Become a Michigan ASCD
member

New State Board of Education Member

 The results of the November statewide elections will bring a change in the future makeup of the State Board of Education. Cassandra E. Ulbrich, Democrat, will replace Eileen Lapin Weiser, Republican, on January 1, 2007. Cassandra Ulbrich earned an AA from St. Clair Community College, a BA from the University of Michigan, and a MA from Wayne State University. She is currently completing a PhD from Wayne State University. Cassandra Ulbrich is a Senior Director of Development at Wayne State University and a small business owner. She serves on the Boards for the U of M Club of Greater Detroit and the Walter Reuther Library. Cassandra is the Past President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Michigan.

Current State Board of Education Board member, Reginald M. Turner, was re-elected to his Board Position.

Restraint and Seclusion

The State Board of Education at its Meeting on November 14, 2006, continued its deliberations on restraint and seclusion standards for all students in Michigan Schools without reaching a common ground on the issue. The Board is expected to vote on a new policy as early as December to define and limit the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The new policy, after Board discussion and public input on Tuesday, will have more clear definitions of what constitutes restraint and seclusion and the conditions under which they are to be used.

Michigan Merit Exam Cut Scores

On November 1, 2006, the U.S. Department of Education gave approval to the Michigan Department of Education to replace the high school MEAP with the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) to measure Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) in the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. High school juniors will take the MME in March of 2007. They will receive, at no cost to them, a regular ACT score that they can use for collage admission and for qualification for the Michigan Merit Award scholarship to defray the cost of attending a state university or college (including community colleges), and technical and trade schools.

The State Department of Education will carry over the MEAP cut scores from last year for the first year of the MME because the MME test next spring will not be based on the new high school content expectations that were recently approved by the State Board of Education. The 2008 and beyond MME cut scores will be revised to reflect the new content expectations and new material in the MME test.

School Improvement Indicators

 The 39 School Improvement Performance Indicators that will be replacing the current rubrics used in ED Yes! is available on the Michigan ASCD website. (http://michigan.ascd.org/resources.htm)

Redefining Earned High School Credit

 A shift of how credit is awarded has been spelled out in the recently adopted legislation of the Michigan Merit Curriculum. It requires that credit for the Michigan Merit Curriculum be awarded upon student’s demonstration that they have “met or exceeded the content expectations or guidelines in the required credit area”. Students will gain credit, in part, by earning a qualified score on the assessments of the content area. Credit will be based on “performance on a set of expectations” and not on the amount of time that the student has studied the subject (the latter being the Carnegie unit developed in 1906).

Students can earn credit in a variety of ways:

In addition, the district may allow students to satisfy credit requirements through:

Within the next three years, the Michigan Department of Education will develop assessments for all the required content areas. Districts will then have the option to use MDE assessments or use other assessments approved by their district.

Cancer Vaccination

 SB 1416 and SB 1417 would require 6 th graders in the 2008-2009 school year to be vaccinated for the human papillomavirus which is the main cause of cervical cancer. It would also allow parents to opt not to immunize their children for religious or ethical reasons.

 Lame Duck Session

 The Michigan Legislature is in Lame Duck Session. Not much action is expected on current and impending legislative issues. If any action occurs, it might center on cost containment health issues for education (claims data, graded health premiums, vesting and accessibility to pooling); special education IEPs as they relate to the new High School Graduation Requirements and the transfer of the CTE back to the Michigan Department of Education

School Aid Fund Shortfall

While the state’s collections during the month of October helped to correct some of the losses from earlier months, the state’s School Aid Fund is still $120 million short from last May’s projections. The shortfall is due, in part, to a $20 million drop-off in Lottery revenue.

Data Analysis Systems

December 13, 2006, Washtenaw ISD

Considering a data analysis software system to help you deal with your district’s student achievement and demographic data?

Are you data rich, but information poor?

With so many options, you need to make an informed decision! Let our keynote speaker, Ernest Bauer from Oakland Schools, help point you in the right direction.

Here’s what you’ll explore at this workshop:

• How to determine your real data analysis needs.
• What to look for in a software solution that fits your needs.
• Multiple data management vendors ( Just 5 Clicks, EduSoft, Achieve, Plato Learning, TetraData, Excelsior Software and Pearson Assessments) will have individual breakout sessions to demonstrate their programs and what they can offer to a district.
• Features, pricing, and compatibility addressed, plus Q&A.
• Information on other data analysis systems that you can explore on your own.
• Bring your district team: technology, curriculum, business person.

Printable Registration Form            Register Online