September 2023 MICIP Continuous Communication

In this issue of MICIP Continuous Communication

The September 2023 issue of MICIP Continuous Communication includes important information about how to integrate strategic planning with MICIP Continuous Improvement Plans, the Fall 2023 Continuous Improvement Conference, new resources that are available now, the MICIP Collaboration User Group series, and much more!

---

DID YOU KNOW?

 

Did You Know that districts can integrate their strategic plans with their MICIP Continuous Improvement Plans?

 

Strategic planning and continuous improvement planning are closely related:

• Strategic planning is a process that defines a district’s vision and direction
• Continuous improvement planning identifies the plan for achieving a district’s vision

The Integration of Strategic and Continuous Improvement Planning article in this issue explores ways districts can streamline these plans to ensure full implementation of each plan.

---

MICIP Stats

On January 4, 2021, MDE launched MICIP statewide to support districts in their continuous improvement planning process.

Since its launch, MICIP has changed mindset, process, and platform regarding continuous improvement.

The evidence of this change comes from statewide MICIP data. Currently, there are over 5,200 authorized users and over 3,000 data stories with ~2,100 plans in districts portfolios.

 

Mindset change has started to shift from districts focusing only on academic areas of inquiry to also focusing on non-academic and on systems goals, with 47.5% of data stories currently focused in those areas.

Anecdotal evidence has also reported that districts have found the continuous improvement process outlined in MICIP to be simple and straight-forward and focused on the work districts believe will help them impact student growth.

---

Release 2.6.5

MICIP 2.6.5 was released on August 17, 2023, and contained both an enhancement and a bug fix.

• The enhancement was the ability to add monitoring notes to maintenance and limited maintenance plans.
• The bug fix was to ensure that deleted strategies would not appear in the MiStrategyBank search and browse functions.

---

Integration of Strategic and CI Planning

Many districts have either completed a strategic plan or are planning to start the process this school year.

The MICIP platform can integrate a strategic plan and a continuous improvement plan so it is easy for a district to manage both.

Strategic planning and continuous improvement planning are closely related:

• Strategic planning is a process that defines a district’s vision and direction
• Continuous improvement planning identifies the plan for achieving a district’s vision

There are a few key assumptions when integrating these processes.

• The MICIP process is applicable to any type of strategic planning process.
• ISD support is highly recommended to help with integration.

Integration starts after the strategic plan is complete.

Using this plan, a district would choose areas of inquiry for continuous improvement based on the focus areas identified in the strategic plan. Data used to determine the focus areas also needs to be available.

Working in the MICIP platform, a district would work through to Assess Needs process up through the Challenge Statement for each focus area.

From there the district would prioritize which challenge areas to develop into goals and plans based on its capacity and the critical nature of the need. If a district chooses to create plans for all areas, consideration should be given to due dates based on the length of the strategic plan.

For more information about using MICIP for strategic planning, contact Ben Boerkoel.

---

MDE Continuous Improvement Conference

Planning continues in preparation for the 2023 MDE Continuous Improvement Conference on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Mt. Pleasant under the theme:

“Continuous Improvement: Leveraging Systems, Strategies and Supports to Impact Outcomes for All Students.”

The morning will be highlighted by remarks by State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice, the presentation of the National School Program Awards, and a MICIP update. This will be followed by keynote speaker Mr. Kurt Russell, the 2022 National Teacher of the Year, addressing the conference on A Snapshot of Success.  

