Major Changes Coming To NC Public Schools In 2012-13; Regional Meetings Help Ensure Educators Are Prepared


There are big changes coming to North Carolina public schools next year including new curriculum standards, new tests and a new accountability model. Key North Carolina Department of Public Instruction staff will hold a series of regional meetings over the next five weeks to ensure that local principals and educators understand the changes and how they work together to support a new era of teaching, learning and accountability. The meetings are part of North Carolina’s communication efforts in the state’s Race to the Top plan.

At each meeting, staff will describe the state’s new Standard Course of Study including the incorporation of Common Core State Standards and Essential Standards; the new accountability model and its focus on career and college readiness; new uses of technology to support student learning; professional development support opportunities for teachers and administrators; and a new evaluation model for teachers and administrators. Each school in the region will send its principal and a teacher representative who will in turn be prepared to share the information with fellow staff.

“Educators have to continually remodel how we do things so that we can successfully help students prepare for today’s economy and challenges,” said State Superintendent June Atkinson. “I look forward to meeting with principals and teachers to share with them all the initiatives that will bring student learning in North Carolina to a whole new level.”

The dates and locations for the regional meetings are below. Two meeting sessions will be held at each location (9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.) with the exception of the March 7 meeting, which will be a morning session only.

  • Feb. 28 – Downtown Marriott, Greensboro
  • March 7 – Elizabeth City State University
  • March 8 – UNC-Wilmington, Burney Center, Wilmington
  • March 9 – Fayetteville State University, Shaw Auditorium, Fayetteville
  • March 12 – McKimmon Center, NC State University, Raleigh
  • March 15 – Crowne Plaza, Hickory
  • March 22 – Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord
  • March 23 – Crowne Plaza, Asheville

In 2008, a Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability laid the groundwork for these changes. The Commission made a variety of recommendations for modernizing the state’s public school system in its final report (pdf, 152kb).

About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 100 charter schools serving over 1.4 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state’s public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.

For more information:
NCDPI Communications and Information, 919.807.3450.