PRIORITY AND FOCUS SCHOOLS Requirements, Modifications, and Additions to the MiExcel Statewide System of Supports

INGHAM’S VISION Districts/Schools will receive individualized and customized supports that meet existing needs and expectations. Ingham motto for supporting Priority and Focus schools is the same as for all schools : Standardized research practice customize implementation. It is our belief that our districts have the knowledge and know-how needed to improve student achievement, but lack the time needed to rapidly implement substantive change. Our goal is to provide expertise and resources to support the time and energy needed to promote improvement.

PRIORITY SCHOOLS: 12 SCHOOLS IN INGHAM COUNTY What are Priority Schools? Schools in the bottom 5% of the Top-to-Bottom rankings How are Priority Schools determined? Based on the Top-to-Bottom ranking methodology which includes data from achievement, improvement, and achievement gap standardized scores. All schools with two years of data for 30 or more students in two or more tested subjects are included in the ranking. *Mandatory 4-year Cohort

PRIORITY SCHOOLS: 12 SCHOOLS IN INGHAM COUNTY Annual Requirements: Service Plan Data Dialogues Reform Plan Development and Implementation Unpacking Tool Superintendents Drop Out Challenge District Level Resource Alignment Survey School Level Resource Alignment Survey Survey of Enacted Curriculum Instructional Learning Cycles 4 (quarterly) School Board Reports *Reporting on Assist, MEGS+, and SRO Monitor Visits

FOCUS SCHOOLS: 22 SCHOOLS IN INGHAM COUNTY What are Focus Schools? Focus Schools are schools with the largest achievement gaps, defined as the difference between the average scale score for the top 30% of students and the bottom 30% of students. These schools are derived from the achievement gap component within the Top-to-Bottom ranking. How are they determined? Focus Schools are based on the Top-to-Bottom ranking methodology which includes data from achievement, improvement, and achievement gaps in standardized scores. Included in the ranking are all open schools with two years of data for 30 or more students in two or more tested subjects. *Mandatory 4-year Cohort

FOCUS SCHOOLS : 22 SCHOOLS IN INGHAM COUNTY Annual Requirements: Data Dialogues Focus Plan Development and Implementation Teaching and Learning Priorities Diagnostic Revise District Improvement Plan Superintendents Drop Out Challenge District Level Resource Alignment Survey School Level Resource Alignment Survey 4 (quarterly) School Board Reports Year 3 begins Tittle I set-asides *Reporting on Assist and MEGS+

Priority and Focus schools requirements Priority school required activities Service Plan Data Dialogues Reform Plan Development and Implementation Unpacking Tool Superintendents Drop Out Challenge District Level Resource Alignment Survey School Level Resource Alignment Survey Survey of Enacted Curriculum Instructional Learning Cycles 4 (quarterly) School Board Reports *Reporting on Assist, MEGS+, and SRO Monitor Visits Focus school required activities Data Dialogues Focus Plan Development and Implementation Teaching and Learning Priorities Diagnostic Revise District Improvement Plan Superintendents Drop Out Challenge District Level Resource Alignment Survey School Level Resource Alignment Survey 4 (quarterly) School Board Reports Year 3 begins Tittle I set-asides *Reporting on Assist and MEGS+

PRIORITY AND FOCUS SCHOOLS : WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Transition: Districts/Schools that were supported by Steve Hecker or Nora Evers from MSU will transition over to our ISD Team completely after December 31 st. Districts supported by Sean Williams will continue with Sean. Between now and then MSU and Ingham ISD will coordinated activities and communications regarding the current work going on in all of your schools to create a smooth transition.

PRIORITY AND FOCUS SCHOOLS : WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? District Level Priority: Laura Colligan Cell: Elementary Priority Schools: Dot Blackwell Cell: (517) Secondary Priority Schools: Sean Williams Cell: Director of Student Instructional Services ( Supervision Roberta Perconti Cell: (269) Priority Schools: While Laura, Dot, Sean and Roberta will all support Priority schools, below are the point of contacts for each level.

State-Wide System of Supports New Director: Grant Chandler

For information regarding MI Excel Statewide System of Support for Priority Schools, contact: District Level Support (IS) (DIF) Building Level Support (SIF) Beth Brophy School Support Team Coordinator (269) Calhoun ISD provides coordination for Intermediate School Districts and Regional Educational Service Agencies who provide School Improvement Facilitators to work directly with Title 1 Priority Schools as outlined in the ESEA Flexibility Waiver of This work is funded by a grant awarded by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators on behalf of the Michigan Department of Education. This project is currently being coordinated for Calhoun ISD by Beth Brophy. Role is to provide Statewide training for ISD/District Staff

PRIORITY AND FOCUS SCHOOLS : HOW WILL WE SUPPORT YOU. We commit to supporting the following: Assist in meeting MDE guidelines and expectations Communicating with MDE for clarity as needed Support the efforts of school leadership in plan implementation Coordinate/provide additional resources as requested by school leadership.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Michigan State University’s program involvement ends on December 31, 2014 MSU was responsible for providing and monitoring the work of Instructional Specialist (ISs) for Priority Schools and District Improvement Facilitators (DIFs) for Focus Schools Starting January 1, 2015 the ISs and DIFs duties and tasks assigned by MDE become the responsibility of the ISDs via Regional Assistance Grants (RAGs)

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES The RAG allocation for all Year 1 Priority schools is $20,000, for years 2-4 see below. EnrollmentFunding per School Fewer than 350$65,000 From $80,000 From $100,000 From $130, or more$155,000 RAG FUNDING FORMULA (PRIORITY)

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES One Intervention Specialist per district: $37,000 (50 days, includes $1000 travel and $1000 technology and office support) $33,375 for 2014/15 RAG FUNDING FORMULA (PRIORITY)

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES RAG FUNDING FORMULA (FOCUS) One District Improvement Facilitator per district and every ISD will get a RAG for this service: $6500 (40 hours, includes $500 travel and $1000 technology and office support) $5688 for 2014/15

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES How these changes impact the roles of IDSs: From 2012 to 2014 the ISDs were responsible for providing School Improvement Facilitators (SIFs) to Priority Schools. As of January 1 st the ISDs are required to also provide the district- level support formerly provided through MSU

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Ingham’s Response: To strengthen MiExcel program coherence, Ingham ISD has restructured the School Improvement Facilitator’s position and responsibilities to focus on both district and school level requirements to support the alignment of goals, resources, and efforts.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Ingham’s Response: The ISD has also expanded the SIF support positions from 1 to 2.5 FTE and will continue to provide supervision to directly coordinate the work.

HOW THIS IMPACTS THE WORK OF INGHAM DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS The ISD will be providing significantly more support. Our team has been trained and directed to: Support the meeting of MDE requirements and expectations Support the work you already have underway Support the use of data throughout all levels Coordinate districts and school level request for additional support when needed

Questions you may have ….