EDUCATION WOW!

MDE's Office of School Improvement (OSI) Drives School Improvement Efforts

The Office of School Improvement (OSI) is a vital and diverse office within the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). The office promotes student learning and achievement by providing statewide leadership, guidance, and support over a wide range of programs that directly impact teaching and learning, school leadership, and continuous school improvement. A key focus within OSI is providing technical assistance to High Priority Schools not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, which is outlined more fully on page 1. With approximately 76 full-time staff, OSI manages more than $900 million of federal and state program funds that support school building and district programs. OSI is comprised of two primary units: the Curriculum and Instruction Unit and the Regional Field Services Unit.

Curriculum and Instruction

The Curriculum and Instruction Unit is dedicated to developing, distributing, and supporting programs, products, and tools that promote instructional excellence and increase district, school, and student achievement in the areas of literacy, English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Regional Field Services’ primary goal is to support schools in helping all students learn and achieve high standards.

The Curriculum and Instruction Unit is responsible for:

• The development, dissemination, and support of Michigan’s K-12 curriculum.
• The administration and support of statewide programs to increase student achievement in core subject areas such as: Michigan’s nationally recognized Reading First program, The Michigan Mathematics and Science Center program, and Building a Presence (BaP)—a school level capacity building science teacher leadership program.
• Public School Academies.
• Schools of Choice.
• Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
• Migrant Education.
• Advanced and Accelerated Programs.
• English language learner and immigrant programs.
• Alternative Education.
• Homeless Education.
• Comprehensive School Reform Grants.
• Boarding Schools.
• Michigan’s Joint Task Force on Creativity, Arts, and Cultural Education.

Regional Field Services

Field Services’ staff work with all local school districts and their identified schools, public school academies, intermediate school districts, and other agencies to support federal, state, and local school improvement efforts. Field Services’ primary goal is to support schools in helping all students learn and achieve high standards.

OSI Field Services’ consultants work in five regional teams with school districts to:

• Focus efforts on improving High Priority Schools.
• Assist schools/districts in implementing NCLB.
• Review and approve consolidated applications for federal and state formula grant funding.
• Provide assistance to schools and districts in coordinating programs and initiatives.
• Review and support the alignment of school improvement plans to improve student achievement.
• Provide linkages to local, regional, and state resources.
• Support district staff in building the skills and capacity to implement school improvement plans.
• Develop a communication link to other specialists within the MDE and Michigan’s educational community.

Recent Accomplishments

OSI has many accomplishments that have served as tools for improving Michigan’s educational system. Some of these recent accomplishments are as follows:

• Developed nationally recognized school improvement framework to provide all schools with a comprehensive, coherent, and research-based model to help guide continuous school improvement.
• Published and disseminated K-8 Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE), companion documents, and
  parent guides for English language arts and mathematics to support instruction.
• Continued development of draft K-8 Grade Level Content Expectations for the arts and connections documents
  which map the common learning expectations among the arts, English language arts, and mathematics.
• Developed High School Content Expectations for English language arts and mathematics and are in the process of developing new High School Course Content Expectations.
• In process of developing K-12 Grade Level Content Expectations for social studies.
• Provided national leadership for the development of the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education network that has received two National Endowment for the Arts grants to support sequential, standards-based instruction in the arts.
• Selected as one of five states to receive National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC) catalyst grant to build, establish, and strengthen a coalition of business, education, and public policy leaders to improve mathematics and science education.
• Participating in Achieve, Inc., American Diploma Project.
• Developed new K-12 English Language Proficiency Standards.
• Awarded Microsoft U.S. Partners in Learning grant to collaborative projects aimed at addressing student
  achievement and developing a more competitive 21st Century work force.
• Participated in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science standard setting.
• Developed Public School Academy assurances and verification systems.
• Created a Public School Academy authorizers bi-monthly dialogue.
• Developed parent involvement guidelines and tool kit for districts and schools.
• Increased advanced placement training and student dual enrollment.
• Awarded Project Matematica to support migrant students.
• Established Mexican Bi-National Educator in Residence Program hosting teachers from Mexico.
• Developed nationally recognized NCLB/AYP reporting packet and technical assistance guidance on NCLB
  sanction options.
• Developed and disseminated nationally recognized MI-Map School Improvement Toolkits to High Priority
  Schools.
• Provided AYP corrective action and restructuring support.
• Established regional support teams with ISDs to assist High Priority Schools.
• Developed and awarded ISD regional support grants to provide assistance to High Priority Schools.
• Sponsored Instructional Excellence Seminars for High Priority Schools.
• Co-developed Coaches’ Institute to train Coaches to assist High Priority Schools and build statewide technical assistance capacity.
• Co-sponsored Leadership Academies for Principals in High Priority Schools.
• Awarded 100 Comprehensive School Reform grants.
• Approved over 100 Supplemental Service Providers for schools not meeting AYP.
• Provided technical assistance to districts through regional workshops.

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