Issue 59 | October 2024
Be sure your email address is up-to-date in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System to receive important notifications regarding YOUR certificate.
Please see the archived newsletters for other important information that affects licensure.
School Social Worker Transition Updates
In September’s edition of Educationally Speaking, MDE announced updates to the School Social Worker Certification Code and a transition from the School Social Worker Approval system to a new system of multi-level, renewable School Social Worker Certificates. The Office of Educator Excellence (OEE) and the Office of Special Education (OSE) released three memos on October 8, 2024, to current holders of school social worker approvals, employers of school social workers, and school social worker preparation programs. These memos provide important information about the transition during the 2024-25 academic year. Questions about School Social Worker Approvals may be sent to Sungti Hsu at HsuS@Michigan.gov, while questions about School Social Permits and Certificates can be directed to Beatrice Harrison, HarrisonB@Michigan.gov.
National School Psychology Week
This year the week of November 11-15 marks the celebration of National School Psychology Week. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) uses this week to celebrate the important work school psychologists do in service to students, families, schools, and communities. In helping to create safe, healthy, and supportive environments, school psychologists promote students’ success academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Each year NASP selects a theme for the week with this year’s theme being “Spark Discovery.” In keeping with this theme, school psychologists seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons for children and youth. A big shout out to Michigan’s School Psychologists and psychologists working in Michigan schools, who spark discovery every day!
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Michigan Association of School Psychologists
As National School Psychology Week (November 11-15) approaches, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) looks to celebrate the profession and the exciting things happening in the field. This includes featuring the Michigan Association of School Psychologists (MASPO) which is committed to increasing diversity in the field! One of MASP's efforts has been the establishment of a new scholarship program for graduate students in school psychology who come from under-represented, minoritized backgrounds. This fall, MASP is proud to award Emma Myers, a third year MSU Education Specialist student with a $1000 Scholarship.
MASP will continue to raise funds for the scholarship program at their next fundraiser event during the Fall Conference.
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The Annual Educator Effectiveness Data Appeals Window Opened September 1
Each year, starting on the first business day in September and ending on the first business day in December, districts and public school academies (PSAs) may submit data appeals for inaccurate educator effectiveness ratings for any of the past five years into the Registry of Educational Personnel (REP). This data correction window is only for the purpose of updating inaccurate effectiveness ratings data within REP. It is not a process for contesting the outcome of an evaluation. Any data corrected during the window for teachers in instructional roles will appear in the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) immediately after being entered by the district.
For questions regarding educator evaluation, please contact MDE-EdEvals@Michigan.gov.
Educator Evaluation Law Allows Biennial & Triennial Evaluation Exemptions
Effective July 1, 2024, teachers with three consecutive effective or highly effective ratings from their most recent evaluations are immediately eligible for a biennial or triennial evaluation exemption. Through collective bargaining, districts may implement these exemptions immediately for the 2024-25 academic year. This means teachers could be evaluated biennially (every two years with one non-evaluated year in between) or triennially (every third year with two non-evaluated years in between evaluations).
27m National Board Recognized Achievement Grant - Round 2
The grant application for the second round of the 27m National Board Recognized Achievement grant, pursuant to Section 27m of the School Aid budget, will open mid-January 2025. This grant will be awarded to local education agencies (LEAs), both traditional public school districts and PSAs, and intermediate school districts (ISDs) to award eligible teachers who hold National Board Certification at the time of application.
Please regularly visit the National Board Certification Grant Opportunities webpage for information.
First Cohort of the Student Loan Repayment Program Awarded
In an official press release dated September 18, 2024, MDE announced the successful award of over $19.2 million to over 9,500 Michigan educators working in over 500 districts. Awarded districts pass these funds directly to eligible educators to either fully or partially offset their regular monthly payments for school loans under federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
The press release also makes a brief mention of the upcoming Cohort 2 application, which will be developed by a third-party vendor as an online portal in the months to come. Stay tuned to this newsletter and keep watching the Student Loan Repayment Program webpage for more information as it becomes available!
Applications Open for FY25 EXPLORE Section 504 Grants
ISDs and LEAs (both traditional school districts and PSAs) are welcome to apply for Section 504 EXPLORE grants, which fund Grow Your Own EXPLORE programs for students and/or tuition grants to eligible EXPLORE graduates.
These grants jointly aim to combat teacher shortages and to promote a diverse and representative teacher workforce by incentivizing cohesive systems of support for future educators. Through this grant, we will encourage models that enable a district’s students – especially demographically representative and historically marginalized populations – to see the recruitment and retention process to its end: from exploration and preparation, to early employment and clinical practice, to returning to the district as a certified teacher.
The EXPLORE grant: Section 504 webpage provides more information, including a downloadable Word template of the application. This template will help applicants gather necessary data, budget details, and supporting information before starting the application process. Applications will close on November 14, 2024.
For questions and inquiries, please contact us at MDE-EdWorkforceGrants@Michigan.gov.
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