The Senate returned this week for a short two-day session during which they managed to finish work on a package of Early Financial Warning bills and pass their version of a road-funding plan. The Senate's road plan is projected to generate $1.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs, but also includes a complicated mechanism that could trigger a cut in the state's income tax rate.
Close Reading - The “What and the How”
Keep a Lid on Your End-of-Year Compliance and Reporting Issues
It was so nice to see so many of you at EdCon this past week! I know that it was a great time for me to reflect, learn, and get energized for the year ahead. Through talking with many of you, it was clear that the keynote speakers were top-notch and that you enjoyed your time in Traverse City! Start penciling the dates in your calendar for EdCon 2016, which are June 27 through June 29, 2016.
Clarification on State-Administered 9th and 10th Grade Spring 2016 PSAT
Please see the announcement below which recently appeared in MDE's publication Spotlight on Student Assessment and Accountability:
Clarification on State-Administered 9th and 10th Grade Spring 2016 PSAT
Are You Ready for a Change?
Are you ready for a change? Have you come across the perfect posting on MASSP’s “Jobs” tab and then started to think if you could really make the move? A lot of thought is necessary to transition to a new position and many of you are either going through that process now or have contemplated it.
Instructional Rounds: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Written by Suzette Lovely, Ed.D., provided by The Master Teacher.
We’re implored to use data to make decisions. We’re urged to diagnose problems using inquiry-based approaches. We’re compelled to seek better results. In an industry where performance breakthroughs happen slowly, principals need a mega-dose of resolve to meet these expectations.
This Week in Politics in 5 Sentences (or Fewer)
The House and Senate both nominally wrapped up their spring session calendars this week, though both chambers are slated to come back several times over the summer to deal with unfinished business. That means that, while a final resolution to long awaited educator evaluation legislation remains elusive, there is a good chance that the issue will be resolved before the 2015-16 school year.
Gov Supports Standards, Training in Educator Evals
The House Education Committee did not vote on educator evaluation legislation this week, but they did hold 2 different hearings and took testimony from a pair of attorneys about the tenure implications of the bill and from Governor Snyder's education adviser, former Ottawa Area ISD Superintendent Karen McPhee. There was disagreement between the attorneys about some of the finer points of the bill's language, but the message from Ms.
SAT, WorkKeys Dates Set for 2016 and More PSAT Info
MDE and College Board have been working hard to get information out to the field on next year's state assessments as it becomes available. This week, MDE announced the SAT and WorkKeys test dates for spring 2016 as well as the M-STEP Testing window. Additionally, College Board put out additional information on PSAT—next year's 9th and 10th grade assessment—in response to questions they received about the Test Ordering System (TOS) and PSAT testing logistics.
This Week in Politics in 5 Sentences (or Fewer)
With the House set to adjourn for their summer recess after next week and the Senate slated to follow not far behind, educator evaluation legislation still remains an outstanding issue…though not for lack of trying.