MDLP Newsletter

MPS Promise ...
Every student in Mesa Public Schools is known by name, served by strength and need,
and graduates ready for college, career, and community.

MDLP Mission ...
To develop expert learners who have the knowledge and skills to succeed
and contribute in a rapidly changing global community.

MDLP Vision ...
To provide a safe and supportive environment where all students engage
in personalized, competency-based learning that is rigorous and relevant.

With the introduction of a new learning model - MDLP blended and due to a few staffing changes, MDLP welcomes seven new full-time staff members to the team. Each of them brings a wealth of expertise and unique experiences to our program. Their diverse skills and strengths are invaluable assets that will contribute to MDLP's growth and success. If you engage with any of these team members, please welcome them to MDLP!

JD George joins MDLP from a neighboring school district and previously taught math at Mesa Virtual Campus. His math content expertise and curriculum development skills are essential assets in his role as the instructional design coach for math and CTE.

Nancy Foley joins MDLP from Mesa Virtual Campus and has years of experience in the district. Her extensive knowledge of special education policy coupled with her strong desire to help students meet their individual goals are a perfect fit as the special education resource teacher.

Michelle McLaughlin joins MDLP from Mesa Virtual Campus and was previously an elementary counselor in the district. Her strong passion for social and emotional learning and graduation readiness is much needed as the counselor.

Adriana Geraldo, Jenny Hess, and Ashley Palanzo join MDLP from Mesa Virtual Campus and all have previous in person and virtual teaching experience. Their unwavering desire to ensure students experience success in the online setting is evident in the work they do as intervention teachers.

Theresa Dunagan joins MDLP from another school district and previously worked at their online school. Her extensive experiene and vast knowledge of student information systems and registration procedures are vital in her role as registrar.

We are excited that many students have selected MDLP Blended as their learning model. Attending school online offers many benefits, such as flexible daily schedules, self-paced learning, and technology skills development. However, online learning may pose challenges for some students.

In order to support these while learning online, live sessions with a certified teacher are provided throughout the week. Live sessions are:

• designed to support you with the transition to online learning,

• intended to supplement an asynchronous course, and

• intended to be a support system.

Attending live sessions on a regular basis can help increase your understanding of course concepts and skills, improve your motivation toward successful course completion, and enhance your engagement with online learning. Students who are not making progress or earning passing grades in their online courses may be required to attend live sessions in order to remain enrolled in MDLP Blended.

Live sessions are only available to MDLP full-time students who have selected the blended model. If you are a concurrent student enrolled at another MPS school, please contact your MDLP teacher via the message box for additional support. If you are a full-time student who wishes to switch to blended, please contact the MDLP registration team at registration@mdlp.org or 480-308-6015.

Arizona State University (ASU) will host its 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in January 2025. Tributes and recognition of Dr. King and the achievements of the civil rights movement have been celebrated at ASU since long before the creation of a state holiday in Arizona. A highlight of the celebration is the recognition and awards ceremony for the Arizona K-12 students who are winners of the statewide essay-poster contest.

ASU is now accepting entries for the 2025 Student Contest. Open to all grades K-12, winning entries receive a prize, and will be invited to participate in the 40th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at ASU with their family and teacher. Entry deadline is October 4, 2024. Student entry forms available online at Essay/Poetry entry form and Poster entry form. Contest information and prior year winners available at mlk.asu.edu/contest/.

In order to support students with their educational goals and graduation plans, Mesa Public Schools allows high school students the opportunity to enroll in up to seven credits (non-block schedule schools) or nine credits (block schedule schools) without a course fee during the school year. The seven or nine credits may be divided between the student's MPS school, MDLP, and EVIT. The course fee for each additional semester-length course beyond seven or nine is $175. More information can be found on the MDLP course fees page.

Mesa Unified School District is required by federal and state law (34 CFR 300.220.34 CFR 300.121) to conduct a Child Find effort as a means to locate, identify, and evaluate all resident children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. The purpose of Child Find is to locate these children so that a free appropriate public education can be made available. Upon request, Mesa Public Schools will screen any within boundary child as young as 2 years 9 months of age to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate.

After students are evaluated, eligible students are entitled to a free and appropriate education, including specially designed individualized instruction for disabled students between the ages of 3 and 21. This law applies to EVERY eligible child, regardless of the severity of the disability and assures confidentiality procedures are followed.

If you suspect that your child has a disability (emotional, mental, or physical), does not receive Special Education services, and attends MDLP as a full-time student, contact Nancy Foley, MDLP case manager, at 480-308-6006 or nfoley@mdlp.org. If you child attends another MPS school, please contact that school directly or call the Child Find Office at 480-472-0706.

October 7-14

MPS Fall Break

The MDLP office will be closed, except on October 14. Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day. Live sessions with MDLP interventionists will not be available. MDLP support will be available via email.

November 11

Veteran's Day

The MDLP office will be closed. Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day. Live sessions with MDLP interventionists will not be available. MDLP support will be available via email.

November 27-29

MPS Thanksgiving Break

The MDLP office will be closed. Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day, except November 28. Live sessions with MDLP interventionists will not be available. MDLP support will be available via email.

December 20-January 6

MPS Winter Break

The MDLP office will be closed, except on January 6. Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day, except December 24, 25, 26, and January 1. Live sessions with MDLP interventionists will not be available. MDLP support will be available via email.

March 18-April 28

ADE State Testing Window

Testing window for AzSCI, AASA, ACT, and ACT Aspire. Specific dates for MDLP full-time students will be determined in January. Communication regarding specific testing dates and grade levels will be posted on the MDLP state testing page and sent to families via phone call, email, announcement, and letter. Please remember that participation in state testing is required for all full-time students per ARS 15-808.