MANS 2024 Public Policy Day - March 19, 2024 in Lansing

Come be part of something impactful at the 2024 MANS Public Policy Day! This is your chance to gather with fellow nonpublic school advocates from across the state and engage directly with legislators on the issues that matter most to our schools.

Let us unite our voices to advocate for our nonpublic school students!

Participants will begin the day in Heritage Hall located in the Michigan State Capitol. Prior to visiting with your legislator, you will hear from policy experts who will help you understand the immediate impacts of broad policy decisions. You will also be provided with the tools you need to make your legislative visit productive and positive.

Each participant will be scheduled for team visits with your legislative delegation. Please register as soon as possible to ensure ample time for MANS staff to schedule meetings.

Agenda to come soon!

Michigan's National School Choice Week 2024 Celebration

You are invited to Michigan’s National School Choice Week 2024 Celebration on January 23, 2024!

This year P.A.C.E. (Parent Advocates for Choice in Education) is offering a thank you to any school or educational organization attending National School Choice Week Event! Upon arrival you will receive details on how you can complete a scavenger hunt-style activity. Upon completion and submission your school/educational organization will receive a $100 gift card toward the purchase of an educational item.

Wear school swag to the event so as you are walking around the Michigan Capitol grounds so that individuals will recognize that you are a school group.

National Lutheran Schools Week - January 21-27, 2024

National Lutheran Schools Week provides more than 1,800 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod thanks God for the opportunity to provide excellent academic preparation for the children they serve and are most grateful for the opportunity to share Jesus’ amazing love with children and their families. National Lutheran Schools Week gives them an opportunity to proclaim these great blessings within the communities they serve.

Their schools are amazing incubators for faithful witness of God’s love for us through Christ by teachers and students alike.

Click below to view and download their 2024 National Lutheran School Week resources.

Catholic Schools Week - January 28 - February 3, 2024

For Catholic Schools Week (CSW) take time to recount what makes this celebration truly special and why it holds a unique place in your heart.

1. A Tradition of Excellence: CSW is a time-honored tradition that allows us to reflect on the unwavering commitment to academic excellence, spiritual growth and community service that defines our Catholic schools.
2. Faith-Focused Learning: Our schools are dedicated to nurturing the whole person—mind, body and spirit. CSW provides an opportunity to showcase the integration of faith into every aspect of education, fostering a deep and meaningful connection between students and their spiritual journey.
3. Strong Community Bonds: One of the hallmarks of CSW is the emphasis on community—illustrated in the CSW logo and theme. Our schools are not just places of learning; they are vibrant communities where students, parents, teachers and staff come together in a supportive and nurturing environment to love and learn as Jesus taught us.
4. Commitment to Service: Inspired by the teachings of Christ, our schools instill a sense of responsibility and compassion in our students. CSW celebrates the countless service projects and outreach initiatives undertaken by our school communities, positively impacting the wider community, not to mention forming saints!
5. Holistic Education: We take pride in providing a holistic education that goes beyond academics. Our schools focus on character development, moral values and the formation of responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to society.
6. Inspirational Leadership: During CSW, we acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of our school leaders, teachers and staff. Their commitment to fostering a love of learning and a strong foundation in our Catholic faith is the driving force behind the success of our schools.
7. Vibrant Celebrations: CSW is not just about reflection; it's also about celebration! From special liturgies and prayer services to fun and engaging activities, the week is filled with events that bring joy and enthusiasm to our students and school communities.

The Marketing Kit and Tools and Templates (login required) have tried-and-true ideas to make your own. Their recent webinar, Make the Most of Catholic Schools Week, can answer questions you may have.

Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC)

2023-2024 Non-public School Professional Learning Needs Assessment

Act Now – Your Voice Matters!

MANS has collaborated with the Michigan Department of Education to drive positive changes in Michigan's non-public school community through the Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC) since 2017. Your insights are crucial in shaping the professional learning plans for the 2024-2025 academic year in alignment with ESSA regulations.

Please take a few moments to complete the MESC Professional Needs Assessment Survey to share your professional learning needs and preferences. Whether you're an administrator or a classroom teacher, your perspective matters. We encourage administrators to share the survey link with classroom teachers to ensure a diverse range of insights.



Thank you for your commitment to enhancing professional learning opportunities for Michigan's non-public schools. Your contribution is instrumental in shaping the future of education in our schools.

Email Angelia Salas, Director of Services, with any questions.

Survey Deadline: January 31, 2024

Van Andel Institute: Administrator Series Virtual Ongoing Coaching

This series is provided free of charge to Michigan nonpublic schools by the Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC), which is coordinated by MANS. This is a sustained training, with each session building off the other. 

Find Your Authentic Leadership Style

February 22, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Leading is not for the faint of heart. Addressing gaps in achievement, behavior, SEL, and more, all while protecting the mental health of staff and students, requires that K-12 administrators find their authentic leadership style and lean in. Join us for this practical and informative webinar to discover your personal leadership style and how to leverage that into success for yourself and your school! 

School Improvement Planning

February 29. 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Administrators around the country are still grappling with the challenges of educating during a pandemic, but school improvement plans are as important as ever, and they aren’t going to write themselves! In this session, discover a 6-step process to support your school improvement planning efforts. Learn strategies to help you set and prioritize goals, identify and allocate resources, and communicate your plan effectively. 

