August, 2008

The Privacy of Student Information Guide from The National Forum on Education Statistics is a comprehensive toolkit to all topics related to the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

I looking for a job description of a person on the high school or middle school staff that collects, disaggregates or aggregates, then gives or presents that data to Administration, teachers, school board, etc.

LANSING--Eight out of 10 public schools in Michigan made Adequate Yearly Progress this past school year despite a big jump in the goals,
according to the Michigan Department of Education.

The state’s EducationYES! Report Cards were released publicly today for
Michigan elementary, middle, and high schools, along with the annual
report on each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by
the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law.

If you have seen any candidates this summer you can forward them to Robb Tidd Director of H.R. in the Anchor Bay Public Schools?

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's revised, lower high school graduation rates
resulted in fewer schools meeting federal No Child Left
Behind goals, the state said Monday.

Hope you've listened to one or more of our Back to School podcasts.
I'm feeling that we've done a real service for our members with them. I just finished listening to the one we did with Sally Vaughn, Chief Academic Office/Association Supt. for MDE. Yes, I wish I was a better interviewer, but the "what's the one thing you want a principal to know" questions give great direction to you as a school administrator.

Here's a tip for the start of the new school year!

We want to make sure you can easily access this site, especially the robust Q & A section, which you must be logged in to view in full and contribute to. So follow these steps to make logging in just that much easier:

MASSP convention attendees are entitled to special rates at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.

To receive the rates listed below, contact the hotel at 800-968-7352 by August 25, 2008!

Hotel Guestrooms are just $149.00.*

No need to log on, just select the amount of your personal PD Budget and MASSP will publish the results! Click here to vote.

Jim and Diane Talk to Sally Vaughn Chief Academic Officer for Education Services at MDE.Listen In

We are investigating what software other Michigan districts use for student managment/student services (master schedule building, etc...).  Please share any information/companies you have worked with.

Do you need some advice but have no time to research your topic of concern?  Listen in to our back to school podcasts!

Check out our new Back to School Podcast Page.

The Title IID Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant program, Category 6: Models of Demonstrated Proficiency, is now available on the MEGS system for application. The deadline for submission is September 19, 2008.

Wendy Zbeb, principal of Rochester HS, passed along this information memo from their district's Human Resources department for building administrators to review with their staff.

"You will walk away from the MASSP Annual Convention with additional tools that you can use to be a better instructional leader!"

~Dave Barry, MASSP President

Here is a Policy Brief from the Education Commission of States that principals can use when searching for hard data that refutes the "myths" that surround the need for the establishment of graduation requirements.

This article calls on the middle level to step up to help boost student achievement in high school, and to help curb dropouts. Let's start a discussion! Let us know you reaction by adding a comment to this post.--Diane Mc

FROM The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board
8/11/08

Test scores show need to get more help to students

By Wendy Zdeb, MASSP Board of Directors

If your school did not make AYP due to the participation rate in your school’s special education sub group, you may want to formulate an appeal based on information contained in the student’s IEP. There are a variety of reasons that may keep a student from being counted in the school’s participation rate such as:

Detroit's Numbers Are Bad; Pontiac's Are Worse
Only 6 percent of Pontiac Public Schools juniors met state testing standards in math this past March, according to Michigan Merit Examination (MME) test results released today by the Department of Education (MDE).
In fact, 83.1 percent of test takers in this Pontiac junior class fell into the lowest-scoring category possible.

Hello!

We are again hosting an academy this August 25th to present our work in four main areas: Algebra I, English 9, Freshmen Transition program, and Senior Relevance and Rigor!

A link to the brochure is available at my MASSP blog (Center 8). Likewise, it will be available on Monday at www.milanareaschools.org/hs (Click on Principal's Notes).

For more information, e-mail me at rreed@milan.k12.mi.us.

Thanks,

Ron Reed

On Monday, August 25th, Milan High is hosting an
academy to present some of the high school transformation work that has
been completed here.  The sessions include:  Freshmen
transition plan;  Algebra I (less than 5% failure for all
Freshmen): English 9 (less than 5% failure);  Senior Rigor
(Portfolio, and other topics.

<> Click on the following link to download the academy brochure...

Milan High Academy 

Dear Superintendents and PSA Directors:

With the announcement last month that the United States Department of Education (USED) approved Michigan’s application to participate in a Growth Model pilot, several local school districts have inquired as to how they can be part of the pilot.

Well, just to let everyone know – every local school district already is involved in the pilot.