Monthly Communication
for Continuous Improvement and State & Federal Programs
March 2025
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.
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Important Dates
- Month of March - Collect data from private schools for 2025/26 planning
- March 13 - MASFPS Members Only Session: Time and Effort/Timekeeping
- March 19 - Quarterly S&F Programs Virtual Meeting (details below)
- March 27 - 27h (Mentoring and Induction: District Support) application due
- April 24 & 25 - MASFPS Spring Professional Learning Institute, Crowne Plaza Lansing
Continuous Improvement Tasks and Updates
I'm reposting my update from last month. I'm still getting many questions from across the state on this.
When is our plan due/when do we need to submit it?
PA 25 of 1990 indicates that schools must "make available to the department a copy of a 3-5 year school improvement plan" no later than September 1 of each year. However, there is no submit button on MICIP, and no process by which districts present or send their plans to MDE. Also, from a practical standpoint, it is better to have your MICIP plans all updated and current by June 30 of each year to coincide with the submission of the consolidated application as we need to show an alignment between what we are requesting from federal funds to what our district needs, as identified in our plans. Bottom line - Make sure your MICIP portfolio is current each year, with a "soft" deadline of June 30 and a "hard" deadline of September 1.
What has to be in our plan?
- Source 1: Section 2 of PA 25 of 1990 lists 11 requirements ("shall include at least all of the following..."). Many of these were added in 2018 are centered around career readiness.
- Source 2: May 30, 2024 MDE Memo reiterates the contents of PA 25 of 1990 and also indicates that plans must be monitored in order to meet federal requirements
See the Continuous Improvement Monthly Checklist for additional March guidance.
Grants Check-In
We're still a little early to hear anything about 2025-2026 funds or the consolidated application. In the meantime, don't forget about these two outstanding grants resources:
- Grant Alert Newsletter - James Hissong/Kent ISD
- MDE Grant Repository
State Grants
23g Reporting Update - Is your district collecting data and ready to complete reporting related to 23g? See this February 14 article from the Michigan Data Hub for details. I reached out to the Data Hub/MAISA to see if there is any information on when the reporting will be due. While a specific date has not yet been established, it is likely that the reporting will be due at the end of May or sometime in June. We do know that the reporting will be similar to what was completed last year. Here's a graphic from MAISA with more information.
27h Mentoring Application Due March 27 - $49M over five years have been allocated by the state legislature for grants to districts for a variety of activities and resources for mentors of teachers, administrators, and school counselors.
On the Radar
- Equitable Services for Private Schools - Have you sent your In-District and Out-of-District Private School Letters? Quick Start Guide
- Title I Funding for 2025/2026 - Did you review your Census Data for Title I funding as outlined in my February Communication?
- MICIP Plans - Have you been monitoring the implementation of your Continuous Improvement Plans? MICIP Monitor and Adjust Guide
Upcoming MASFPS Professional Learning
FREE Members Only Session - Time and Effort/Timekeeping
Shelley Patton, Interim OES Manager, and I are running a 1-hour session on Time and Effort on March 13. We will cover federal requirements and audit implications. We will have several practical examples and tools to share.
- March 13, 12:00 - 1:00
- Registration Page
- Not a member? MASFPS membership is only $85/year
Spring Professional Learning Institute
Don't miss out on the premiere learning event for those that work in State and Federal Programs. Keynote Bruman Group from Washington DC to discuss Federal Updates (not that there's a lot going on or anything...), full group sessions: Onsite Review Common Findings, ESSER III Closeout, Family Engagement with MiLEAP, plus 12 topical breakout sessions to choose from.
- April 24 and 25, Crowne Plaza in Lansing
- Registration Page
- Hotel Block Code: FPS (book prior to March 24)
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 23, 2024 from 9:00 - 10:30 - Link to Meeting Resources
- Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 9:00 - 10:30 - Link to Meeting Resources
- Wednesday, March 19, 2025 from 9:00 - 10:30
- Final meeting is the MDE Spring Workshop. Dates TBD
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
- MICIP Collaboration Series Dashboard (2024)
- Continuous Improvement Monthly Checklist
- MICIP Continuous Communication Archives
State and Federal Programs
- State Grants Repository
- Compliance Calendar
- Time and Effort Flowchart
- Time and Effort Written Process
- Written Process Collaborative
Due Dates and Calendars
- OES Applications Schedule (MDE - Updated for 2024-25)
- State Assessment Calendars
School Index
- School Index Interactive Presentation Guide
- School Index Video Playlist
- School Index Flow Chart
- School Index System Guide (business rules)
- What is CSI?
- What is TSI?
- What is ATS?
Miscellaneous
- Record Retention Guidance (updated as of April 2023)
Contact Dave Hundt, MAISD
Email: dhundt@muskegonisd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/muskegonisd.org/processes/home
Phone: 231-767-7265