Be the Coach: Best Practices to Mediate Thinking

March 7, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Instructional coaching is a powerful way for teachers to reflect on their teaching practice. In this session, discover research-based factors that make instructional coaching successful and how to bring this type of professional growth opportunity to your school.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

Michigan students who graduate from high school may be eligible for up to $5,500 with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has extended the MI Safe School Indoor Air Ventilation Program for all K-12 schools in the state of Michigan. This program continues to provide portable indoor air HEPA filtration units and replacement filters at no-cost to all K-12 school communities. If you were not able to previously place an order, or if you would like to request additional units for your school, please submit your requests here.

NexSys Certification of Non-Privileged Users

In order to meet the technical standard, MDE has implemented a process for certification of several MDE systems in NexSys. MDE is requesting all entities to complete a certification of their users. This certification ensures that a review was conducted and that all entity users have been updated accordingly. This certification validates users for the Michigan Electronic Grant System–PLUS (MEGS+), NexSys, Grant Electronic Monitoring System/Michigan Administrative Review System (GEMS/MARS), and the Michigan Nutrition Data System (MIND). This certification will be available in NexSys beginning January 15, 2024.

Questions or concerns regarding the certification can be emailed to: MDE-NexSys-Applications@Michigan.gov.

Federal Updates

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

The participation of private and other nonpublic schools in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is essential for examining the picture of K-12 education in the United States and informing future policy decisions.

Private schools represent about 24 percent of schools in the nation and educate about 9 percent of the students. In order to have a complete picture of the academic achievement and progress of the nation's students, selected students in public and nonpublic schools must participate in NAEP.

Transformative Education Scholars Program (TESP) - Loyola University Chicago

MANS is pleased to announce a partnership with Loyola University Chicago TESP. As a member of the Transformative Education Scholars Program (TESP), a minimum of 12-15 members will complete one of the participating academic degree programs with the benefit of a 30% tuition discount. Organizations can have more than one cohort of students completing more than one academic program. Scholars will receive a 30% tuition discount each semester of their academic degree program. Discount applies to required courses within the degree program only and does not cover fees or other expenses 

Eligibility for Transformative Education Scholars Program: Must apply to and be accepted to one of the participating academic programs and must be admitted as part of a cohort of at least 12-15 members of the organization.

Participating Degree/ Endorsement Programs include: 

• Higher Education MEd
• Language Culture and Curriculum MEd
• School Counseling MEd
• Educational Leadership MEd
• Superintendent Endorsement Certificate
• Elementary Education MEd
• Secondary Education MEd

Loyola University Chicago requires the School of Education to create an agreement with organizations to market and apply the TESP discount.

Van Andel Education Institute On-Demand Webinars

The Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI) offers on-demand webinars for K-12 educators on a variety of topics. VAEI is dedicated to creating K–12 classrooms where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking thrive. They are transforming education by offering student programs, teacher professional development and instructional tools that bring inquiry-based learning to life and engage students in thinking and acting like scientists.

This skill-based course explores the pivotal role of positive interactions in building trust between students and teachers in the classroom, ultimately guiding them to develop a personalized plan for enhancing positive interactions and monitoring progress.

In this course, you will:

• Discover the power of positive interactions and learn about the 5-to-1 ratio.
• Examine and reflect upon your current interactions with learners.
• Develop a plan for building trust with students through positive interactions.
• Track your progress using a simple template.
• Apply your knowledge and share reflections with other participants.
• Earn 4 SCECHs

New Advanced Tech Courses for Students

Dive into Michigan Virtual's new Mobile App Design with MIT App Inventor course, suitable for students at any programming level. They'll learn to build functional mobile apps using MIT App Inventor's user-friendly visual environment, covering app design, usability, and security. For those with a programming background, Michigan Virtual's Video Game Design with Java course offers an immersive experience in game development, utilizing Java and Greenfoot. Students will gain hands-on skills in game design and project lifecycle management. 

Virtual ESI for Building Leaders Workshop Series

Catapult Learning invites you to join them for Virtual ESI for building leaders. This three-day virtual workshop series is led by Michelle Doyle, a leader in educational consulting and equitable services. These three sessions will cover the essentials of understanding equitable services through federal education programs for students attending private schools.

Workshop One - January 16 at 2:00 p.m.: Title IIa and ESSA Consultation

Workshop Two - January 17 at 2:00 p.m.: Title I

Workshop Three - January 18 at 2:00 p.m.: IDEA

Catapult Learning PDNow

Professional development (PD) should solve today’s education challenges and meet educators where they are – that’s where we step in. PDNow is Catapult Learning’s professional learning platform that pairs more than 45 years of school partnership excellence with technology, giving your K-12 educators access to high-quality PD that builds capacity – anywhere, anytime.

GPS Solutions provides a mental health professional who conducts one-on-one, group, and whole group support that focuses on both proactive and reactive ways to promote self-awareness, managing emotions, social awareness, developing empathy, maintaining and repairing healthy relationships, and responsible decision-making. This support is designed for students, staff, and leaders so that the strategies identified can be supported with all stakeholders within the building.