RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The latest edition of Department of Public Instruction web highlights includes updates on the Give Five/Read Five campaign and several  new websites.

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1. Give Five-Read Five Campaign Blooms as School Communities Share Efforts

The Give Five-Read Five campaign is in full swing with schools and businesses collecting books to share with students over summer break. Check out two new sections on the Give Five-Read Five website at  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/give5read5/ to learn how schools and communities are working to promote summer reading and address summer learning loss.

-High Five – You’ve been telling us the great things that you’re doing for the Give Five-Read Five campaign and we want to share it with others. The High Five page publicizes efforts by teachers, students, schools and local businesses to collect and distribute books to elementary school students.

-Media – Media outlets in local communities are discovering that the Give Five-Read Five campaign is a great way to feature good things that are going on in schools. Check out the list of stories that have appeared in community newspapers and on television news programs.


2. New Websites Sprout at NCDPI
Flowers are not the only things popping up this spring! We’ve launched a number of new websites in May, and encourage you to visit one, or all of them to see what’s new.

 -Cooperative Innovative High School Programs -  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/cihs/. Cooperative Innovative High School Programs encourage school districts to partner with their local postsecondary educational institutions. These partnership programs are designed to establish high school programs that target first-generation college students and students who are at risk of dropping out of high school. Accelerated learning opportunities are also offered through these local partnerships.

 -Career and College Promise - This program allows eligible NC high school students to enroll in college classes at North Carolina community colleges and universities through their high school. Students who successfully complete college courses earn college credit they can take with them after graduation. Students also can earn dual credit - meeting high school graduation requirements with college courses. To learn more about the Career and College Promise Program, please visit  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/ccp/.

 -Division of Advanced Learning -  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/advancedlearning/.  Supporting the advanced learning needs of students across North Carolina is critical as the NCDPI and educators work to ensure that all students are career and college ready. The Division of Advanced Learning brings together various advanced programs at the NCDPI such as Academically or Intellectually Gifted, Career and College Promise and Cooperative Innovative High School.  

 -Deputy State Superintendent – Areas for the Deputy State Superintendent include Accountability Services, District Human Resources, District and School Transformation, Educator Effectiveness, Federal Monitoring and Support, K-3 Literacy, Office of Regional Support Services, Office of Early Learning and the state's Residential Schools. To learn about the initiatives from the Deputy State Superintendent’s Office, please visit  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/deputysuperintendent/.

 

3. 2015-16 CCIP Training Scheduled May 26-29
Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) training for the 2015-16 Consolidated Application will be held May 26 – 29 at the NCDPI in Raleigh from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Registration is first come-first served, but preference will be given to new Title I directors. Space is limited to 24 school districts/charter schools per session, with two representatives from each school district/charter school permitted to attend. Webinars are being scheduled to accommodate staff that cannot attend the in-person training. For more information, please visit  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/program-monitoring/.

 
4. Summer Tuition Awards Available for Special Education Teachers
Limited summer tuition awards are available for special education teachers working toward meeting provisional license requirements. Under this tuition program, employed bachelor-level special education teachers with a provisional license may receive the actual cost of tuition for one approved summer course to cover up to $140 per semester hour as long as they earn a final grade of "B" or higher. These costs are paid by the Exceptional Children Division on a reimbursement basis. If the tuition is above the $140 per semester hour rate, it will be the responsibility of the recipient to pay the difference. These awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis as long as federal grant funds are available. Copies of this application packet are available to download at  http://ec.ncpublicschools.gov/finance-grants/tuition-reimbursement/.

 
5. “Growing Success for ELLs” is Theme for ELL Conference
The English Language Learners Conference is scheduled for Aug. 3-5 at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro.  A draft agendas, registration, accommodations, and vendor information are available at  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/esl/.