eptember 8, 2026

Bonus Dual Language/Immersion and World Languages Bulletin

The NCDPI DL/I Team and the NCDPI World Languages Team would like to share this bonus bulletin with these upcoming professional development (PD) and networking offerings, as well as two new grant opportunities.

• NCDPI World Languages Webinar Series begins at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, September 9 

• 10th International Conference on DL/I Proposals are due Friday, September 11

• New NCDPI Grant Programs

  • Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Applications are due September 19

  • NC Competency-Based Education Innovation Grant Applications

  • If you or someone you know would like to subscribe to the NCDPI listserv(s), please go to the NCDPI Email Updates page and follow the steps to add your email address to any of the topics available.

NCDPI World Language Webinar Series

Begins this Wednesday, September 9

Join us for the 2026-2027 World Languages Standard Course of Study (SCOS) Webinar Series: Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency! This series provides practical strategies that bring the new standards to life in your classroom and build real-world proficiency for your students.

Each session features the SCOS toolkit resources like the Unpacking’s “In the Classroom” examples, along with national tools such as the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements and Guiding Principles for Language Learning. We’ll dive deep into the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication, showing you how to weave in literacy, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and community connections from the strands. Best of all, you’ll focus on how to adapt and implement Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) tailored to your K-12 program(s), language(s), and course(s).

Dates & Registration

The 2026-2027 World Languages SCOS Webinar Series will be held on the following Wednesdays at 3:45 - 5:15 pm. Register for each session using the links below or via the webinar series brochure.

1. Using Integrated Performance Assessments - September 9

2. Strengthening the Interdisciplinary & Literacy Connections Strand - November 4

3. Supporting the Intercultural & Communities Connections Strand - February 3

4. Providing Effective Feedback with Performance Assessment Rubrics - April 7

Certificates & Badge

Your professional growth is important to us! All participants at the live broadcasts will receive a Certificate of Attendance. If your schedule is full, don’t worry—recordings and activities will be posted with an asynchronous option available so you can still earn credit on your own time. 

Educators who participate in at least three of the four sessions, synchronously or asynchronously, will earn the Teaching and Assessing for Proficiency Completer Badge!

10th International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education

Proposals due this Friday, September 11

Dual Language/Immersion (DL/I) educators are invited to submit a session proposal by September 11, 2026, for the 10th International Conference on Immersion & Dual Language Education—a signature gathering for educators and researchers committed to advancing multilingual learning.

Join educators, researchers, and advocates from around the globe to explore the future of immersion and dual language education. Engage in rich discussions, share research and classroom strategies, and build lasting connections at this milestone event.

Additional details and the submission form are at dli-alliance.org/event/global27/, including information about the four topic strands and the various Fresh Take presentation types listed below.

• 50 minute sessions:

  • Ignite Sessions sharing innovative practices, applied research, or transferable ideas and examples.

  • Deep Dives exploring a case study, research, or best practice via in-depth discussion or modeling.

  • Peer Connections facilitating conversations around shared challenges amongst job-alike peers.

• 30 minute sessions:

  • Brain Bursts troubleshooting a problem of practice through collaborative analysis.

  • Vision Sparks imagining a bold future with “What if…” scenarios that challenge current assumptions.

  • 2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the 2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program, a new funding opportunity designed to help North Carolina public schools develop, maintain, or expand educational and competitive speech and debate teams for students in grades 9–12.

Grant Opportunity at a Glance

Who is eligible? Any North Carolina public school unit (PSU) that includes a high school serving students in grades 9–12 may apply.

How much funding is available? A total of $250,000 in nonrecurring funding is available statewide for the 2026–2027 school year. NCDPI may award up to $10,000 per participating high school team.

What can grant funds support? Grant funds may be used for:

• Coach stipends, including up to $2,500 for one lead coach and $1,500 for one assistant coach

• Fees associated with participation in speech and debate leagues or competitions

• Travel to and from speech and debate competitions

What are the program requirements? Teams receiving grant funds must participate in both the Tarheel Forensic League and the National Speech and Debate Association.

