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Home » Information » State/Federal Correspondence » OFS OFS Click Here for the link to additional information from the Office of Field Services.
New Technical Assistance Videos Online The Field Services Unit of the Office of School Improvement has begun developing a method of providing technical assistance to school districts through online video updates. Video messages will be recorded every one to two months to provide short and succinct information on the programs administered by Field Services. Two categories of video updates have been established so far: "What's New" and "Managing Federal Programs". "What's New" will provide pertinent information for the time of year on how to manage programs effectively. Also, this category will focus on changes to processes, policies, or programs. The first video will be on the new Michigan Cash Management System (CMS) and carryover funds. In the past year, the CMS has expanded to assist the state in meeting federal requirements. Craig Thurman, Assistant Director of the Office of Financial Management, will provide a summary of information related to the CMS and how it will assist you. Margaret Madigan will describe the changes to the MEGS system for carryover funds for the 2007-08 consolidated application. The second category, "Managing Federal Programs", will include video series on the Consolidated Application, Title I, Title II, Title V, and Title VI programs. This category will be useful to new State and Federal Program Directors and/or persons responsible for these programs or those that just need a refresher on these programs. The first video that will be available under "Managing Federal Programs" will be on the Consolidated Application. Field Services Consultants Barb Cloudman, David Gray, Yvonne Mayfield, and Sharon Stockero present information in this video. Go to the OSI Website and look under "Field Services Unit" for the link to these new Technical Assistance Video Updates.
Title II, Part D Final Allocations Available Final allocations for Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education Through Technology are now available in the Michigan Electronic Grants System(MEGS). Please note that final allocations are labeled Estimated on the Budget Summary screen until we have obtained Superintendent Flanagans approval. The statewide list of the Title II, Part D allocations, is listed on the Program Allocations page of the OSI website. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Field Services consultant for your area or call 517-373-4588 to obtain the phone number for your consultant.
Class Size Reduction Program The Field Services Unit has finalized its criteria for approving class size reduction initiatives. The Class Size Reduction Program Guidance was developed as a guide for districts to develop its class size programs. Although the document focuses on Title II, Part A class size reduction, the criteria apply to all federally funded class size reduction requests that are part of the Consolidated Application (Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A and Title V). Federal funds from Title I, Part A (schoolwide programs only); Title II, Part A and Title V may be used to reduce class size if the initiative meets the criteria listed below which have been established by scientifically based research and have been based upon a needs assessment. The impact on student achievement must be measurable. Class Size Reduction Criteria
Questions on class size reduction should be directed to Michael Radke, Assistant Director, Office of School Improvement, at 517-373-3921 or RadkeM@michigan.gov.
Status of 2007-08 Consolidated Application Allocations Final allocations for Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs); Title I, Part D (Neglected and Delinquent Prevention/Intervention); and Title II, Part A (Teacher/Principal Training and Recruiting) are currently available in the Michigan Electronic Grants System (MEGS). They will be labeled as Estimated until they are approved by Superintendent Flanagan. The following remain as estimated allocations in MEGS and should have final allocations by mid-July: Title I, Part C (Education of Migratory Children); Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students); and Title VI, Part B (Rural and Low Income School Program). Allocations for Title II, Part D (Enhancing Education Through Technology) and Title V, Part A (Innovative Programs) have not been calculated and cannot be applied for at this time. Final allocations are anticipated by mid-July. All allocations can be viewed on the Program Allocations page of the OSI website.
Regional Assistance Grants We are beginning an exciting new partnership with our Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) regarding High Priority (HP) Schools. In the past, money was allocated directly to schools that did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Beginning this year, we are still giving a direct allocation to schools in Phases 3 and above, when money for Professional Development focused work to improve student achievement. These funds will continue until a school comes off the list. Additionally, we are providing Regional Assistance Grants to ISDs that have a HP school within their boundaries. Our hope is to expand the capacity of the ISD to implement regional assistance for Title I schools. The ISD will provide direct service to HP schools in the form of supporting coaches, mentors, focused professional development, and a Principals Fellowship. These components will be based on the School Improvement Framework with a particular emphasis on developing and empowering leadership. ISDs will also work with Title I schools who are not HP to continue to improve achievement. Other schools will be served to sustain their changes when recent achievement improvement results in them coming off the HP list. The intervention plan will look different in each ISD, based on need. As this plan unfolds, we hope to see regional interventions that can be replicated in other areas of the state. For more information about the plans developing for High Priority Schools, contact Linda Hecker at HeckerL@michigan.gov or 517-241-2559.
