Several Summer Nutrition Programs that fulfill a critical need in providing nourishment and educational enrichment to children when school is out were recently honored for going above and beyond to serve children. In all, 16 program sponsors and a similar number of program sites received one of five state-level awards.
Press Releases
North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson has announced that $73 million in grant funds from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund will be awarded this year to school districts in Camden, Graham, Hertford, Northampton, Rutherford and Wilson counties. The grant awards will allow for construction of new school buildings in these economically distressed areas.
North Carolina’s results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress held steady on exams administered during the 2018-19 school year, with fourth and eighth graders performing at levels similar to 2016-17, when the nationwide assessment of reading and math skills was administered last.
A new initiative aimed at attracting more girls to computer science classes was launched today at a Hoke County middle school, where fifth, eighth and 12th grade female students from across the district were encouraged by education and technology leaders to enter a field where women remain outnumbered by men.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction's Center for Safer Schools has been awarded a grant of nearly $1 million from the U.S. Justice Department to enhance the key supports it provides to the state's 116 school districts and nearly 200 charter schools.
Four North Carolina teachers are in Washington, D.C., this week to join teachers from across the nation to receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) - the highest honor bestowed by the federal government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science teaching.
Asheville City and Durham Public schools won top awards.
Picture a child tasting a tangy tomato or sweet strawberry, perhaps for the first time. Thanks to a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 100,000 students in dozens of North Carolina elementary schools will have the chance to taste fresh produce snacks and learn about fruits and vegetables, from apples to zucchini and even paw paws – many of which are grown in our state.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Office of Charter Schools an additional $10 million to support a statewide initiative to help meet the needs of educationally disadvantaged students. North Carolina was awarded a $26.6 million federal grant last year under the Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program, which is aimed at expanding opportunities for all students – particularly educationally disadvantaged students – to attend high-quality charter schools and as well as increasing the number of high-quality charter schools across the state.
North Carolina’s high school class of 2019 widened the state’s lead with the nation on the SAT college entrance exam, according to results released today by The College Board, which administers the national exams.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) School Nutrition and District Operations Division, along with a diverse group of partners, invites all private nonprofits, public organizations and advocates interested in ending summer hunger for children to participate in the sixth annual SummerPalooza! Summits.
Fourteen nonprofit boards submitted applications to open public charter schools in August 2021. A listing of applicants is available on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction Office of Charter Schools' website.
The performance of North Carolina public schools ticked up last year on the state’s annual School Performance Grade accountability measurement, with more schools meeting or exceeding expectations for student gains and more schools earning grades of As and Bs.
At the Aug. 14 meeting of the Governor’s Education Cabinet, education leaders and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the launch of TeachNC, a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, BEST NC, TEACH.org. TeachNC is a statewide teacher recruitment initiative that employs both a broad media campaign and a robust web platform to support teacher candidates in their quest to become a teacher in North Carolina.
Five nonprofit boards submitted applications to open public charter schools on a Fast-Track or Accelerated timeline in August 2020. A listing of Fast-Track and/or Acceleration applicants is available on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of Charter Schools' website. To be approved to open on an acceleration schedule, Fast-Track applicants must meet certain conditions as outlined in State Board of Education policy CHTR-016, and Acceleration applicants must meet the conditions outlined in State Board of Education policy CHTR-013.
Regional K-12 Culinary Institute workshops being held across the state this summer are helping school nutrition managers learn new culinary skills and creative on-trend recipes to take back to their schools. The School Nutrition and District Operations Division of the Department of Public Instruction designed the institute to increase the availability of appealing, nutritious meals at school.
Ten North Carolina Summer Nutrition Program sponsors are among 118 nationwide this year to receive Turnip the Beet awards, given by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to recognize outstanding providers who work hard to offer high quality meals that are appetizing, appealing and nutritious. North Carolina has the most 2019 Turnip the Beet awardees of any state in the Southeast.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction today announced the 2019-20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy for free and reduced price meals for children enrolled in North Carolina’s schools. The Federally-assisted school nutrition programs help ensure all students have access to wholesome, nutritious, appealing meals at school.
State Superintendent Mark Johnson has announced the addition of two senior staff members to the leadership team at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
North Carolina Summer Nutrition Programs are adding a focus on farms to the food, fitness and fun they provide to children by offering foods grown locally and educational activities about agricultural, food and nutrition. This year's Farm to Summer feature is a win for kids, farmers, schools and communities.