Public School Academy (PSA) Oversight
In an effort to clarify its oversight authority of the operations of charter schools, the State Board of Education received a requested report from the Michigan Department of Education. The report indicated that the Board’s authority is limited to reporting annually on charter school oversight and operations to the legislature; rescinding the authority of a charter school authorizer not meeting its responsibilities; and ensuring that a public school academy complies with the MEAP test protocols. The actual creation of charter schools and ensuring that they are constituted properly is the responsibility of the authorizers and ensuring that charter schools are operating legally is the responsibility of the charter school’s board.

Of the 132 allegations that had been raised about charter schools and authorizers, the department found only 25 that were within its jurisdiction.
There are currently 225 charter schools in Michigan and 25 have been closed.

Bullying and Harassment
The Board, through consensus, called on the State Department of Education to develop a model anti-bullying policy. The State Board of Education would like to be pro-active on this issue after noting Governor Jennifer Granholm’s mention of the bullying issue in the State of the State address and the fact that there are several anti-bullying bills currently in the Legislature that would require action by the Department or school districts on the issue.

MEAP Results
MEAP results to school districts were delayed for the third year in a row. The State Superintendent of Instruction, Michael Flanagan, expressed his disappointment in the MEAP test contractor. It was noted that pinning the blame on the MEAP staff is unfair and that the contractor signed a letter of apology that went out to all school districts.

State Professional Learning Strategic Plan (Draft)
The State Board of Education reviewed a draft of the plan that was developed by the State Board of Education with input from the educational field. It should be noted that in the document, “adult learning” or “professional development” is being abandoned in preference to “professional learning”.

The Board supported the initiative, asking the department to prioritize the items in the plan (they felt it was too lengthy) and to tie in professional learning with pre-service education. Click here to view the full proposed plan.

Statewide English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) for English Language Learners
A key provision of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires that each state develop an and implement the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) by the close of the 2005-06 school year. Michigan is implementing this assessment during the month of April (April3-28, 2006) The EPLA will be administered to all English language learners in grades K-12. English language learners (ELL) is defined as students who are Limited English Proficient (LEP).
The Board will approve the English Language Proficiency Assessment at its March meeting. Click here for the complete report.

Parents of Students Enrolled in School Districts Identified for Improvement Notice
The Michigan Department of Education has placed on their website a notice to parents of students enrolled in school districts identified for improvement. The notice explains how schools become identified for improvement, as well as what happens when districts are identified for improvement. A list of all of the schools identified for improvement is also included. Click here for the notice to parents and school list.

High School Content Expectations
The State Department of Education staff is working on proposed High School Content Expectations (HSCE). They recently spent several days consulting with a national group (Achieve) to plan and prepare a review of the proposed HSCE by institutes of higher learning and the business community. The process was begun last week when over 60 university staff and professors of English, writing, and Mathematics came together with department staff to perform a “side by side” comparison of the new proposed High School Content Expectations with what they think students should know and be able to do upon entering institutions of higher learning. Following much discussion and editing, the High School Content Expectations are now headed for a national review.

School Improvement Framework
The State Department will officially launch its School Improvement Framework at a conference in Lansing at the Lansing Center on April 27, 2006. Robert Marzano is the guest speaker. This conference is designed as an in-depth overview for educators for the purpose and use of the School Improvement Framework. Further information and registration can be found online here.

A pre-conference workshop for Intermediate School District Staff, representatives of educational organizations only and the Alliance for Building Capacity in Schools (ABCS) is also planned for Thursday, March 23, 2006 in Lansing at the Radisson Hotel. Further information and registration click here.

Student Work Hours
SB 179 amends the Youth Employment Standards Act to provide that a 16 and 17 year old student could not work more than 20 hours week when school is in session. Currently, when school is in session, a student who is 16 or 17 may not work a combined school and work week of more than 48 hours.

Certification for 6th Grade Teachers
SB 443 authorizes a teacher with either an elementary or a secondary teaching certificate to teach at the 6th grade level.

At-Risk Funding
SB 330 requires school districts with above average populations in learning disabilities to spend at least 25% of their “at-risk” funding on early intervention programs and services. This bill has passed the Senate and has been referred to the House.

