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Department of Health Sciences

Professional Learning

Click here to view the NCDPI EC Calendar of Events

Requests for NC DPI ECD Professional Learning should come from a PSU Administrator.  If you are interested, or in need of Professional Learning , please contact your local PSU Administrator.   The link is provided below, so that you will know what information is required from the PSU Administrator.
Individual Practitioners should not use this link to request Professional Learning sessions.
DPI is working to complete the PL catalog, the link will be posted on the DPI website.

Requesting NC DPI ECD Professional Learning

Virtual Meetings and Office Hours

Office hours/Meetings will be open for the duration of the time scheduled, join as your schedule permits!!

The Hub for Virtual Meetings will updated soon, we apologize, we are experiencing technical difficulties.

Upcoming Virtual Meetings:

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Exceptional Children Conference

The NC DPI EC Annual Conference is held each year in Greensboro.  Information on the upcoming EC Conference and previous conferences can be found on the EC Annual Conference Page of the NC DPI website.

NC DPI Summer Institutes

Annually, the EC Division schedules a weeklong Summer Institute, with a wide variety of offerings.  This professional development is designed to provide opportunities for administrators, teachers and related services personnel seeking in-service training in the education of exceptional children.  A list of summer courses is provided, and registration includes a minimal fee for this professional development.

Information and registration on the upcoming summer institutes can be found on the Summer Institutes page of the NC DPI website.

NC DPI Statewide Meeting of Related Services Representatives

Best Practices in Related Service Documentation

NC DPI has prepared a webinar to support related service provider documentation for a variety of service plan types. The guidance, in the form of a recorded webinar, is provided as an overview of documentation standards based on recent changes to the NC Division of Health Benefits (DHB) Medicaid policy 10-C and NCDPI’s launch of the Every Child Account Tracking System (ECATS) for school year 2019-20. Content informed by licensure and professional standards of practice for documentation in School Psychology, School Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-language Pathology, and Audiology are reviewed in the webinar. In addition, the best practices shared in the webinar are inclusive of documentation of services to students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs), Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs), Section 504 plans, and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). The guidance applies to all practitioners serving students under one of these plan types, including contracted providers.

Clinical Education for Related Service Providers in NC Public Schools

This course provides an overview of school-based clinical education programs/internships in for OT, PT, SLP, and school psychology. Topics include Instructional strategies for adult interns, managing conflict, communication/feedback, internship scope and sequence.

How Physical Therapists Can Contribute to Safe Transportation

This session was presented at the NCPTA 2023 Transpose. You may find content or slides helpful for presentations or collaborative efforts between PSU physical therapy programs, Special education and Transportation departments. Please adapt to meet your local needs and contact me with any questions – (919) 636-1827

Integrated IEP Development

This half-day course focuses on practical strategies to develop more student-centered IEP goals and progress monitoring to collaborate with all team members to improve student achievement and function throughout the school day.

To request this PD in your area, please have your EC Director complete a request form.

Movement Based Instruction

Movement Based Instruction Understand the role of movement in learning. Experience movements that help the brain and body work together. Acquire resources and ENTHUSIASM for implementing movement in classrooms. Design bank of movement-based instructional strategies.

This course provides an overview of the theoretical underpinning, evidence base, and ideas for movement-based learning activities in schools. Content and resources will cover strategies for use with students across grade and ability levels. Participants will engage in sample activities throughout the day and have opportunities to plan their own, additional, movement-based teaching methods using the NC SCoS as a guide.

Medicaid in Education

Get Started with the Medicaid in Education On-Demand Course
  • Medicaid in Education On-Demand Course
    • These on-demand modules provide background on why public schools recover costs for health services from Medicaid, the three programs available for Public School Unit (PSU) participation, how each program works, helpful practices and considerations for all who participate (and much more…). This course includes 4 modules; and will provide .3 CEUs (3 hours).
    • Trouble accessing the on-demand course through NCEES? Please complete this request form for alternate access
  • Medicaid in Education Live Sessions (in-person or virtual)
    • This course provides an overview of school-based Medicaid programs, including administrative claiming, fee-for-service, cost reporting, and documentation. Content can be tailored to meet the needs of a given audience.
    • To request this PD in your area, please have your EC Director complete a request form.

Overview of School-Based Practice

The Overview of School-based Practice is offered annually as a Summer Institute to support the orientation of newly hired or contracted practitioners into educational practice. Your consultants for Psychological Services (Lynn Makor), Occupational Therapy (Bridgette LeCompte), Physical Therapy (Laurie Ray) and Speech-Language (Perry Flynn) are also working with the talented Amy McLemore to develop this content into on-demand modules for availability through NC DPI ECD Professional Learning. Recognizing the remarkable personnel turnover of late, we have posted the recorded Overview of School-based Practice sessions from the 2020 Summer Institute for interim access.

Get Started with Overview of School-Based Practice On-Demand Course

  • Trouble accessing the on-demand course through NCEES? Please complete this request form for alternate access

Additional Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

If you would like to add an event to share, please contact Amy McLemore amy.mclemore@dpi.nc.gov

These are offered for your information, they are not necessarily endorsed or co-sponsored by DPI.  Please see additional information.

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    Statewide Meeting for Related Service Provider Representatives

    Registration is now open for the Statewide Meeting for Related Service Providers. April 12, 2024 | 10:00am – 3:00pm | Edgecombe County Community College, Tarboro, NC April 18, 2024 | 10:00am – 3:00pm | Burke County Conference Center, Morganton, NC  

  • Save the Date Spring 2024

    Statewide Meeting for Related Service Provider Representatives

  • Council for Exceptional Children North Carolina logo

    NC CEC 37th Annual Conference

    Professional development opportunity, details below. This conference is not endorsed, affiliated with or sponsored by NC DPI. Shared for your information…. NC CEC 37th Annual Conference Friday * February 23 (virtual awards ceremony) Saturday* February 24, 2024 (in person) “Empowering Educators: Evidence-Based Practices for Exceptional Learners” Come together with administrators, policymakers, teacher educators, special educators, … Read more

  • How Physical Therapists Can Contribute to Safe Transportation

    This session was presented at the NCPTA 2023 Transpose. You may find content or slides helpful for presentations or collaborative efforts between PSU physical therapy programs, Special education and Transportation departments. Please adapt to meet your local needs and contact me with any questions – (919) 636-1827. You can find this presentation on the Professional … Read more

  • Overview of School-Based Practice for Related Service Providers flyer

    Overview of School-Based Practice for Related Service Providers Updated Course Now Available!

    This self-paced course provides an overview of school practice from an interprofessional perspective. This content can be helpful to orient practitioners to school practice. Current related service providers, new graduates, contracted providers, experienced therapists transitioning to work in public schools for the first time, and students considering employment in school-based practice (e.g., Psychologists, OTs/OTAs, PTs/PTAs, … Read more

  • Medicaid in Education

    Medicaid in Education On-Demand Course Now Available!

    These on-demand modules provide background on why public schools recover costs for health services from Medicaid, the three programs available for Public School Unit (PSU) participation, how each program works, helpful practices and considerations for all who participate (and much more…). This course includes 4 modules; and will provide .3 CEUs (3 hours).