Issue 53 | March 2024
Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.
Please see the archived newsletters for other important information that affects licensure.
Michigan Represented at the 2024 National Educator Shortage
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 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.
 MDE-OEE staff and Saginaw ISD staff
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:
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 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.
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. The OEE Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) social media pages throughout the month of May will be promoting the videos. Check us out: @MIeducator.
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!
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.
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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:
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, with a link to a video on MDE’s YouTube channel.
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].
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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.
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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.
Michigan Law Brings Changes to Educator Evaluation Requirements
New Opportunity for Free Sixth-Grade Math Professional Development
School districts in the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Midwest 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.
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.
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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 for more information.
Upcoming Webinar on Teaching Fractions
Join the REL Midwest for a free webinar 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.
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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 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.
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