Bullying and Harassment
HB 5616 requires school districts to have a bullying and harassment policy that would be adopted through a process that includes representations of parents, school employees, volunteers, pupils, school administrators, and community representatives.

District Owned or Leased Motor Vehicles
HB 5522 would amend the State School Aid Act of 1979 to require school districts and intermediate school districts to provide information on district-owned or leased motor vehicles to the Department of Management and Budget, no later than November 1 of each year. If the district fails to provide such information, any state aid made under the Act would be withheld.

International Baccalaureate Assistance
HB 4835 would provide $250,000 in funds for International Baccalaureate high school programs (there are currently only two in Michigan).

This bill also directs the State Department of Education to develop course content expectations for all of the above and offer direction as to what should be included in those course content expectations.

The bill also states that the developed course content expectations must be reviewed by a group before they can be implemented. The group shall consist of a designee of the State Board of Education and the chairs of the Senate and House Standing Committees on Education.
A pupil who has completed at least grade 8 may request modification of his/her individual high school graduation requirements and a personalized alternative curriculum.

A pupil is considered to have successfully completed a course if the pupil earns a grade of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The board of school districts will ensure that each public school within its district is accredited with prescribed criteria.

SB 1021 amends the School Code direct district boards of education or the board of directors of public school academies not to award a high school diploma to a pupil unless they meet the following requirements: at least 4 credits in English language arts; at least 4 credits in mathematics, including 2 algebra courses, geometry, and an additional course ( if the pupil completed 1 or more of the specified required mathematics courses before beginning high school, the pupil may substitute another mathematics course); at least 3 credits in social science including United States history, world history, economics and civics; at least 3 credits in science, including biology, chemistry or physics, and an additional course approved by the school district; at least 2 credits in world language; at least one credit in health and physical education; at least 1 credit in fine arts or music; the completion of elected courses aligned with 21st century skills; and the completion of 1 course or learning experience that is presented online.

If a student has completed grade 11 and at least 3 years of the Michigan Merit Curriculum, the student may request a modification of his or her individual high school graduation requirements.
The individualized education plan of a pupil receiving special education services supersedes the above graduation requirements.

School districts are required to ensure that the content expectations for the curricular requirements are met by providing the required courses or by using alternative instructional delivery methods such as alternative course work, career and technical education or humanities course work sequences.

Note! The House and Senate versions of high school graduation requirements are similar, but with some differences. Hearings are currently being conducted by both the House and Senate on these bills.

Community Service Requirement
HB 4278 states that if a school has a community service requirement for high school graduation, a student’s parent or legal guardian has the right to appeal those requirements to the board of a school district. This bill was passed in the House and moves to the Senate.

K-16 Coalition
The K-16 education coalition was formed by participating educational associations to guarantee annual inflationary increases in state K-12 education and college funding.

The Coalition has filed more than 300,000 petition signatures to address inflationary increases in K-12 education and college funding (254,206 petition signatures are required to get the proposal on the ballot). Once the signatures are verified as valid, the House and Senate have 40 days to vote on whether school should receive annual cost-of-living increases.

If they decline to do so, the issue goes before the voters on the November 2006 ballot.
If voters approve the issue, the Legislature would need a two-thirds majority to change it later.

For more information, visit the K-16 website.

Registration Deadline: March 9, 2006
Registration Fee: $55 for one day, $90 for both days

Principals’ Academy: Introduction to ASSIST and Comprehensive Induction
Friday, April 21
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
James B. Henry Center for Executive Development
Michigan State University

ASSIST (Advocating Strong Standards-based Induction Support for Teachers) project, is a unique resource designed by faculty at Michigan State University which is intended to provide meaningful professional development for new teachers during their induction years, and tools and resources for both new and experienced teachers to use as they work together in mentoring-learning relationships and for administrators responsible for implementing induction programs. ASSIST is a free web-based resource available to all educators in Michigan.

A one-day academy to introduce principals and other administrators to the ASSIST web-based tools and resources and provide basics for planning for comprehensive induction is scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2006, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the James B. Henry Center for Executive Development, MSU. Visit the ASSIST website at http://assist.educ.msu.edu to see the agenda, explore the tools on the ASSIST Website, and to register. You may also register by phone at 517.353.8950.