Michigan Department of Education Orientation

1. Michigan Department of Education Orientation Webinar Presentation by the Public School Academies Unit January 4, 2011

2. Local Control • Not defined within the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1 -380.1853) • General Understanding: If the issue is not specifically defined in the constitution or law then discretion is afforded to the local authority, typically the local administrator or the school board. • Examples: Placement and Retention of Students (with exceptions) • Enrollment Issues • Grades • Graduation Requirements (> MMC) • Discipline • Vendor Selection (Management Company to Snow Removal) • Uniforms • Local Board Policy Approval or Implementation

3. State Board Of Education • Created by Michigan’s Constitution (Article VIII, Section 3) “Leadership and general supervision over all public education, including adult education and instructional programs in state institutions, except as to institutions of higher education granting baccalaureate degrees, is vested in a state board of education. It shall serve as the general planning and coordinating body for all public education, including higher education, and shall advise the legislature as to the financial requirements in connection therewith.” • Nominated by political parties and elected by the general populace (Terms of eight years) • Hire and evaluate the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) • Holds monthly meetings (Available for viewing online) • Meetings held in Hannah Building, downtown Lansing

4. Superintendent Of Public Instruction • Dr. Mike Flanagan • Works with the Governor as his Education Advisor • Works directly for and with the State Board • Leads and manages the MDE (State Executive Agency) • Coordinates with other State Executive Agencies • Works directly with 16 Office Directors, 1 Bureau Director, and the State Historical Library • Has three deputies (CAO, Admin & Support, Great Start) • Approves the issuance public school academy district codes • Approves the issuance of all Charter School Planning grants and signs grant award notification letters

5. MDE Bureau • A bureau is a larger division of an office • Currently, the MDE has one bureau • Bureau of Assessment and Accountability (BAA)

6. Bureau of Assessment and Accountability (BAA)

7. MDE Offices • Have a director who reports to SPI • Director supervises many Units and Programs • PSA Unit is part of the Office of Education Improvement and Innovation (OEII) • Our Director is Linda Forward

8. MDE Offices

9. Website Info for Each Office

10. OEII • Each Office has many units and programs • The Office of Education Innovation & Improvement (OEII), is made up of: • The Curriculum & Instruction Unit • The Educational Technology Program • The Public School Academies Unit • The School Improvement Support Unit

11. MDE Programs and Units • Unit is a subdivision of an Office that has a supervisor that reports to the Office Director and has at least two Education Consultants employees • Program is a subdivision of an Office that has a supervisor who reports to the Office Director and one Education Consultant employee • Due to funding shortfalls, some programs and units have less employees than might otherwise be the case. • Some programs and units are almost totally funded by grants with consultants hired as independent contractors • Public School Academies Unit (PSA Unit) Supervisor is Mark Eitrem • In addition to Mark, the PSA Unit currently has three consultants, one secretary, one analyst and two independent contractors.

12. Recommendations for Connecting with the MDE • Each Office and Most Units & Programs have a website or a link from the Office website. • All MDE staff have e-mail addresses XXXXX@ michigan.gov. It is NOT always just last name and first initial because of duplicate names. • Later in this webinar we will go through the MDE website and show you the best screens to find contacts. • Each Office/Unit has a secretary.

13. More Recommendations • The PSA Unit is not always the best contact for your questions. • Call the Office/Unit that handles that part of the program. If you have a state aid issue, call that Office directly. If you have a special education question, call the Special Education Office, etc. • We can and will help direct you to the best location within MDE that can help to resolve your issue. • We help other MDE divisions with PSA issues.

14. Offices- MDE • Audits- Kathy Weller, Director • Description: Performs technical assistance and oversight related to financial and pupil membership audits as well as internal audit activities. • Sample inquiry: What are regulations regarding a student who is suspended on/during the count period? • Career and Technical Education- Director, Patty Cantu • Description: OCTE oversees high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career cluster. • Sample inquiry: What are some examples of standards benchmark crosswalks between a vocationally focused course and a traditional core-content course.

