Districts may begin entering district improvement planning information into the 2008-2009 LEA Planning Cycle Application using the Michigan Electronic Grants System (MEGS).

The following information is required this coming year:

• Clear statements of at least three, and up to five, academic needs based on a data driven needs assessment.
• Clear statements of up to five achievement goals that are tied back to needs.
• Clear SMART objectives each tied to one of the LEA goals.
• Clear strategies for meeting each of the objectives.

Each of the needs, goals, objectives, and strategies must also have a title. Submission of the LEA Planning Cycle Application is one prerequisite to submitting the Consolidated Application, so finalizing and submitting this document is very important.

Approval of the Consolidated Application will be based on two major elements:

1. Each budget item must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, consistent with Federal and State laws, regulations, and guidance, and meet the intent and purpose of the Federal grant source included in the Consolidated Application.
2. Each budget item must be linked to the LEA Planning Cycle Application. For example, the budgeted activity supports a strategy, objective, and goal and ultimately serves the academic need defined in the plan.

MDE has not received the final grant allocations from the federal government yet. Additionally, MDE staff members are working on the final details of the Title I School Selection Application and the Consolidated Application. Notices will be sent to MEGS contacts as soon as the final allocations, as well as the applications, are available.