common Core State Standards and Math I Standards is available online for those unable to participate or who want to revisit the webinar. To access the recorded webinar, please visit www.ncdpi.wikispaces.net and click on Mathematics then the High School Mathematics link to the left. You will find this and other resources related to Integrated Mathematics on this web page.

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."

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

Social Studies teachers: Please be aware of short response time. We're sorry for the short notice. 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.