Consolidated Application: Schedule of Key Dates The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is presenting the Schedule of Key Dates for the 2007-2008 Consolidated Application so that LEAs can plan programs now and initiate the Consolidated Application for next year as soon as possible. LEAs will be able to implement services for students from the beginning of the school year using federal program funds. In addition, LEAs will have more information to prepare budgets for the coming year. Some key features: Title I, Part A Funds to be Recaptured During the Fall of 2006 the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced revised school year (SY) 2006-07 Title I, Part A allocations nation wide. These revisions were necessary because the Census Bureau made an error in its 2003 poverty estimates, which are part of the statutory formula used to calculate the Title I, Part A allocations. This error changed the number of children from low-income families counted in the Title I, Part A formula and required the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to recalculate the SY 2006-07 allocations to reflect these corrections to the Census poverty estimates. Since the MDE had already issued final allocations and local educational agencies (LEAs) had submitted plans and budgets based on those allocations by the time this error was detected, MDE decided to request approval from the USDE to use funds recaptured from the prior year to negate any funding losses that occurred to individual districts during the recalculation process. We are pleased to announce that the MDE received approval to use recaptured funds for this purpose. Because of this, no district will receive less in 2006-07 Title I, Part A funding than originally allocated. For the list of final allocations, see 2006-07 Title I, Part A Allocations. It is important to note whether your district required recaptured funds to maintain your current funding level because recaptured funds cannot be used in the calculation of hold-harmless amounts for 2007-08 allocations. Hold-harmless percentages will be calculated on each of the four categories of Title I, Part A; basic, concentration, targeted and the education finance incentive grant (EFIG), not on the total allocation. The revised allocation amounts have been uploaded to the Michigan Electronic Grants System (MEGS) and can be applied for by amending the Title I, Part A regular budget in your 2006-07 Consolidated Application or can be carried over to the 2007-08 school year. The 15% carryover limitation on Title I, Part A funds apply to the revised allocation amounts and must be adhered to. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Field Services consultant for your area or call (517) 373-4588 to obtain the phone number for your consultant. SES Provider Application Workshops The Field Services Unit is pleased to announce that the 2007-08 Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Provider Application Workshops have concluded with great success. The five workshops garnered the enthusiastic attendance of over 400 prospective SES providers. A webcast of the presentation, PowerPoint and all other presentation materials can be found on the SES webpage: www.michigan.gov/mde-ses. Also available are responses to some of the Frequently Asked Questions related to the 2007-08 SES application process. Visit the SES site to view the answers to such burning questions as: ?? Is a provider responsible for tutors who are not "employees"? ?? Is it necessary to submit audited financial statements in order to demonstrate my business is financially sound?
Title I, Part A Retirement and Unemployment Costs The Office of School Improvement has received questions on the use of Title I, Part A funds dealing with costs related to retirement and unemployment, such as: " May Title I funds be used to cover a prorated portion of an employers share of early retirement costs? " Should a district budget for early retirement costs separately from the costs associated with replacement employees? " May a school district use money from the following year's allocation to pay the amount the district owed during the preceding year as a result of early retirement? " May Title I, Part A funds be used to pay the cost of unemployment compensation? The following documents should serve as a resource: Guidance on Unemployment Compensation Benefits Guidance on Retirement Compensation If you have further questions, please contact your Field Services Consultant. Class Size Reduction Program Field Services goal is to begin approving Class Size Reduction grant funds that meet the following criteria established by research: 1. Must reduce class size to 17, 2. in grades K-3, 3. in classes taught by highly qualified teachers who adjust instructional strategies to fit reduced class size, 4. for classes with at risk populations of students, 5. where the effort is sustained for the cohort group over at least 2 years, 6. based on a needs assessment. The following question and answer is from the U.S. Department of Educations Class Size Reduction Program Guidance: Are teachers hired with Class-Size Reduction funds exempt from local collective bargaining agreements or other local personnel requirements, such as those related to seniority? The Class-Size Reduction Program provides supplementary funds for districts, enabling them to hire additional fully qualified teachers to reduce class size. However, the program does not impose specific terms of employment for teachers hired with program funds. It also does not exempt these teachers from a school district's collective bargaining agreements or from other contractual or State or local legal requirements related to employment within the school district. Implementing No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Requirements In Public School Academies By Yvonne W. Mayfield