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 31st.
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?
Priority Schools: While Laura, Dot, Sean and
Roberta will all support Priority schools, below
are the point of contacts for each level.
District Level Priority:
Laura Colligan
Email: lcolligan@inghamisd.org
Cell: 517-402-2244
Elementary Priority Schools:
Dot Blackwell
Email: dblackwell@inghamisd.org
Cell: (517) 719-7046
Secondary Priority Schools:
Sean Williams
Email: swilliams2@inghamisd.org
Cell: 517-795-0978
Director of Student Instructional
Services ( Supervision
Roberta Perconti
Email : rpercont@inghamisd.org
Cell: (269) 760-3481
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)
Role is to provide Statewide training
for ISD/District Staff
Building Level Support (SIF)
Beth Brophy
brophyb@calhounisd.org
School Support Team Coordinator
(269) 789-2456
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 2012. 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.
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
RAG FUNDING FORMULA (PRIORITY)
The RAG allocation for all Year 1 Priority schools is
$20,000, for years 2-4 see below.
Enrollment
Funding per School
Fewer than 350
From 351-650
$65,000
$80,000
From 651-950
From 951-1250
$100,000
$130,000
1250 or more
$155,000
ORGANIZATIONAL
CHANGES
RAG FUNDING FORMULA (PRIORITY)
One Intervention Specialist per district:
$37,000 (50 days, includes $1000 travel and
$1000 technology and office support)
$33,375 for 2014/15
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 1st the
ISDs are required to also provide the districtlevel 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 ….