Please save the dates for the following professional learning opportunities:

AdvancED Michigan Conference
November 5-6, 2015, Novi, MI

View the AdvancED Professional Learning Calendar for future registration information.

MDE School Improvement Conference
November 16-17, 2015, Lansing Center, Lansing MI

 View the Michigan Institute for Educational Management  (MIEM) web site for future registration information. 

The revised School Data Analysis (SDA) now is listed under the Diagnostics and Surveys tab in ASSIST.  Please complete the SDA Diagnostic by the School Improvement Plan due date of September 1, 2015. There also is a template available as a resource from the Templates tab of the AdvancED/MDE ASSIST Web page.

All districts and single building districts will be required to complete the new Career-and College-Ready Implementation Status Diagnostic. This new diagnostic has only three questions, and the template is available on the AdvancED/MDE Web page from the Templates tab for your review prior to completion. The due date for this diagnostic is June 30, 2015.

In the Goals and Plans section of ASSIST an upgrade has been added that will allow for filtering under the Activity section. This enhancement will allow you to list multiple activities.  For example, Professional Learning and Technology can be listed at the same time with the ability to list up to four activity-types. All activities should have activity types listed. The district will use activities listed as Technology in the District Technology Plan.

The follow enhancements have been added to ASSIST:

• Implemented the separation of findings by programs for Compliance Monitoring.
  

• Implemented the following changes to support the rollout of the Technology Plan:
  
  • Added option to add goals to a plan based on activity types.
    
  • Added option to assign multiple activity types to a single activity in the Goal Builder.
    
  • Added new Goal Builder activity type Needs technology support.
    
• Added new protocols for the School Improvement Plan and the District Improvement Plan.
  
• Added School Data Analysis Diagnostics.
  

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is providing the below guidance on creating district and school level goals in ASSIST:

• Schools are encouraged to write 3-5 goals.
  
• Schools should write a goal in any content area for which they do not meet the individual school and district proficiency targets.
  
• Title I schools must address any content area that is identified in the comprehensive needs assessment.
  
• Academic goals are defined as those that address student achievement in content areas.
  
• A minimum of three out of the five goals must be academic goals.
  
• Schools also may create organizational goals.
  
• Organizational goals for schools are non-academic goals defined to address school system practices, processes and procedures.