The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires all Title I Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), including public school academies (PSAs), to comply with all NCLB requirements and sanctions identified by the state. These include participation in assessments, planning, teacher and administrator qualifications, and sanctions for schools not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). LEAs, including public school academies, must offer Choice/Transfer to students attending schools that do not achieve AYP after two consecutive years, and Supplemental Educational Services (SES) for those not meeting AYP after three consecutive years. In the State of Michigan, all LEAs identified for improvement, corrective action or restructuring are in Phases 1 7 for not achieving Adequate Yearly Progress and must implement appropriate sanctions according to NCLB guidelines as described in Title I, Section 1116(e). These LEAs must set aside 20% of their Title I, Part A funds to pay for Choice/Transfer and/or Supplemental Educational Services. Oftentimes, set aside funds are not sufficient to service all eligible students within the LEA; therefore, eligible students are rank-ordered according to academic needs. One additional provision exists regarding set asides for professional development for schools not Achieving Adequate Year Progress for two and three years. 10% of Title I, Part A funds must be designated for professional development activities in areas causing the school to not achieve AYP. Finally, there are strict timelines that must be adhered to for parent notifications and availability of services. The content of the parent notification is specifically defined. The first provision, Choice/Transfer, provides the opportunity for parents to enroll their children into schools achieving AYP within their district if their childrens schools are identified for improvement, corrective action or restructuring. The sending school must pay transportation costs to send students to the newly-selected school as long as it remains in Phases 1 7. However, most public school academies and many small districts do not have multiple building sites with the same grade spans, preventing the transfer of students. For this reason, public school academies may offer parents the opportunity to enroll their children in the public school within the students attendance areas or to provide extended learning opportunities through SES. Supplemental Educational Services (SES) are extra academic assistance programs for low-income students attending schools that did not make AYP for three or more years. Allowable services include tutoring, remediation and academic interventions, but must occur beyond the regular school day. State-approved providers are contracted for services to eligible students at local school and community sites; in students homes or through distance learning and technology. Public school academies are responsible for implementing SES according to guidelines. A successful program begins with a well-designed implementation plan. The following steps may provide guidance in planning stages: Step 1: Contact state-approved providers to determine which companies are willing to service the LEAs students. Step 2: Utilize Title I, Part A worksheets to determine the amount of funds that will be allocated per child. This determines the number of students who can be serviced based on the LEAs set aside. Parents should understand that the length and number of SES sessions will be determined by the cost of programs per provider, less any additional fees for registration or assessment. Step 3: Notify parents about the availability of services for eligible students. Step 4: Provide sufficient information about providers to parents so that they may select best available services based on needs of their children. Literature may be sent home about all participating providers or host a providers fair so that parents may view and discuss SES offerings. The selection of providers must be parent-driven. All participating providers must be given the opportunity to participate in the selection process. Step 5: Determine how much space is available at the school so that as many children as possible can participate at the learning site. Many SES providers prefer offering services at the local school. A fair process should be established to determine the number and identification of providers that can offer services at the local site. Usually, providers selected by the highest number of parents are given priority for working at the local school site. Step 6: Negotiate contracts with providers selected to service students. Step 7: Determine the starting and ending dates for your programs. Assure that providers carry-out their responsibilities, which include: ?? Setting specific achievement goals for the student, which must be developed in consultation with the students parents. ?? Providing a description of how the students progress will be measured and how the students parents and teachers will be regularly informed of that progress. ?? Establishing a timetable for improving students achievement. ?? Establishing processes for communication of student goals and progress to parents and teachers.
The Office of School Improvement has published the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Technical Assistance/Reporting Packets and made them available online. The enterable documents can be accessed on the Office of School Improvements website at www.michigan.gov/osi or to access the High Priority Schools page directly, click here. All districts with Title I schools required to implement sanctions during the 2006-07 school year will receive a mailing during the first week of September outlining requirements and providing technical assistance for compliance. |
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