What will be prioritized? Funding will be awarded through a competitive process, with consideration given to applications that support access, broad geographic representation, economically disadvantaged student populations, and a clear plan for measuring the program's impact on academic achievement and other student outcomes.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: September 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET
Anticipated Award Notification: No later than October 31, 2026

PSUs will submit one application on behalf of participating high schools. The application will be submitted through the Google Form provided to PSU leaders.

We encourage interested PSUs to review the Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program Guidance & Planning Document carefully before applying. The document includes eligibility requirements, allowable uses of funds, application guidance, evaluation rubrics, budget requirements, and other information to support the development of a competitive proposal.

Important Links

• Guidance & Planning Document

• Application (complete, PDF, and submit via Google Form)

• Google Form for submission

This grant provides an exciting opportunity to expand student access to speech and debate experiences that strengthen communication, engagement, academic learning, and student voice.

Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov and details are posted in the Grants section on the Office of Teaching and Learning page.

NC Competency-Based Education Innovation Grant Program

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the North Carolina Competency-Based Education (CBE) Innovation Grant Program, a new multi-year opportunity designed to support schools ready to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment through competency-based education.

Through this competitive grant program, 10 North Carolina schools will be selected to receive $330,000 each to support the planning and implementation of competency-based education models.

About the Opportunity

The CBE Innovation Grant Program is designed to support schools and districts in transitioning to educational models that focus on mastery of learning rather than instructional time. Participating schools will explore innovative approaches that provide students with more personalized learning pathways, flexible opportunities to demonstrate mastery, and rigorous learning experiences grounded in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

The initiative will focus on four key areas:

• Redesigning learning pathways to support personalized learning and flexible student progression

• Innovating assessment practices, including formative and performance-based approaches that measure student mastery

• Building educator capacity through sustained professional learning and implementation support

• Developing strategies and promising practices that can inform the expansion of competency-based education across North Carolina

Funding

NCDPI will award grants to 10 participating schools, with each selected school receiving $330,000 over the life of the program.

Participating schools will use $95,000 each applicable school year for training on the implementation of competency-based education. Remaining grant funds may support costs associated with the transition to CBE, including travel and competency-based education resources.

Who May Apply?

The grant program is open to all North Carolina public school units.

NCDPI will prioritize schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to competency-based education and assessment innovation and show readiness to undertake this significant instructional transformation.

Program Timeline

The initiative is a multi-year commitment.

2026–2027: Planning and preparation
2027–2028: Implementation begins
2028–2030: Continued implementation, learning, evaluation, and refinement
June 30, 2030: Grant funding and services conclude

Selected schools will participate in professional learning, technical assistance, collaborative learning opportunities, monitoring, evaluation, and quarterly progress reporting throughout the initiative.

Important Application Dates

Application Deadline: October 18, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Tentative State Board of Education Approval: December 2026

Interested PSUs are strongly encouraged to review the North Carolina Competency-Based Education Initiative Guidance & Planning Document and application materials carefully before beginning a proposal.

Important Links

• Guidance & Planning Document

• Application (complete, PDF, and submit via Google Form)

• Google Form for submission

This opportunity is intended for schools ready to engage in meaningful, sustained work to rethink how students experience learning, demonstrate mastery, and progress toward rigorous academic expectations.

Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov and details are posted at the bottom of the Grants section on the Office of Teaching and Learning page.

Connect with the NCDPI DL/I and World Languages Teams

Email the NCDPI DL/I Team at NCDLI@dpi.nc.gov

Go to NCDPI DL/I on the Internet at go.ncdpi.gov/NCDLIwebpage

See the NC DL/I Program Directory at go.ncdpi.gov/NCDLIdirectory

Email Dr. Ann Marie Gunter, K-12 World Languages Consultant

Go to the World Languages Resources Hub: go.ncdpi.gov/WLresources

See the NCDPI World Languages Networking page at go.ncdpi.gov/WLnetworking