Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Capitol Report Archives Go to current Capitol Report for links to complete archive. July, 2004 June, 2004 May, 2004 April, 2004 March, 2004 February, 2004 January, 2004 2003-04 Voting Records 2003 2002 2001 2000 |
Detroit Voters to Face New School Option in November Grant Funds Released by the Michigan Department of Education 2004 - 2005 - Mandated Activities Projects, Part B Federal Grant 2004 - 2005 Comprehensive School Reform Program 21st Century Learning Center Grants Awarded 2004 NCLB - Title II Statewide Activities Federal Grant New Law Closes Student Information Loophole Merit Board Creates 40-Hour Volunteering Reg may be found on the Legislative Hotline page of this website.  Return to Top Detroit Voters to Face New School Option in November On November 2, 2004, Detroit voters will choose between two options by which the school district should be governed. In either case, board members would assume office in January 2006, after being elected at the primary and general elections in 2005. A "no" vote would be a vote in favor of returning to the pre-1999 elected school board model.
A "yes" vote on the referendum would be a vote in favor of the strong CEO model.
Return to Top Grant Funds Released by the Michigan Department of Education The 2004 - 2005 Title I, Part A - Improving Basic Program is a federal grant to help disadvantaged children meet high academic standards through participation in a schoolwide program designed to strengthen the entire educational program, or a targeted assistance program designed to provide additional instruction to low-achieving students. The 2004 - 2005 Title II, Part A - Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting federal grant program to increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools; and hold local educational agencies and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement. The 2004 - 2005 Title II, Part D - Enhancing Education Through Technology federal grant program is to provide assistance for effective use of technology, encourage the establishment of expansion of access to technology, and assistance in the improvement of technology infrastructure in elementary and secondary schools. It is also to promote initiatives for educators to integrate technology into curriculum and to provide professional development and training for teachers, principals, and administrators. MFT&SRP qualifying locals and total allocation amounts are listed below:
*Allocation withheld pending completion/submittal of October Fee Eligible Counts Form. Return to Top 2004 - 2005 - Mandated Activities Projects, Part B Federal Grant The Macomb ISD is recommended to directly receive $1,200,000 to provide a statewide system of information, technical assistance, training, and support to assist schools in the development and implementation of school-wide research-based strategies for early identification and intervention of students at-risk for behavioral and academic failure. In addition, awareness and dissemination for school-wide approaches to positive behavior support is a continuous need across the state. While some schools have effectively implemented strategies for positive behavior support, as well as problem-solving teams for academic intervention, many other including those identified as high priority, remain in need of assistance. This will help achieve the Michigan State Board of Education Strategic Goal to attain substantial and meaningful improvement in academic achievement for all students/children with primary emphasis on high priority schools and students. This project was competitively bid for the 2002 - 2003 fiscal year. This is the third year of a three to five year grant. Return to Top 2004 - 2005 Comprehensive School Reform Program This is a federal reform initiative which focuses on the reorganization and revitalization of entire schools. The purpose of the School Reform Program is to provide financial incentives for high poverty schools to improve student achievement through the implementation of comprehensive school reform programs that are based on reliable and effective practices.
Return to Top 21st Century Learning Center Grants Awarded The Michigan Department of Education has announced the awarding of nearly $30 million in before- and after-school program grants. The federal dollars will provide resources at 187 school sites in Michigan to operate 21st Century Learning Centers. This year's grant awards will fund 21st Century Learning Centers in 55 new sites, in addition to the 132 existing programs. The programs support students before and after school with homework help, academic enrichment, and multiple initiatives to expand their learning opportunities. They serve nearly 19,000 students at the existing Michigan sites. Nearly $43 million in new 21st Century grant requests came into the state for programs at an additional 230 sites this year, yet only $8.8 million was available after the existing sites received their continuation funding. Qualifying programs can receive the grants for five years if they continue to comply with the program's guidelines. In grading the applications, priority was given to programs serving schools based on poverty levels; D-Alert and Unaccredited Education YES! School Report Card grades; middle schools; and the federal No Child Left Behind Act's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) sanction phase.
Return to Top 2004 NCLB - Title II Statewide Activities Federal Grant Wayne State University has been recommended to receive $400,000 for The Limited License to Instruct: An Accelerated Route to Teacher Certification. This project is designed to provide certificated instructional personnel in all of the classrooms of the Detroit Public Schools. The focus of the project will be to support up to 700 non-certified classroom teachers and other individuals making a mid-career change participating in a pilot program as an accelerated route to teacher certification. Through a collaborative effort with the Detroit Public Schools, Michigan Department of Education, and Wayne State University participants in this cycle will be enrolled in a bilingual teacher preparation program leading toward the awarding of a masters degree and a recommendation for certification. This program is intended to address the districts critical need for bilingual teachers to instruct a growing population of non-English speaking students. This project will serve as a model for statewide replication by other institutions of higher education. The Wayne State University faculty will provide technical assistance to two other districts working in conjunction with identified Michigan colleges and universities to address the need for certified instructional staff to teach the students. Return to Top New Law Closes Student Information Loophole Governor Granholm has signed Public Act 305 of 1004 that closes a potential loophole in the state's Open Meetings Act that otherwise could create a situation where a student's information could be published in school board minutes. House Bill 5198 (Nofs, R-Battle Creek), allows Michigan to comply with the national Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits state education officials from releasing personally identifiable student information in board minutes. Had this loophole not been closed, it's possible that the state could have gotten its federal education money cut off. Under FERPA, schools must have the written permission from a parent or eligible student before releasing information from a student's record. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) includes a provision that exempts disclosure of such information if that disclosure would be in violation of FERPA. Return to Top Merit Board Creates 40-Hour Volunteering Reg The Michigan Merit Award Board has approved a resolution requiring high school students to perform 40 hours of community service to qualify for the Michigan Merit Award, a new stipulation Governor Granholm proposed in her 2004 State of the State address. High school students qualify for the $2,500 Michigan Merit Award if they hit state standards on Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) high school tests and can maintain a 3.0 GPA. Approximately 50,000 students qualify for Merit Awards each year. The Community Service requirement will begin with the graduating class of 2006. Many school districts already have community service programs in place. Those that do not will be expected to establish a new policy. According to the Merit Board resolution, community service should be separate from regular extracurricular activities such as athletics, band and choir. For each student to receive payment, the Michigan Merit Award Office must receive from the student and his or her high school verification that the community service requirement has been fulfilled. This can be completed in conjunction with current Michigan Merit Award reporting requirements. bk:opeiu42aflcio |
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