New in this Issue:
- 2027 MASFPS & MDE Conference Request for Proposals Sneak Peek
- MICIP Under the Hood: Assess: Data Story Status
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Reminder: Collaborative Partners Meeting 10/30/2026
Share Your Work at the 2027 MASFPS and MDE Spring Professional Learning Institute
The 2027 Spring Professional Learning Institute brings MASFPS and the Michigan Department of Education together for two days of learning on April 22–23, 2027, at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West. We invite educators, district and ISD/RESA teams, public school academies, and fiscal staff to propose a session that shares what they are learning in practice.
Watch for the announcement coming soon for presenters!
We welcome proposals in three strands:
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Continuous Improvement in Action: Data-Informed Stories — Show how your team used data to understand a need, choose a direction, monitor implementation, and adjust its work. Share the decisions and lessons behind the results.
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Strategic Funding and Program Alignment — Describe how your team connected funding, programs, and resources to improvement priorities. What helped you coordinate efforts across roles or reduce duplication?
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Targeted Planning for Unique Contexts and Student Needs — Share how your team adapted its planning and support for a particular school, community, student group, or learning environment while keeping student outcomes in focus.
We especially encourage sessions grounded in real examples, including work still in progress. Tell colleagues what challenge you faced, what you tried, what the evidence shows so far, and what you would do next. Your experience may give another team a useful starting point.
For conference and proposal information, visit the MASFPS Spring Professional Learning Institute page. Proposals are being accepted now!
SSoS Updates
Collaborative Partner Meetings
- October 30, 2026: Building the Data Story-What story is our data telling, and what do we need to learn before deciding what to improve?
- January 12, 2027
- March 4, 2027
- May 7, 2027
- In person, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
- Lansing area, additional details coming soon
Questions regarding Collaborative Partners or Statewide System of Support can be directed to MDE-SSoS@Michigan.gov
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MICIP:Under the Hood
Tips and Tricks to Navigate the Platform
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Continuous Improvement Planning: Know Your Status and Support Your Districts
ISD/RESA Continuous Improvement Plan Requirement
Michigan law requires ISDs/RESAs to develop, adopt, implement, annually review, and maintain a continuous improvement plan. MDE's August 27, 2026 memo reinforced this requirement and outlined a phased approach to strengthening countywide continuous improvement planning.
ISDs/RESAs may use the MICIP platform but it is not required. Another locally determined continuous improvement process outside the platform is allowed. If the plan is maintained outside MICIP, it should be current and available to MDE consistent with applicable requirements. The MICIP platform provides one statewide framework and platform for assessing needs, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and revision.
Review the ISD/RESA Continuous Improvement Planning Requirements memo
Check Your MICIP Status
If your ISD/RESA uses MICIP, take a few minutes to check the status of your current work.
When you enter MICIP, select ASSESS from the top ribbon and scroll to your Data Stories. Locate the Status and Last Edited columns for each Data Story.
A status of “In Portfolio” indicates that the Data Story has progressed through strategy implementation and is available for ongoing monitoring and evaluation. If another status is displayed, review the Data Story to determine what work remains to be completed.
Remember: activity completed only within Monitor or Evaluate may not change the Last Edited date of the Data Story. Changes must be made within the Data Story itself for that date to update.
Help Your Constituent Districts Check Their Status
ISDs/RESAs are important partners in strengthening continuous improvement across their service areas. Consider asking each constituent district to conduct the same quick MICIP check:
ASSESS → Data Stories → Status → Last Edited
Encourage districts to ask:
- Is our current Data Story In Portfolio?
- When was the Data Story last edited?
- Does our MICIP work reflect our current improvement priorities and strategies?
- If our plan is maintained outside MICIP, is it current and available to MDE?
- Do we need technical assistance or professional learning to strengthen or update our continuous improvement work?
MDE's August 2026 guidance reminds districts that current three-to-five-year continuous improvement plans should reflect ongoing improvement efforts and be made available to MDE by September 1, regardless of the process or tools used. Michigan.gov
From Requirement to Regional Support
This is an opportunity for ISDs/RESAs to move beyond simply checking whether a plan exists. Use these conversations to identify districts that may need technical assistance, professional learning, or support reconnecting their current priorities to a meaningful continuous improvement process.
