Press Releases

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.

Today Superintendent Mark Johnson announced that Maria Pitre-Martin, deputy superintendent for district support, has been chosen to lead the Petersburg, Virginia city schools as superintendent.

Many students rely on the nutritious meals served during the school year through the School Breakfast Program, School Lunch Program, and Afterschool Meals Program. But hunger doesn't take a summer break. Nearly 1 million children in North Carolina struggle with hunger when school is out.

NC State Superintendent Mark Johnson announced today that the state education agency has contracted with Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) to provide a statewide Say Something Anonymous Reporting System in the 2019-20 school year.

Parents, educators and all other community members are invited to provide feedback regarding Draft 2 of the proposed revisions to the content standards for the following 4th Level Mathematics Courses

Schools in the Wake and Cumberland county public school districts and a private school in Durham are among 35 schools nationwide named today as U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools for their efforts to reduce environmental impact, improve health and wellness, and ensure effective sustainability education.

A student culinary team from Apex High in Wake County won first place in the Southeast Jr. Chef Competition earlier this month for their grilled chicken street tacos with mango salsa, seasoned black beans and cilantro lime rice. The team of two students, Amanda Marrott and Alyssa Townsend, represented North Carolina in the second annual regional competition held May 9-10 at Sullivan University in Kentucky.

Matthew Bristow-Smith, a past regional teacher of the year who has led Edgecombe Early College High School to high student performance for the last five years, was named Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year at an awards luncheon today in Cary.

Three public school students from North Carolina where announced as 2019 Presidential Scholars by the U.S. Department of Education. The agency recognized 161 high school seniors from across the country for their accomplishments in academics.