The legislature is still ramping up for the 2015-16 session and no education bills have yet come up in either chamber, though the usual beginning-of-term onslaught of legislators introducing new education proposals is in full swing. Things will kick off in earnest next Wednesday, February 11, when Governor Snyder presents his budget recommendation to the Legislature.
#MASSPchat 2/9 - It's a snow day!
The Topic: It's a snow day!
Schools around the state have already had snow days. How are snow days handled in your school/district?
Planning for M-STEP: Optional Content and Your School's Readiness
As schools continue to gear up for this spring's M-STEP test, one key decision that high school's need to make is whether to have their 11th grade students complete the full battery of assessments – inclusive of the optional Performance Tasks and Classroom Activities – or the somewhat more abbreviated version that does not include those two portions. The difference is more complex that deciding between 15 hours and 50 minutes of testing time with the optional portions and 11 hours and 20 minutes without.
Ensuring Good Post-Meeting Follow-Up
OK2SAY: Stop the Silence. Help End the Violence
MDE Memo: Accountability & Accreditation School/District Reporting Requirements
Make sure you're aware of the school accountability and accreditation reporting requirements and timeline laid out in the follwing memo from The Michigan Department of Education (you can find the original memo here):
MEMO #008-15: Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Accountability & Accreditation School/District Reporting Requirements
Court of Appeals: School Board Violated Student’s First Amendment Rights by Punishing Off-Campus Speech
ACT Appeal Denied; Contract with SAT Moves Forward
Answers to M-Step Questions
On Monday, January 19, #MASSPchat focused on the M-Step and the questions, concerns and challenges that Principals are facing as they prepare their buildings and their students for this spring's test. This week's edition of MDE's "Spotlight on Student Assessment and Accountability" offers answers to several of the questions that came up during #MASSPchat regarding the Classroom Activities and Performance Tasks portions of the test. We have also linked to several other M-Step resources that Principals may find helpful.