Superintendents' Newsletter
September 2014
Kicking off the New School Year: The Power of a Goal
In 1961, President Kennedy set the goal:
The goal was specific with a clear goal and deadline. It was achieved in 1969. The decision involved much consideration before making it public, as well as enormous human efforts and expenditures to make what became Project Apollo a reality.
Why is Goal setting so Important?
The answer is quite simple:
Good goal setting:
1. is powerfully motivating
2. yields more satisfaction from the sense of achievement
3. gives focus
4. drives effort
--excerpt from Rapid Business Intelligence Success
What is your district goal(s) for this year or the next 2 or 3 years?
Does everyone know what they are?
Getting Ready for October: "Leadership in Action"
Building a Positive Culture and Ensuring Student Success
Presenters: William Parrett and Kathleen Budge
Wednesday, October 1st:
Lunch after Superintendent's Association Meeting
Leadership in Action for Superintendent's 11:30-2:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 2nd:
Repeat Sessions from
8:30-11:00; 1:00-3:30; 4:30-7:00 p.m.
John Hattie Article on Why it Matters...
John Hattie Article to use with your Administrators...from the Marshall Memo:
Feedback – the Breakfast of Champions
In this chapter in Applying Science of Learning in Education, John Hattie (University of Melbourne) and Gregory Yates (University of South Australia) trace the history of the term feedback and offer a basic definition: “information allowing a learner to reduce the gap between what is evident currently and what could or should be the case” – in other words, guiding students to the next step they need to take.
But feedback doesn’t always work smoothly in the real world of classrooms. Researchers have three observations:
· Teachers say they routinely give lots of helpful feedback to their students.
· Trained classroom observers, however, see very little teacher-to-student feedback, even with expert teachers.
· When students are asked, many report very little feedback from their teachers, typically a few seconds a day. Students do get quite a lot of feedback from their peers, but much of it is incorrect.
Hattie and Yates call this an “empathy gap” – teachers believe they’re giving helpful feedback to the whole class, but students (when interviewed) say that group-level feedback “is largely irrelevant to those who have mastered an objective, and often is ignored by those who have not… many within the class are bored, tuned out, or simply focusing on other things in their life more important at the time.”
(for the entire article, refer to the Marshall Memo from September 2nd, 2014)
Did you like the activity today? Try it with your administrators!
Legislation:
- 2014-15 K-12 budget bill: requires MDE to develop new summative assessments for Spring 2015 to replace MEAP and MME.
- These assessments will measure the Common Core State Standards, not the GLCE's and HSCE (except for SS and Science).
- The legislation is also requiring that an RFP be issued by September 1st for a new summative assessment system for 2015-16.
What will be tested:
- ELA & Math: grades 3-8 and 11
- Science: grades 4, 7 and 11
- Social Studies: grades 5, 8, and 11
Testing windows and approximate times:
- This update provides a summary of all required assessments and their approximate time
- The high school summative assessment window has been extended. See the Spring 2015 Testing Schedule Update: September 11, 2014 for current information.
- There were no details regarding the college entrance/work skills assessments yet--so there will be more hours of testing for 11th grade.
MDE Assessment & Accountability
Michigan Merit Curriculum Changes
August 21, 2014 MASSP Hosted Q & A Presentation & Handouts
The legislation agreed to the adjustments below to create more flexibility in how students earn the required credits. The bill now goes to the Governor for his signature, but doesn't take effect until April 2015.
MDE has updated their FAQ document as of August 2014 to address these changes.
Here is a table you can click on that summarizes the changes explained below:
Core MMC Changes
- The Algebra 2 requirement could be fulfilled by taking a CTE course--or, courses which cover at least the portion of algebra 2 benchmarks that are assessed on the Michigan Merit Exam (MME)
- The Foreign Language requirement could be fulfilled with 2 credits of grade-appropriate language instruction anytime during grades K-12. Additionally, students graduating in the classes of 2015-2020 only may substitute a CTE course OR an additional visual or performing arts course for one of the two required credits of foreign language.
- The second science credit, in addition to chemistry or physics, may be fulfilled by taking anatomy, agricultural science, or a course that provides at least the portion of either chemistry or physics benchmarks which are assessed on the MME. Students may also substitute a CTE course (regardless of content) for their third credit of science.
- MMC law now clearly specifies that districts may count extracurricular activities for one-half credit of physical education.
Personal Curriculum Changes
- Schools must write a personal curriculum for a student if requested by the student's parent (or by the student if he or she is 18 years old or an emancipated minor). This would apply regardless of whether the requested change was allowable under law. The school superintendent or his or her designee would still have the right to reject the PC once written.
- Only one school representative needs to be involved rather than both a teacher and counselor.
- There is no longer a requirement for an in-person meeting to develop the PC.
- There is no longer a requirement for quarterly progress meetings.
- Students may fulfill their Algebra 2 requirements with technical math or by taking a class that covers at least the portion of algebra 2 benchmarks that are assessed on the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).
- Students may substitute CTE courses (regardless of content) for up to 1 credit of social studies; 1 credit of health and physical education; and 1 credit of visual, performing, or applied arts.
- No limitation may be put on the number of PCs a school is allowed to have.
- Schools must notify parents and students annually that they are entitled to pursue a PC; i.e. through the school newsletter, handbook, or other communication sent to the pupil's home.
- Pupils must be informed of the option to take CTE during their education development plan (EDP) development process.
- See MASSP's Q&A
Upcoming Professional Development
Our Fall E-Catalog is Online!
You Can't Miss These!!!
Education and Learning
Email: mbehm@geneseeisd.org
Website: www.geneseeisd.org
Location: 2413 W Maple Ave, Flint, MI, United States
Phone: 8105914408