Strengthening the Birth-through-Eight Continuum through the Every Student Succeeds Act; Hands-On Support for Developing NC District Plans

Register now – space is limited!

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides new opportunities for school districts to strengthen the birth-through-third grade continuum – a critical strategy to improve third grade reading proficiency.

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are required to engage early learning stakeholders in developing district ESSA plans for the 2018-19 academic year. The Department of Public Instruction is partnering with the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation (NCECF) to support LEAs and early childhood community leaders in collaborating to develop the early learning components of district ESSA plans.

Join us for one of four regional meetings for district teams to learn more and begin the planning process. Please note space is limited.

  • Greenville – Monday, January 22, 2018
  • Fayetteville – Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
  • Asheville – Thursday, January 25th, 2018
  • Winston Salem – Friday, January 26th, 2018

These regional meetings will:

  • Provide an overview of ESSA early learning requirements and opportunities,
  • Prepare districts to engage cross-sector, early learning stakeholders in plan development,
  • Support districts in identifying data needed to inform decision-making, and
  • Support districts in beginning to outline early learning components to consider.

While stakeholder engagement throughout the planning process should include a broad array of early learning leaders, space for the regional trainings is limited.

Build Your Team (maximum of six members) and Register!

Teams must include:

  • Head Start Director
  • Title 1 Director or Representative
  • Smart Start Local Partnership
  • Superintendent or a Representative from the Superintendent’s Office

Teams are encouraged to include the following additional members. A maximum of two from the following list may attend the regional meeting along with the four listed above.

  • Elementary Schools: Principal and/or Teacher
  • Child Care: Administrator and/or Teacher
  • Child Care Resource and Referral
  • Exceptional Children
  • McKinney Vento
  • NC Pre-K Committee
  • Family Engagement
  • Community College System
  • Community Organization Supporting Dual Language Learners
  • Health System
  • Existing Early Childhood Collaboratives (e.g., Campaign for Grade-Level Reading)
  • Higher Education- University/College
  • School Board Member

Following these meetings, we will be providing intensive support to a small number of local teams, including coaching, materials, a shared learning community and plan review. There will be a short application process and those selected will receive a small stipend. Materials and lessons learned will be shared across the state.

Register online!

For more information, please contact: