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Educationally Speaking

Issue 53 | March 2024
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*Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the **Michigan Online Educator Certification System* [ [link removed] ]* to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.*

**Please see the *archived newsletters [ [link removed] ]* for other important information that affects licensure.**

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Noteworthy News
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Michigan Represented at the 2024 National Educator Shortage Summit

This past month, Michigan P-20 stakeholders joined stakeholders from across the nation at the American Association of School Personnel Administrators' (AASPA) 2024 National Educator Shortage Summit [ [link removed] ] to address the challenges of the shortage of educators and the educator pipeline. The conference agenda focused on the need for comprehensive conversations among the P-20 education community and how we are better together as we pool our different perspectives. 

Staff from Saginaw ISD and MDE's Office of Educator Excellence

MDE-OEE staff and Saginaw ISD staff

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Notice of Public Hearing

Michigan Department of Education's (MDE) Office of Educator Excellence (OEE), in partnership with the Office of Special Education (OSE), are proposing amendments to the following current Administrative Rules: 


* Teacher Certification Code [ [link removed] ] 
* Teacher And School Administrator Evaluation Tools [ [link removed] ] 
* School Social Worker  [ [link removed] ]

A public hearing will be held on April 9, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Library of Michigan’s Forum for these proposed rules. More information, including draft changes and summaries of the proposed changes, will be found on the MDE Public Comment website [ [link removed] ] no later than April 1, 2024. A public comment survey tool will be provided for those unable to attend in person on April 9, 2024, and we encourage educators to take this opportunity to provide feedback.  

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Teacher Appreciation Video Project Accent Graphic
Introducing the Teacher Appreciation Video Project

May 6-10, 2024, is specifically designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week. However, we are announcing it now for a very special reason. 

Recognizing Michigan's hardworking and dedicated educators is an important piece of MDE's strategic initiative. For that reason, we will be celebrating Michigan’s educators during the *entire month of May—*not just the week of May 6-10!  

To do this, MDE would like to invite students to submit a digital video to recognize and thank a specific educator for their impact. Submitted videos will be posted on this webpage and the MDE YouTube channel [ [link removed] ]. The OEE Facebook [ [link removed] ], Instagram [ [link removed] ], and X [ [link removed] ] (formerly Twitter) social media pages throughout the month of May will be promoting the videos. Check us out: @MIeducator.

Full instructions for submitting videos of appreciation for Michigan’s educators are available on the Teacher Appreciation Month website [ [link removed] ]. 

Whether you are an educator or a parent, you can get involved right now by following the OEE on social media using the links above, and by promoting the hashtag #MITeachAppreesh. If you have a child at home who has some great things to say about an educator, don’t hesitate—use the instructions found on our website to submit a video today! 



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Nature Awaits logo
Nature Awaits!
"*We want to see your fourth grade students at a state park this spring! *"

Bring your fourth graders to a Michigan State Park for a FREE field trip! Your students will enjoy a day in the park while learning all about Michigan’s natural resources. 

In addition to free park entry, grants will be available to cover transportation costs. 

The field trip aligns with state education standards—including science, social studies, physical education and language arts components—with hands-on activities and a nature hike on park trails. Teachers will get pre- and post-visit materials to supplement the learning at the park, and students will leave with a junior ranger badge and guidebook, including a* free pass* to bring their families back to a state park for another visit. 

Learn more about how your school can participate in this program and register at www.Michigan.gov/NatureAwaits [ [link removed] ].



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Grants Information Section Header
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New E-mail Address for Grants

MDE has introduced a new e-mail address for assistance with educator workforce grant programs. Please direct all questions on the Student Loan Repayment Program, the Grow Your Own School Staff Grant, the 504 EXPLORE Grant, the National Board Certification Grant, and the Mentoring and Induction Grants to the following e-mail address: 

*[email protected] <[email protected]>*

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Student Loan Repayment Graphic [ [link removed] ]
Student Loan Repayment Program

On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the OEE hosted a Student Loan Repayment Program webinar, featuring an overview of the program, the application screens on Grant Electronic Monitoring System/Michigan Administrative Review System (GEMS/MARS), answers to common questions, and a special Q&A session. The webinar was recorded and is available on the Student Loan Repayment Program website [ [link removed] ], with a link to a video on MDE’s YouTube channel [ [link removed] ]. 

As a reminder, applications on GEMS/MARS for the Student Loan Repayment Program opened on Thursday, February 29, 2024, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Please visit the Student Loan Repayment Program website linked above for all questions on participant eligibility, how to apply, and frequently asked questions (FAQs). For questions, please contact [email protected] <[email protected]>. 



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MDE EXPLORE logo
*Applications Closed for FY24 EXPLORE Section 504 Grants*

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the application window for the FY24 EXPLORE Section 504 grants closed. Submissions are currently under review. Updates will appear in future Educationally Speaking newsletters and on the EXPLORE Grant: Section 504 website [ [link removed] ].



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*Mentoring and Induction Standards, Curricula, and Professional Learning Creation Grants*

The application for the first of three grants from Section 27h of the State School Aid Act is available. The purpose of this grant is to award $500,000 to an intermediate school district (ISD) or other educational entity to assist MDE in developing research-based standards, curricula, and professional learning for mentors to help better prepare new teachers, administrators, and counselors. 

For purposes of this grant, eligible applicants who are “other educational entities” will be defined as Michigan approved educator preparation providers or established Michigan professional education organizations. Applicants will need to demonstrate knowledge and experience in effectively supporting new teachers, as well as a capacity to partner with MDE, meet deadlines, and complete the deliverables.  

Visit the Mentoring and Induction Grants website [ [link removed] ] for information on how to apply. For questions, please contact [email protected] <[email protected]>. 

Did You Know
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*Michigan Law Brings Changes to Educator Evaluation Requirements* 

* "What are the state-approved evaluation tools for teachers?"
* "Which evaluation tools meet the requirements of the new law?"
* "Will the evaluation tools need to be modified to meet the requirements of the new law?"

Find out the answers to these and many more frequently asked questions [ [link removed] ] along with updated guidance about student growth and student learning objectives (SLO) resources [ [link removed] ] at MDE's Educator Evaluations website: www.michigan.gov/mde-edevals [ [link removed] ].  

For an updated list of state-approved evaluation tools for teachers, visit the State Approved Tools: Teacher Evaluation website [ [link removed] ]. Please contact [email protected] with questions regarding educator evaluation.

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Educational Resources
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REL Midwest Logo
New Opportunity for Free Sixth-Grade Math Professional Development

School districts in the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest [ [link removed] ] region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) are invited to join the Teaching Fractions Toolkit (TFT) partnership. Participating schools and districts will *receive free research-based professional development and resources *to help sixth-grade teachers improve students’ abilities to understand and solve problems with fractions.

The professional development and resources can be integrated into districts’ existing math curricula to help teachers go deeper with their instruction. These resources are based on the recommendations in a What Works Clearinghouse practice guide: Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th Grade [ [link removed] ]. 

What are the benefits of participating in the TFT partnership? 


* Sixth-grade teachers will receive training on using evidence-based practices in fractions instruction to improve student outcomes.
* School and district math leaders will receive resources to facilitate the professional development sessions and to support teachers in improving their fractions instruction. 

School districts can partner with REL Midwest during the 2024-25 academic year to participate in the partnership and help us study the impact of the TFT instruction and learning. Watch the Teaching Fractions Toolkit Video [ [link removed] ] for more information. 

Upcoming Webinar on Teaching Fractions

Join the REL Midwest for a free webinar [ [link removed] ] on March 21, 2024, to gain strategies for teaching fractions and learn more about research-based professional development and resources. You’ll also be able to interact and discuss your questions with the TFT partnership leads. 



EVAAS logo
*Updated Reports Available: Value-Added Reports for Michigan Schools* 

MDE contracted SAS® EVAAS to provide Value-Added reports for Michigan districts.  For districts that have opted in for Teacher Value-Added reports, the updated reports are now available, and SAS® EVAAS will be hosting interactive virtual trainings [ [link removed] ] on the Teacher Reports. The 90-minute sessions will provide an overview of the reports, explain how to read and interpret them, and suggest benefits and uses. There will also be time for questions. 

These reports provide diagnostic information and reliable measures of the academic growth a teacher's students made, on average, for M-STEP, PSAT 8/9 in Grade 8, STAR, i-Ready, and MAP, if enough data is available. These reports can provide valuable information to help schools identify students to recommend for specific interventions or enrichment opportunities, determine course placements for students, encourage students to participate in college/career ready assessments, and plan for differentiated instruction in the classroom. 

Additional resources are available at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].



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Teacher Discounts [ [link removed] ]

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"Copyright © 2024 Office of Educator Excellence, All rights reserved."

Michigan Department of Education - Office of Educator Excellence
608 W. Allegan Street, Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 241-5000 | [email protected]






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