The goal is not simply to have a plan—it is to maintain a continuous improvement process that is current, implemented, monitored, evaluated, and revised to improve outcomes for students.
For MICIP resources, professional learning, and support, visit the MDE MICIP webpage or contact the MICIP team at MDE-MICIP@michigan.gov
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MICIP District and ISD/RESA Roadshow Sessions |
In-Person Professional Learning with the MICIP Team
The Roadshow is meant to be direct in person learning and is customized to the needs of the ISD/RESA or District.
Now that we are in our third year, and expanding the options, we are looking at hybrid options being integrated to be able to support more collaborative partners!
New for 2026-27: ISD/RESA Focused Sessions
These sessions are designed specifically for ISD/RESA leaders, facilitators, and support staff. Inspired by the Yellow Brick Road, these interactive sessions provide practical strategies, facilitation tools, and resources to strengthen regional continuous improvement efforts, build district capacity, and improve outcomes for all learners.
View Session offerings at: Roadshow Options for ISD/RESA
To book an event, email Dot Blackwell today!
Current Scheduled Roadshows on the Map
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District Session offerings:
- Click on the link of the event you are interested in, and it will provide a contact email to reach out, or Registration link. (Listed as registration if available). We look forward to seeing you this coming Tour!
TBD Onsted: Funding our Future/Budget Hold'em (This event is only open to Onsted attendees)
Genesee Intermediate School District Series: November 24th, 2026 2027: January 19th, March 23rd, and May 25th.
C.S. Partners Virtual Series: October 5th, November 5th. December 3rd
10/08/26 Bay Arenac ISD (ASCD only)
10/19/26 Jackson ISD (This event is only open to Jackson ISD)
10/27/26 Wexford Missaukee ISD-MICIP 101 and Resource Allocation
11/02/26 C.O.O.R. ISD Regional Event
11/17/26 Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque ESD-Setting the Destination
11/30/26 Mecosta-Osceola ISD-Navigating the MICIP Journey
2/16/27 Allegan Area ESA (ISD focus) The Wizard's Toolkit
2/24/27 Allegan Area ESA (District focus) Follow the Data Bricks
03/09/27 C.O.O.R. ISD: Building the Yellow Brick Road
03/16/27 Saginaw ISD Setting the Destination
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Feedback from Roadshow Participant Surveys
District and ISD Sessions were presented to ISD's in the Upper Peninsula, and were well received! We appreciate the open doors and collaboration!
"Your team always delivers engaging and usable learning, this time was no different. We love the passion and knowledge this team brings to the continuous improvement world.
The ISD coaches also appreciated the ISD specific session. They commented that it was so nice for them to be in the learner’s seat. It was a positive learning experience for them.
We love the coherence you are creating with continuous improvement and the other initiatives throughout the state. This training sparked many great ideas and continued discussions and reflection."
-Cooper Country ISD
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What's New in MiStrategy Bank
No New Updates this Month!
If you have questions about using the MSB or its MDE-curated strategies—or need assistance creating a strategy—please contact Dave Carlson, MDE Lead for the MSB.
For more information about the purpose of the MSB, account registration, user roles, and how-to resources, visit MAISA’s MiStrategy Bank webpage. For additional questions, comments, or ideas, please contact Amanda Stoel, MAISA Director of Innovation and Collaboration and MSB Product Owner.
Please share Continuous Communication
Please feel free to forward Continuous Communication to anyone you feel would like to receive information and updates about MICIP. Please use the Subscribe link to update your subscription status.
Previous issues of MICIP Continuous Communication are available on the MICIP web page.
Need Assistance? Explore MICIP Resources!
Have questions or need assistance with MICIP? Check out our support options!
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MiServiceDesk: for technical support and quick assistance,
- Users requesting support for the first time will be required to sign up for an account and can then submit a ticket or chat live with the MiServiceDesk
- Returning users will be able to monitor the status of existing tickets and/or create new tickets
- The MICIP Platform Guide provides step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips regarding the MICIP Platform
- The MICIP Process Guide helps users navigate the MICIP Process.
- The MICIP Website contains many tools and resources to support the use of MICIP.
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