MDE Collaborates to Launch School Improvement Framework

by Jan Ellis, Office of School Improvement, Michigan Department of Education

Each year, schools and districts review policies and practices to consider ways to improve and enhance student achievement. This process, commonly referred to as the school improvement process, is deeply embedded in building, district, and state planning and accountability systems and has become an integral and necessary part of school and system reform. While this type of planning has existed for many years, recent state and federal mandates including annual testing directives and increased accountability have intensified the importance of this process and its outcomes.

During the past year, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of School Improvement (OSI), along with school improvement specialists from intermediate school districts around the state, worked to develop a universal framework that can be used by school buildings and districts to guide continuous school improvement efforts. This dynamic new tool, called the Michigan School Improvement Framework builds upon information contained in programs such as MI-Plan, as well as current research and proven practice.

This Framework, created by educators for educators, outlines essential components of successful school improvement and can be individualized and used in multiple ways at both the building and district level to support school improvement planning, prioritize budgets, guide professional development, assessment, accountability, accreditation, grant criteria, technical support, etc. It also is aligned with state and federal regulations including the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Public Act 25 and Michigan’s state accreditation system, Education YES!

Over the past several months, OSI has collected feedback and revised the draft Framework prior to sending it out for national review and comment. The office hopes to present a final document and a variety of tools to support the Framework to the State Board of Education later this year.

To view a PowerPoint presentation about the Framework or for a copy of the document, visit www.michigan.gov/osi. For questions or comments regarding the Framework, contact: Jan Ellis, Office of School Improvement, ellisjan@michigan.gov.