Catalyst 2025: From Awareness to Action — Schools Start AI Plans, Together
MASSP welcomed more than 300 educators, administrators, and students from across Michigan to Catalyst: From Awareness to Action, a one-day immersive design experience focused on building schoolwide AI understanding and action. The energy in the room was undeniable as teams dug into what responsible, student-centered AI integration can, and should, look like in Michigan schools. The day opened with a powerful student panel representing districts across Michigan. Their message was clear: AI…
Michigan Transitions to WIN Work Readiness Assessment for 11th Graders
The Michigan Merit Exam is administered each spring, and consists of three components: College Board SAT® with Essay Reading & Writing and Math Employability Skills Assessment M-STEP Science and Social Studies Michigan is entering a new phase in career readiness testing. As part of the state’s legislative requirement to assess employability skills, the ACT WorkKeys exam is being replaced by the WIN Work Readiness Assessment beginning this spring. At the most recent…
A Principal’s Guide to Understanding Michigan’s School Aid Fund
Michigan school leaders are often asked the same tough questions:“Where does all the lottery money go?”“Why does record funding not always mean more money for schools?”MASSP’s recent webinar, A Principal’s Guide to Understanding and Explaining the Raid on School Aid, unpacked these issues in practical terms. Presented by Bob Kefgen (MASSP) and Jennifer Smith (MASB), this session helped administrators gain a clearer picture of how Michigan’s school finance system actually works—and why…
MDE Concludes Public Comment on Updated Health Education Standards
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recently concluded its public comment period on the proposed Michigan Health Education Standards Framework, marking a significant step toward modernizing Michigan’s nearly 20-year-old health education standards. The updated framework reflects today’s health landscape and places greater emphasis on topics such as mental and emotional health, safety, healthy relationships, nutrition and physical activity, and digital wellness—all designed to better support the overall well-being of Michigan students. As…
Annual Certification Reminder: What Principals Need to Know in 2025
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released its annual Certification Reminder and Requirements memo to districts, ISDs and PSAs. While this communication is directed at superintendents and HR staff, principals play a direct role in preventing certification lapses that can disrupt classrooms and carry costly consequences. Key Takeaways from the 2025 MDE Memo Certificates Expire on June 30 — All teaching certificates (except the one-year temporary credential) expire on June 30,…
Michigan School Meals: What’s Certain, What’s Not for 2025-26
Whether Michigan students will continue receiving free breakfast and lunch all school year will depend on decisions yet to be made in Lansing. The Michigan School Meals program is fully funded through September 30, 2025. After that date, the future of the program depends on whether the Legislature passes a FY 2026 state school aid budget that includes continued funding. While the uncertainty is frustrating for schools and families alike, districts still…
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Supporting School Leaders in a Time of Change
As we close the chapter on the 2024–25 school year, I’m proud to reflect on how the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals has evolved in both vision and action to meet the needs of building leaders across the state. This was a year of planning, possibility, and purpose—a year defined by our commitment to supporting school leaders as they face an ever-changing educational landscape. We know the job of the principal…
MHSEL Celebrates Record Growth and National Recognition
Since its inception in the 2020–21 school year, the Michigan High School Esports League has experienced remarkable growth, establishing itself as a premier platform for competitive gaming in the state. MHSEL launched with only 24 schools and 34 teams. Now entering its sixth year, the league boasts participation from more than 200 schools, 840+ teams, with more than 3,700 student participants across Michigan. MHSEL offers a diverse array of 15 popular game…
From Vision to Action: MASSP Board Explores the Future of AI in Education
Last week, members of the MASSP Board of Directors and staff joined me at the ASU+GSV Summit—an international gathering of more than 13,000 education leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers focused on the future of learning, technology, and equity. At the center of this year’s summit was a powerful and timely theme: How artificial intelligence is reshaping education and how school leaders must lead the charge to ensure that transformation is thoughtful,…
Call to Action – New Standards for the Preparation of Special Education Teachers
The State Board of Education has received proposed new standards for the preparation of special education teachers in Michigan. These standards are out for public comment until Feb. 27. MASSP has participated on the OPTIMISE Task Force and has been briefed regarding concerns with the change in credentialing for special education teachers. The standards were presented to the State Board of Education on January 14, as a prerequisite to a change in…