MANS Weekly Update
February 16, 2024
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The Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools is expanding the team! In our commitment to grow the professional development offerings and enhance our service to our members, MANS is seeking a qualified individual to join our team as a Program Associate. The Program Associate will assist in coordinating and facilitating professional learning opportunities provided by MANS and the Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC). We look forward to welcoming a dedicated, entrepreneurial individual who shares our vision for faith-based education in Michigan.
To apply for the position, please send resumes to Shelley Long no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2024. The anticipated start date for this role is July 2024.
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MANS 2024 Public Policy Day - March 19, 2024 in Lansing
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Why We Need You At MANS Public Policy Day:
Last week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her FY 2025 budget recommendation during a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Non-public schools were excluded from the following funding:
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School Safety: $150 million dollars has been appropriated for public school districts to improve mental health and school safety. Nonpublic schools are not included in the request even though they have been for the past two years.
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Student Teacher Stipend Program: Up to $9,600 per semester will be made available to students attending teacher preparation programs at public or private colleges in Michigan for tuition and living expenses. The student must student-teach in a public school. Nonpublic schools are not eligible student teaching sites for stipend recipients.
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Michigan Future Educator Fellowship: provides up to $10,000 per year for first-time degree seekers and career changers to lower the cost of becoming a PreK-12 teacher. Students may attend public or private institutions of higher education. Subsequently, they must teach at a public school for three to five years. If they choose to teach in a faith-based school the student will have to repay the fellowship
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Universal School Meals Program: The Governor proposed a $200 million funding stream as a continuation of a program that began last year to close the hunger gap created when pandemic related federal funding for free breakfast and lunch ended. The funding is for public schools only and includes all students attending that school. The legislature should include all eligible nonpublic school students in this proposal, provided their nonpublic school participates in the federal school lunch program
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Robotics Grant Program: The Governor proposed $5.3 million dollars in public school funding for this program for FY 2024. Nonpublic schools are not included in the proposed grant program despite being eligible for many years
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Mandate Reimbursement: There is no funding for health and safety mandate reimbursements (Section 152b). Last year this was added by the Democrat-led legislature and signed by the Governor
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Professional Development / LETRS - There is significant school aid funding for literacy supports including professional development through LETRS or similar programs. These resources are for public school teachers only
Your voice is critical in explaining to the legislature the importance of including nonpublic schools in these funding initiatives and the impact have on the overall quality of education in Michigan. Come and share your school's story and provide examples of safety initiatives, the teacher workforce issues, and how your robotics program impacts students.
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MANS 2024 Education Conference and Expo Call For Presenters | |
The Michigan Association of Non-public Schools invites you to share your expertise and insights at the upcoming MANS Education Conference and Expo. Education professionals, your contributions can enrich the conference experience for attendees and inspire meaningful dialogue. We welcome you to submit a session proposal that highlights innovative approaches, best practices, and emerging trends in education. Join us in shaping an impactful program that empowers educators and fosters excellence in teaching and learning.
Important Dates:
- March 15th - Call for Presenters Submission Deadline
- April - Presenters notified about proposal selections and Conference registration opens
- July - Presenters notified when their session is scheduled
- September - Early bird registration ends
- October 17 & 18 - MANS Education Conference & Expo
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Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC) | |
Scholarships for the Program For Inclusive Education (PIE) | |
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The Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC) is offering five partial scholarships to participate in the University of Notre Dame, Alliance for Catholic Education, Program for Inclusive Education (PIE). PIE is an 18-credit hour program for educators employed in Catholic schools/(arch)dioceses. The program offers a licensure track for eligible teachers who wish to pursue additional licensure in Mild Intervention upon program completion. For applicants without a teaching license or who are already licensed in special education, PIE offers the opportunity to further develop their expertise in meeting the needs of diverse learners through a unique Catholic school lens. Join PIE and more effectively welcome, serve, and celebrate all students!
MESC is offering five $5,000 scholarships. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Angelia Salas.
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State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) | |
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The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) defines SCECH eligible programs as:
SCECHs are State approved in-service, workshop, training, or conference credits that are used for the renewal of selected certificates issued by the MDE. SCECHs are calculated as the total number of instructional hours in a program. In-services, workshops, trainings, and conferences exceeding one hour may be eligible for SCECH credits.
Faith-based topics, introductions, networking, and breaks may not be included in the instructional hour calculation.
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The SCECH application for the 2023-2024 academic year opens in April 2024. If you've already completed your PD for the year and need early access or if you have any questions, reach out to Shelley Long. | |
EGLE Accepting Submissions for K-5 Earth Day Poster Contest | |
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) invites students in kindergarten through 5th grade to enter the annual Michigan Earth Day Poster Contest. Prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place winners in each grade. Students should include wildlife, plants, land, or freshwater ecosystems native to Michigan in their Earth Day 2024 Poster. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2024, EGLE is also accepting posters that highlight the importance of safe drinking water and source water protection and will award one 1st and one 2nd place prize for this category. Please see the Earth Day webpage to download the forms and poster template. Poster submission deadline is March 8, 2024. For more information, email Pam Howd. | |
EGLE Accepting Nominations for Environmental Service Award Competition | |
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy invites schools to nominate a student or classroom in grades 6-12 to be recognized for completing a school-sanctioned project that has tangible results for the environment. Two projects will receive an award, one for grades 6-8, and one for grades 9-12. To qualify as environment-based, the project must provide a benefit for Michigan flora, wildlife, air, water, land, or ecosystems. The project must have taken place between April 22, 2023 and February 1, 2024. A representative from the school must verify the validity of each project along with its outcome and must submit the nomination online. The deadline to submit nominations is March 8, 2024. For more information, email Pam Howd. | |
Michigan School Safety Academy | |
The Michigan School Safety Academy is a two-day learning opportunity hosted by the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety for K-12 school administrators, school safety liaisons, mental health professionals, and school resource officers. Registration is now open for March 5 and 6 at Cornerstone University's Gainey Conference Center. | |
WEBINAR: Competency-Based Education – A Conversation with Educators and Leaders - Tuesday, February 27 at 1:00 p.m. | |
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Join the Office of Non-Public Education at the U.S. Departmentof Education for a webinar on competency-based education in private and public schools. With its personalized learning, customizable pacing, evidence of student mastery, and meaningful differentiated instruction, competency-based education is a way to educate all students successfully.
Competency-based education acknowledges a reality often ignored in some traditional school settings – that students learn differently and at different paces. Unlike many traditional education models, students are not separated by age-based class levels. Instead, students advance to various levels by demonstrating proficiencies. In addition, teachers use real-time data and information about their students’ capabilities, facilitate learning that maximizes each student’s strengths and self-agency, and provide personalized instruction to ensure students have the necessary skills to master the content.
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Transformative Education Scholars Program (TESP) - Loyola University Chicago | |
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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. 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:
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In this pragmatic course provided by Michigan Virtual, you will learn research-based response to intervention (RTI) strategies that ensure the struggling readers in your classroom get the help and education they need. The strategies cover phonics, fluency, vocabulary mastery, comprehension, and writing.
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Resources from Our Partners | |
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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.
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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.
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