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NC DPI »   Districts & Schools »   Classroom Resources »   Academic Standards

Academic Standards

Office of Academic Standards

The primary purpose of the Office of Academic Standards is to serve as the authoritative source for the review, revision, and support for the implementation of state content standards in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The Office of Academic Standards additionally supports multiple legislative and grant-related programs, initiatives, and reporting requirements.  Please visit the webpages on the side-rail to access information, materials, and resources across areas and programs.  

North Carolina Standard Course of Study (SCOS) Internal Procedures Manual

On February 3, 2022, the State Board of Education approved an internal procedures' manual for reviewing, revising, and implementing content standards.  

The purpose of this manual is to provide explanation of and guidance on:

  • the process to be followed when developing or revising a section of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS),
  • the topics, categories, and minimum supporting materials to be included in the contents of a standard course of study, and
  • the considerations that must be made as standards are being reviewed/revised/implemented.

The manual is designed to assist with the task of revising or developing a content area of the NCSCOS. It is not intended to guide the development and/or revision of local curriculum guides or other curriculum support documents. 

Download the manual at the bottom of the page.

Standards Review and Revision Updates

Healthful Living, K-12

On May 5, 2022, the NC State Board of Education granted permission for NCDPI to move forward with the review and revision of the K-12 Healthful Living standards, per SCOS-012.

Data Review Committee Application (DRC)

The NCDPI Healthy School Team is excited to share an opportunity for interested educators and community partners to participate in the K-12 Healthful Living Standards review process by serving on the Data Review Committee (DRC).  The goal of this committee is to review data and trends on the current Healthful Living Standard Course of Study along with feedback collected from interviews, focus groups, and survey responses from stakeholders.  The DRC will analyze this data to make recommendations for a separate Standards Writing Team (SWT) to consider.

NCDPI is seeking applications from a range of stakeholders with experience in reviewing and compiling data including K-12 educators from all grade levels, content areas, and resource specialists. Equally important are school/district leaders, educators from institutions of higher education, and business and community leaders.

Please use the links below to apply.

NCDPI Health Education DRC Application 

NCDPI Physical Education DRC Application

Standards Writing Team Application (SWT)

The NCDPI Healthy Schools Team is excited to share an opportunity for educators, educational leaders, and stakeholders to participate in the K-12 Healthful Living Standards revision process by serving on a Standards Writing Team (SWT).  The goal of these teams is to write the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) for Health and Physical Education based on the Data Review Committees’ recommendations.  The Standards Writing Teams will be trained and have access to all research and data. The SWT will meet periodically throughout the revision process to review and revise the NCSCOS for Health and Physical Education.

NCDPI is seeking applications from a range of stakeholders including K-12 educators from all grade levels, content areas, and resource specialists. Equally important are school/district leaders, educators from institutions of higher education, and business and community leaders.

Please use the links below to apply.

NCDPI Health Education SWT Application

NCDPI Physical Education SWT Application

Science, K-12

On May 5, 2022, the NC State Board of Education granted permission for NCDPI to move forward with the review and revision of the K-12 Science standards, per SCOS-012.

K-12 Science Standards Updates (August 2022)

By the middle of August, the Science team will have completed 9 focus groups, one for each State Board of Education region as well as one for the Charter Schools across the State.  The K-12 Science team has selected the members for the Data Review Committee who will begin their work reviewing feedback from survey data as well as feedback from interviews and focus groups the first week of September. We are excited to have representation from across the State.  For additional background:

  • The goal of this committee is to review raw data and trends on the current standards and make recommendations based on this data for the Standards Writing Team to consider as they revise the standards

  • The DRC reviews extensive data collected by surveys, focus groups, and interviews, as well as research on other states’ standards, national standards and frameworks, and scholarly research

  • All applicants were reviewed under a “blind” rating system

  • Multiple divisions assisted in reviewing and rating applicants

  • Every effort was made to ensure diversity and representation

By the beginning of September, the K-12 Science team will also submit recommendations for members for the Standards Writing Team, which was chosen in a similar format to the Data Review Committee. For more detailed information on the process and procedures involved please review the N.C. Standard Course of Study Manual. You can also review the most recent Monthly Standards Update provided to the State Board of Education.

Funding Opportunities

Educational and Competitive After-School Robotics Program (PRC 201)

APPLICATION CLOSED

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) anticipates funding to hold in reserve and to award as grants, approved by the SBE, to (i) promote evidence-based, after-school programs for robotics education and competition, (ii) motivate students to pursue education and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while building critical life and work-related skills, and (iii) re-engage students and remediate learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the Competitive After-School Robotics Grant is to increase the number of students demonstrating proficiency in science and math and to support schools in their efforts to increase the number of students interested in pursuing education and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Competitive After-School Robotics Grant will allow participating students to enhance their experiences in STEM and enable them to advance soft skills (communication, collaboration, etc) to support educational growth. Participating educators will have an opportunity to guide student teams in their learning and growth while advancing a skillset and earning a stipend. 

View the RFP and Guidance Document.

 

Plasma Games Pilot Competitive Grant Program (PRC 196)

APPLICATION CLOSED

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) anticipates funding to hold in reserve and to award as competitive grants, approved by the SBE, to promote access to innovative digital and personalized learning solutions for high school students that bridge the gap between chemistry and physical science classes and career and technical education (CTE) career pathways.

The purpose of the Plasma Games Pilot Competitive Grant Program is to promote access to innovative digital and personalized learning solutions for high school students demonstrating proficiency in science and math and to support schools in their efforts to increase the number of students pursuing education and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Districts and PSUs participating in the pilot must incorporate the software program developed by Plasma Games, Inc., in select STEM classes, and CTE programs, to encourage student interest and workforce development.  A local school administrative unit participating in the pilot shall provide the Department with a plan for the placement of the STEM-focused educational technology developed by Plasma Games, Inc., in its schools and may include a plan from the pilot program established pursuant to Section 4.2D of S.L. 2020-4, as enacted by Section 1.1(e) of S.L. 2020-80, if the unit participated in that pilot.

View the RFP and Guidance Document.

Files

NCSCOS Manual - February 2022.pdf

PDF • 2.03 MB - February 04, 2022

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https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/classroom-resources/academic-standards