MANS Weekly Update
February 23, 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 they 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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Please share the following with your staff:
The Google spreadsheet kept by the school serves as the administrator's signature.
The SCECH application serves as the educator's signature. Educators seeking SCECHs must apply for them at the end of each school year. See page 11 of the SCECH Handbook.
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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. | |
Title IV, Part A Stronger Connections Grant, Competitive Application Release Announcement | |
The Michigan Department of Education has been awarded $26,504,263 by the U.S. Department of Education under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) Stronger Connections Grant (SCG). The Title IV, Part A (page 168) SCG program uses Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for state education agencies to competitively award subgrants to Title I, Part A eligible high-need local education agencies (LEAs), including public school academies (PSAs), to expand vital mental health services and provide additional support to design, enhance, and implement initiatives that will promote safer, more inclusive, and positive school environments. | |
2024 Virtual Education Workforce Job Fairs | |
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In support of Goal 7 of Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan to increase the numbers of certified teachers in areas of shortage, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to share the dates for the 2024 Virtual Education Workforce Job Fairs, presented in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The 2024 virtual job fairs are open to employers of educators and all individuals seeking to work in the education field.
The first job fair will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in partnership with Central Michigan University (CMU). The second job fair will take place on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Both job fairs will use the Brazen virtual platform to increase access to individuals seeking education jobs in Michigan.
For information and to register, job seekers and employers should visit the Education Workforce Job Fairs website.
For information on how to become a certified educator in Michigan, please visit the Office of Educator Excellence website.
Staff are also available to answer specific certification questions sent to MDE-EducatorHelp@Michigan.gov.
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Certificate Application Fee Reimbursement Program | |
The Certificate Application Fee Reimbursement program has been designed to retain and incentivize early renewals of educators renewing their certificates for the first time between October 1, 2023, and September 13, 2024. There is no need to apply for this reimbursement. This program is available until funds are exhausted. Please visit the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Certificate Application Fee Reimbursement website for more information. | |
Student Loan Repayment Program Webinar | |
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The Office of Educator Excellence (OEE) will host a Student Loan Repayment Program Application Webinar on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST, with time set aside for a brief Q&A session. Webinar participants must use the Zoom registration link found on the Student Loan Repayment Program website; a webinar link will be automatically sent to the e-mail address used for registration.
As a reminder, application and participant eligibility information about the Student Loan Repayment Program, along with many frequently asked questions (FAQs), is available on the Student Loan Repayment Program website. Individuals may not apply for this program; ISDs and LEAs (both traditional public school districts and PSAs) must apply on behalf of their participants. ISDs may apply on behalf of the districts in their service area pursuant to their agreements with those districts.
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FREE Online Course for Private School Practitioners: Intensive Behavior Supports Learning Series | |
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Are you looking for FREE professional development to enhance your knowledge of how to provide behavioral supports to your students? Would you like to gain skills and knowledge to assist all students, including those with disabilities, in your classroom?
If you answered yes, then you are invited to join the PROGRESS Center for their upcoming 4-week interactive virtual learning opportunity on behavioral supports. This is for private school educators, school leaders, and other stakeholders and will be held every Tuesday beginning March 5 through March 26, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (ET).
A Zoom link will be provided after registration is confirmed and a certificate of attendance will be available for those who attend all four sessions. The course breakdown is:
- Week 1: Behavior Theory
- Week 2: Antecedent and Instructional Strategies
- Week 3: Consequence Strategies for Increasing and Decreasing Behavior
- Week 4: Using Data to Measure, Monitor, and Inform Decisions
Please be sure to register to ensure your space is reserved to attend this helpful and informative class!
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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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