Monthly Communication

for Continuous Improvement and State & Federal Programs

MonthlyCommunicationfor Continuous Improvement and State & FederalPrograms

August 2023

Welcome to the monthly Continuous Improvement and State & Federal Programs communication. The purpose is to contextualize Continuous Improvement into our daily work, to efficiently complete all State and Federal Program tasks, and to promote moving these tasks past simple compliance. If this was forwarded to you, you are welcome to subscribe.

In This Issue

  • New Administrators
  • Consolidated Application Extension
  • 98b/104i in 2023/24
  • New Resource: State Grant Repository
  • Universal Free Meals and F/R Lunch Forms
  • Fall MDE Conferences
  • State and Federal Programs PD from MASFPS in 2023/24
  • Quarterly S&F Programs Meeting Dates

New Administrators

Please forward this communication to any new administrators and invite them to subscribe. The information is applicable to state and federal program supervisors, curriculum directors, principals, and the business office.


Need some guidance getting started?

Consolidated Application Extension and Help Documents

UPDATE 8/2/2023

ConApp deadline extension date is August 31, 2023. Memo


ORIGINAL CONTENT

The ConApp deadline will be extended but no extension date has been communicated yet (previous MDE communication indicated a due date of 8/3/2024). If the new deadline is met, districts will receive a July 1 obligation date. Don’t stop working on the app just because the due date is extended.


Regional consultants are reviewing apps as they are submitted and are busy troubleshooting NexSys issues. When working in NexSys make sure to Save often. If there’s a problem, step away for a few hours or come back the next day. If the problem still exists, reach out to your regional consultant. Oftentimes, problems can be traced back to not following the help document closely (see link below).


Here are some resources when working on your ConApp

98b/104h/104i in 2023/24

The new School Aid Code is out for 2023/24.
  • Section 98b has been repealed. This means no individual school goal setting, no reporting out at the February and June board meetings, nothing to post on transparency webpages.
  • Section 104h sets us up to continue benchmark assessment reimbursements (and requirements) into the 2024/25 school year.
  • Section 104i largely continues the benchmark assessment requirements from the last few years.


Here are the highlights of 104i:

  • The Approved Assessment list language is the same. I am operating under the assumption that this remains NWEA MAP, STAR, iReady, and DRC Smarter Balanced/K-2 Early Literacy Assessments (free).
  • Districts can still give "Local Assessments" (anything that is not on the Approved Assessment list)
  • If giving an Approved Assessment that is not free (DRC), districts will be able to apply for $12.50 per K-8 student reimbursement
  • We will still need to report results (Approved Assessments) or assurances (Local Assessments) to MDE. Reporting Mode of Instruction is still a thing.
  • Processes for reimbursement and reporting will be forthcoming from MDE. I will be sure to communicate them here.
  • One change - if giving an Approved Assessment, the same assessment must be administered in the Fall and Spring


I am in the process of updating the visualization that was used in previous years, and will have the new version ready for my September communication.

New Resource - State Grants Repository

On behalf of a very dedicated team of LEA, ISD, and MDE folks, I would like to share the new State Grants Repository Dashboard. This resource was designed to clearly communicate about available state grants. The team has set up a process to review and update the resource quarterly with input from MDE.

Universal Free Meals and Economic Status Documentation

The Michigan School Meals program was signed into law in the FY 2024 Michigan State School Aid budget. This allows for all public school students, grades PK - 12, to eat breakfast and lunch for free. (MDE Website | FAQ).


Districts will still need to collect economic status documentation information ("Free/Reduced Lunch Forms"). This is due to how the Universal Meals will be funded through a combination of USDA-Federal Grants along with the State of Michigan-State Aid Categorical Grant as well as to ensure other educational grants like Section 31a, eRate, and potentially others are not unintentionally impacted. The MDE Office of Health & Nutrition Services will be leading the work on the guidance updates and Universal Meals grants.


The document collection requirements are going to look different for different districts & buildings based on the type of Nutrition Programming they are eligible for (i.e. Traditional USDA F/R meals or CEP). We should see all buildings that are eligible for CEP transition to this program if they haven’t yet. Due to this, most districts will need to collect from families the “CEP Education Benefits Form” (formerly known as the Household Information Report) that can be found on the MDE CEP Forms & Instructions website.

Fall MDE Conferences

Continuous Improvement Conference

The 2023 Continuous Improvement Conference will be held October 19 at the Mt. Pleasant Comfort Inn. Registration & Info | Agenda


Special Populations Conference

The 2023 Special Pops Conference will be held October 25 - 26 at the Kellogg Center in Lansing. Registration | MDE Memo


For those that are new to leading continuous improvement in general or MICIP specifically, there will be a double-breakout session for MICIP 101 at the Continuous Improvement Conference. This will be facilitated by the MICIP Collaboration Series crew (Mike - OAISD, Hilda - Dearborn, Dave - MAISD, Frank - MDE).

State and Federal Programs PD in 2023/24 (MASFPS)

The Michigan Association of State and Federal Program Supervisors is the statewide organization for those that work in S&F programs. Membership is just $85 per year.



Whether you're a program director, finance director, or work in a Title I building, there is something for everyone.

Quarterly Virtual S&F Programs Meetings

The following State and Federal Programs meetings are open to everyone, statewide. The meetings are typically well attended by reps from MDE OES and program directors from many districts and ISDs across the state. Same Zoom Link for all: https://muskegonisd-org.zoom.us/j/6740302165

  • Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 9:00 - 10:30
  • Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 9:00 - 10:30
  • Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 9:00 - 10:30

Resource Roundup

If you have any resources to share or other suggestions for this area, please send them my way (contact info below).


Continuous Improvement


State and Federal Programs


Due Dates and Calendars


School Index


Miscellaneous