15. Offices- continued • Office of Improvement and Innovation- Director, Linda Forward • Description: promotes student learning and achievement by providing statewide leadership, guidance, and support over a wide range of programs that have a direct impact on teaching and learning, school leadership, and continuous school improvement. • Sample inquiries: What are regulations regarding dual enrollment/AP, personal curriculum? What is the status of the transition to the common core curriculum. • Information about school improvement, state-wide system of supports, SIG, and PSA’s.

16. Field Services: Director, Mike Radke • Description: Field Services team members work together to help local districts implement functional school improvement plans aligned to high standards, improve student performance on both State and local assessments, and target supplementary resources more effectively to support educators in achieving these results. • Sample Inquiry: Are certain uses of money allowable as title or at-risk expenses? • Office of Financial Management: Director, Janet Laverty • Description: The office is responsible for …disbursing, recording and reporting grants; collecting revenue; developing and securing federally approved indirect cost rates; and procuring supplies and equipment. • Sample Inquiry: What are rules regarding indirect costs, CMS, and vendor registration.

17. Coordination /School Support: Director, Mary Ann Chartrand • Description: Covers a wide range of topics and programs, including school and summer meals; child and adult care food; free United States Department of Agriculture commodity food distribution; coordinated school health and safety; pupil transportation; educational technology and grant procurement and distribution. • Sample Inquiry: Can our PSA qualify for summer school or after school food support? • Early Childhood and Family Services: Director, Lindy Burch • Description: Manages the MSRP, parent education/ involvement programs, Early On, early childhood special education programs, the Even Start Family Literacy Program, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, as well as providing assistance and consultation to programs serving children birth through age 8. • Sample Inquiry: Can our school qualify as a MSRP program center?

18. Office of Professional Services: Director, Flora Jenkins • Description: Assures that all professional school personnel complete quality preparation and professional development programs which meet standards established by the Michigan Legislature and the State Board of Education. • Sample Inquiry: What are standards that apply to the appropriate placement of elementary certified teachers? • Additional resources include information regarding: • NCLB Highly Qualified standards • Professional Development Resources • School Safety resources • Verification of Teacher Certification • New Teacher Mentoring • MI online educator certification system

19. Special Education: Director, Eleanor White • Description: Oversees the administrative funding of education and early intervention programs and services for young children and students with disabilities. • Sample Inquiry: What are rules regarding discipline of SE students, process of dispute resolution/mediation, and procedural safeguards. • State Aid and School Finance: Director, Daniel Hanrahan • Description: Distribution of funds to school districts, guidance on issues of school finance and tax policy, public school district financial accounting, various financing mechanisms available to school districts, and information on pupil accounting statutes and rules, also interpretation, analysis, and coordination of Departmental activities related to the annual development of the State School Aid K-12 budget. • Sample Inquiry: How can our district receive status updates?

20. Offices • School Reform and Redesign: Director, Deborah Clemmons • Description: Provides oversight in the identification of/notification to Persistently Lowest Achieving (PLA) schools andreviews/monitors redesign plans. • Sample Inquiry: What is the status of our PSA regarding inclusion on the PLA? • Other Offices • Admin. Law and Federal Relations • Education Technology and Data Coordination • Human Resources • Recognition Programs • Michigan School for the Deaf

21. The MDE Website • How can I connect with the various offices? • What are my options for browsing and searching? • Which resources are available for me on the PSA Unit site and which must I access from other offices? www.michigan.gov/mde

22. Points of Contact • Beatrice Barajas, Secretary • Kim Sidel, Analyst • Neil Beckwith, Consultant • Karla Browning, Consultant • Ron Schneider, Consultant • Mark Eitrem, Supervisor (517) 373-4631 MDEPSAGRANT@MICHIGAN.GOV http://www.michigan.gov/charters