In this issue of MICIP Continuous Communication
This issue of Continuous Communication includes information about the Promising Practices Exchange, new resources that are available for continuous improvement, the Fall 2022 Continuous Improvement Conference, resources to help talk with stakeholders about social and emotional learning, and more!
In case you missed it, these are resources for new staff—or staff with new roles—to have the most up-to-date Continuous Improvement information:
- Share this link to subscribe to Continuous Communication
- Get started with Professional Learning Bites
- View the resources available on the MICIP web page
- Share previous issues of MICIP Continuous Communication
 Promising Practices Exchange
MDE recently announced the new Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan: Promising Practices Exchange (Exchange). MDE has partnered with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) to develop a public-facing web-based platform where Michigan's educational community can share and view promising practices specific to the state’s strategic education plan goals.
MDE recognizes that contributions from Michigan’s education partners are pivotal to the strategic plan’s success and is asking partners to submit promising practices to the Exchange. Content experts vet submitted practices to ensure the practices demonstrate improved outcomes for learners.
Currently, MDE is requesting early literacy promising practices during October 2022.
Visit the Exchange at https://mipromisingpractices.org/ to view or submit promising practices.
 New Continuous Improvement Resources
The long-promised Building Equity Learning Bite and Building Equity Through MICIP Toolkit are now live on the MICIP website.
We will continue to build the resource component of the toolkit. If you have resources you would like us to consider, please send them to Ben Boerkoel at boerkoelb@michigan.gov. Shortly following the Continuous Improvement Conference, there will also be a toolkit on Addressing Systems Through MICIP.
In addition, those organizations focusing on systems work in Michigan – including MDE, SISEP/NIRN, MiMTSS, MDE Way of Work, Statewide Field Team, and MICIP - have produced an updated version of the Common Vocabulary for Systemic Support document, this time with vocabulary definitions. In an effort to bring consistency and make systems work less confusing for users, each of these organizations has promised to use the identified definitions in their work.
 MICIP User Group
The first MICIP User Group of the 2022-23 school year met on October 3 to discuss the continuous improvement requirements for the next two years as well as the new resources mentioned above.
You will find the resources and recordings for the entire year at the User Group Dashboard .
The Group will next meet on Monday, November 7 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm to discuss the monitoring and adjust processes. Everyone is welcome to join us.
So that we have your information, we would like those interested to complete the following survey. You only need to do this once, not for each meeting.
You can join us in November at this link:
- Meeting ID: 853 2449 7741
- Passcode: wp5M2m
We apologize to those who were not able to get into the October meeting due to the missing passcode.
 MDE Fall 2022 Continuous Improvement Conference
So, you can’t attend the October 18 MDE Fall 2022 Continuous Improvement conference because you don’t have the time or your district or ISD isn’t allowing travel?
You can still attend on your own time by registering for “Conference Recordings” at a cost of $150, and you will have access to all recordings starting 2-3 weeks after the event for ninety days.
While we would love to see you in person, we understand that there are circumstances that might prevent you from attending that way.
The conference schedule and registration information can be found at MDE Fall 2022 Continuous Improvement Conference - Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (http://www.gomasa.org). Along with two featured presenters and a keynote speaker, attendees will also be able to attend 24 breakout sessions.
In addition to a MICIP update during lunch, continuous improvement-focused sessions will include:
- MICIP 101
- How to Address Systems Through MICIP
-
What Does Continuous Improvement Look Like in MICIP, a District Perspective
MDE employees should register at this link: MDE Employee CI Conference Registration. We hope that however you join us, we will see you there.
 Social Emotional Learning
Proactive Responses to the Need for Skill Building
To serve busy educators with timely information, Education Week regularly uses a ‘spotlight’ format to bundle their reports. This fall, they produced a spotlight on Social Emotional Learning.
Within the series, the editors included guidance on how to address concerns about the critical need for children to make friends, know themselves and their feelings, and to make responsible decisions.
A commonsense tactic, and one that is aligned with MDE’s approach, is to follow the findings of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s survey of parents, ‘How to Sell SEL: Parents and the Politics of Social Emotional Learning’ (August 2021).
While parents appreciate the skills, they reported being put off by the language. Both Education Week author Arianno Prothero, and the Fordham authors, recommend that district staff eliminate jargon from their messaging to families.
When describing the function of these critical skills (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making) use plain language will help families understand both the timelessness of the effort and the rewards of knowing yourself and working with others.
As an example, the staff of Virginia Beach Public Schools, members of the AASA Social Emotional Learning national cohort, worked with families to develop fact sheets on social emotional learning.
Another recommended response is to focus on the why. These skills contribute to graduation rates, workforce readiness, and academic outcomes.
While research confirms this link to student success, educators can’t be the only ones giving voice to their value. Be proactive to strengthen the network of students, families, and community members who can speak about the need for these skills.
It can help to extend the opportunities to a rich base of partners and invite them to explain how they’ve experienced the benefits of this skill building. For more information regarding the Ed Week spotlight, click the link at: How School Leaders Can Respond to Pushback Over Social-Emotional Learning (edweek.org).
 MiMTSS eNewsletter
The MiMTSS eNewsletter for September-October is now available. Each edition keeps you up to date about the Michigan Department of Education’s efforts to support effective Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) implementation.
For more information on MTSS visit the MiMTSS website.
 MICIP transitions to Maintenance and Operation Status
MICIP launched on January 4, 2021. Since that time, we have had 25 releases of new features, enhancements, and bug fixes. This meteoric speed had a limited life.
MICIP has entered a maintenance and operation status.
This means that releases will be less frequent, but we will continue to release features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
A significant challenge this year will be addressing a concurrency issue. Concurrency is when two users are editing MICIP at the same time and same place.
The problem is a likelihood of work being overwritten by one user. Although the frequency of this problem is low now, the MICIP team anticipates this dilemma will increasingly become a problem.
We anticipate this work will take several months and is a high priority for the MICIP development team. In the meantime, we will continue to make bug fixes our highest priority and will add features and enhancements as time allows.
The MICIP team appreciates your ongoing comments and feedback on the process and platform. Please feel free to contact anyone on our team or leave comments in our mailbox.
Please share Continuous Communication
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Previous issues of MICIP Continuous Communication are available on the MICIP web page.
Feedback is Essential for Continuous Communication!
Have a question, an idea, a suggestion, or a compliment? The MICIP team is always eager to hear your feedback! Send us an email using the MICIP email address (mde-micip@michigan.gov).
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