Continuous Improvement for Michigan Kids

From Paper to People

The Michigan Continuous Improvement and Monitoring System (CIMS) is a process that balances the need for continuous procedural compliance with a focus on improving student results and outcomes. CIMS, designed by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (OSE/EIS), ensures that each education service provider (local education agency, public school academy, Early On service area, intermediate school district directly operated program, and state agency) in Michigan has a system to provide early intervention and special education services to improve outcomes for students and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

Developed during 2003-2004, the goal of the CIMS is to have districts and agencies better understand the operation and effectiveness of programs for students with disabilities and develop plans for targeted use of their resources. CIMS focuses on program effectiveness and student results, and its activities involve collaboration between school districts and the MDE for a quality improvement monitoring process.

For more information, visit www.cenmi.org/cims.

Source: “Procedures for Michigan’s Continuous Improvement & Monitoring System: CIMS,” put out by MDE’s OSE/EIS and available at www.michigan.gov/documents/7-1-05CIMSProcedures_130198_7.pdf.