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An advisory group of education leaders reviewing the state’s approach to assessing public schools based on A-F performance grades is proposing that several indicators be added to the state’s school accountability system to more accurately and fairly reflect school quality and student success.

Donna L. Bledsoe, principal of Cedar Ridge Elementary School in Surry County, was named the 2023 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year at an awards luncheon today in Cary.

North Carolina has long been home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran armed service members. In recognition of the state’s rich military history, the Department of Public Instruction is pleased to recognize hundreds of schools as part of its Purple Star Award Designation initiative which first launched in the 2019-20 school year.

Four high school seniors from North Carolina were named U.S. Presidential Scholars today, among 161 recipients recognized nationally for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and career and technical education fields.

A new analysis of North Carolina test results from the 2021-22 school year shows that students made significant strides from the previous year in recovering instructional time lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kimberly S. Jones, a veteran English teacher at Chapel Hill High School, was named the 2023 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year during an awards luncheon today at the Umstead Hotel in Cary. Jones was selected from a field of nine finalists representing the state’s eight education districts and charter schools.

Students in early elementary grades in North Carolina public schools continue to show gains in literacy skills, according to results of a key assessment administered during the middle of the current school year.

The Center for Safer Schools’ (CFSS) annual RISE conference – typically held in the summer months before school starts back – is intended to prepare all stakeholders for the upcoming school year by providing trainings from statewide experts in many fields. Since school safety is a yearlong focus, the CFSS is now stepping up its statewide outreach with online “mini-RISE” sessions and school tours.

Eight high school finalist teams competed in the annual North Carolina Jr. Chef cook-off this month to create unique school lunch entrée recipes. The “Waffle House” team from Apex High with Wake County Public Schools won first place in the 2023 North Carolina Jr. Chef Competition.

State and local education officials from around North Carolina gathered Friday, March 17 as the Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) marked its 10th anniversary at the Education Building in Raleigh. The meeting recognized the accomplishments of the CFSS while also keeping the focus on the importance of safer schools.