In addition to those mentioned in the August Continuous Communication, the rest of the day will feature three segments of breakout sessions on the following topics:

• Diverse Classroom Libraries: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Doors to Lifelong Learning
• Team Selection: The Foundation of Sustainability in Leadership
• Root Cause Analysis – An Integrated Approach
• Leveraging Partnerships with Tribal Nations: Learning to Listen
• Humanizing Continuous Improvement: Learning and Leading Through Job-Embedded Leader Labs
• Connecting MICIP, MISchoolData, and Continuous Improvement
• MDE’s LTRS Grant Success Story
• Best Practices in Grading
• School-wide Policies and Best Practices to Support LGBTQ+ Students
• Integrating Technology Across the Continuous Improvement Process
• Leveraging MICIP as a Tool to Implement the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy
• Using Evidence from a Balanced Assessment System to Install, Implement, Monitor/Adjust, and Evaluate
• Family Engagement Practices with a Trauma-Informed and Chronic Absenteeism Lens
• Why Balancing Implementation Fidelity and Integrity is Key to Implementation Success

SCECHs will be available.

Both on-site and virtual registration as well as hotel information can be found at the registration link. On-site registration is limited to the first 400 participants. If you have questions, please contact Ben Boerkoel.

---

New MICIP Resource

New on the MICIP website is a MICIP Sample Systems Plan around curriculum, instruction, balanced assessment and student support systems.

Modeled on the MICIP template, the plan follows the MICIP process and is one example of how to approach writing a plan around systems.

The plan could be inclusive of all systems or could focus on the individual systems one at a time. It suggests a variety of sources of data, possible sentence stems for writing the data story, potential results of a root cause analysis starting with the fishbone and moving to the five whys, a sample challenge statement and measurable goal with end and interim targets, and options for strategies/activities.

The sample could also be used to write a plan focused on any goal topic.

Thanks to the Kent ISD continuous improvement consultants for their input and feedback.

---

MICIP Collaboration Series and User Group

In keeping with the overall MICIP theme of “Living into Continuous Improvement,” the MICIP Collaboration Series and the MICIP User Group will also use this as a focus during the coming year.

There will also be a few changes to the schedule compared to the past several years.

• The Collaboration Series is a two-hour session focusing on an aspect of the MICIP mindset, process, and platform through presentation and small group conversation.
• The purpose of the one-hour User Group conversation is to create a statewide community of shared learning where participants can learn with and from each other through sharing ideas and resources in small groups.

During the 2023-2024 school year they will meet on alternate months, with the intent of creating coherence between presented topics and participant conversation.

The kickoff for both groups will take place at the MDE Continuous Improvement Conference on October 19, 2023, where there will be a MICIP 101 presentation divided over two breakout sessions along with a presentation on Root Cause Analysis.

The rest of the year will be spent applying the learning from these presentations along with the focus on Implement, Monitor, and Adjust. While we would encourage those interested in participating in the Collaboration Series and/or User Group to attend the conference, the two MICIP sessions will be recorded and made available to those not attending.

 

Registration information for the Collaboration Series will be shared in the October Continuous Communication; SCECHs will also be available.

You are not required to attend all sessions to participate but can do so as you are able. Registration will not be necessary for the User Group, with participation being on a drop-in basis. The User Group Zoom link will also be shared in the October Continuous Communication. The schedule will be as follows:

• November 15, 9:00 – 10:00 am – User Group
• December – no session
• January 17, 9:00 – 11:00 am – Collaboration Series Day 2
• February 14, 9:00 – 10:00 am – User Group
• March 13, 9:00 – 11:00 am – Collaboration Series Day 3
• April 17, 9:00 – 10:00 am – User Group
• May 8, 9:00 – 11:00 am – Collaboration Series Day 4
• June 5, 9:00 – 10:00 am – User Group

For questions regarding the Collaboration Series, contact Dave Hundt; for questions regarding the User Group, contact Ben Boerkoel.

---

Statewide Field Team

This is the link to the Statewide Field Team’s August Newsletter. This month’s newsletter topic is Leadership System Part 2. 

---

2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year Nominations

Please take a moment to nominate one or more teachers for the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year by clicking here or using the QR Code.

Let’s shine a spotlight on the heroes in our schools across this great state.

The nomination window is open September 5 – October 16, 2023.

 

 

---

Please share Continuous Communication

Please feel free to forward Continuous Communication to anyone you feel would like to receive information and updates about MICIP. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please click on this link.

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)