MASA eLeader

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) released this month a list of 108 schools in Michigan struggling to increase student achievement.

The funds are from the federal School Improvement Grant, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) signed into law by President Barack Obama last year. Michigan received $119 million from the School Improvement Grant for local schools to improve teaching and learning for all students. Each eligible school can apply for up to $2 million each year, over a three-year period.

“We are committed to ensuring that every student in Michigan receives a first class education,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “These additional Recovery Act funds will help schools that are struggling the most to meet that goal.”

These schools were identified using a federally-prescribed and federally-approved formula to find what the U.S. Department of Education is calling the “Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools.”

“Most of the schools eligible for these federal funds are those that will fall under the school reform law that also requires a redesign plan,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said. “These are the lowest performing schools in the state and they will have unprecedented resources to begin turning around their school. This is a unique opportunity.”

The schools eligible for the School Improvement Grant were identified by student achievement and academic growth based on state testing data from the 2007-09 school years. The state will be using student achievement and academic growth data from 2008-10 to identify schools for the state school reform law beginning this fall.

“Even though the two lists might be slightly different, most of these schools will be on the State Reform list in the fall,” Flanagan said. “We want them to succeed and put into place an instructional strategy that will raise student achievement.”

Districts with eligible schools must apply to the Michigan Department of Education for a School Improvement Grant by August 16, and submit a detailed school improvement plan using one of four improvement models required by the U.S. Department of Education. Schools will begin implementation of their plans this fall and will have three years to use their federal School Improvement Grant funds.

The four federally-required school improvement models from which the schools must select, are:

Turnaround Model – This would include among other actions, replacing the principal and at least 50 percent of the school's staff, adopting a new governance structure and implementing a new or revised instructional program.

Restart Model – School districts would close the school and reopen it under the management of a charter school operator; a charter management organization; or an educational management organization selected through a rigorous review process. A restart school would be required to enroll, within the grades it serves, any former student who wishes to attend.

Transformational Model – Districts would address four specific areas: 1) developing teacher and school leader effectiveness, which includes replacing the principal who led the school prior to commencement of the transformational model; 2) implementing comprehensive instructional reform strategies; 3) extending learning and teacher planning time and creating community-oriented schools; and 4) providing operating flexibility and sustained support.

School Closure – The district would close a failing school and enroll the students who attended that school in other high-achieving schools in the district.

For more detail, log on to www.michigan.gov/mde

School Buildings Eligible to Apply for the Federal School Improvement Grant

School District		School Building
Academy for Business and Technology		Academy for Business and Technology High School
Academy of Oak Park		Academy of Oak Park - High School
Adrian City School District		Adrian High School
Aisha Shule/WEB Dubois Prep. Academy		Aisha Shule/WEB Dubois Prep. Academy School
Benton Harbor Area Schools		Benton Harbor High School
Buchanan Community Schools		Buchanan High School
Buena Vista School District		Buena Vista High School
City of Harper Woods Schools		Harper Woods Middle School
Conner Creek Academy		Conner Creek Academy - High
Conner Creek Academy East		Conner Creek Academy East- MI Collegiate High
Covert Public Schools		Covert High School
Detroit City School District		Barbara Jordan Elementary
Detroit City School District		Bethune Academy
Detroit City School District		Central High School
Detroit City School District		Cody College Prep Upper School of Teaching and Learning
Detroit City School District		Coffey Elementary/Middle School
Detroit City School District		Communication and Media Arts HS
Detroit City School District		Cooley High School
Detroit City School District		Cooley North Wing
Detroit City School District		Crockett High School
Detroit City School District		Denby High School
Detroit City School District		Detroit High School for Technology
Detroit City School District		Drew Middle School
Detroit City School District		Duffield Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Earhart Middle School
Detroit City School District		Farwell Middle School
Detroit City School District		Finney High School
Detroit City School District		Fisher Magnet Upper Academy
Detroit City School District		Fitzgerald Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Fleming Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Ford High School
Detroit City School District		Holmes, A.L. Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Hutchinson Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Jemison School of Choice
Detroit City School District		Keidan Special Education School
Detroit City School District		Kettering High School
Detroit City School District		Kettering West Wing
Detroit City School District		Law Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Lessenger Elementary- Middle School
Detroit City School District		Mumford High School
Detroit City School District		Murphy Elementary- Middle School
Detroit City School District		Nolan Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Northwestern High School
Detroit City School District		Osborn Upper School of Global Communications and Culture
Detroit City School District		Parker Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Pershing High School
Detroit City School District		Phoenix Elementary
Detroit City School District		Pulaski Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Schulze Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Scott, Brenda Middle School
Detroit City School District		Southeastern High School
Detroit City School District		Southwestern High School
Detroit City School District		Taft Middle School
Detroit City School District		Trix Elementary School
Detroit City School District		Vetal Elementary School
Detroit City School District		West Side Academy Alt. Ed
Detroit City School District		Western International High School
Detroit City School District		White Elementary School
Detroit Community Schools		Detroit Community Schools- High School
Ferndale Public Schools		University High School
Fitzgerald Public Schools		Fitzgerald Senior High School
Flint City School District		Northern High School
Flint City School District		Northwestern High School
Garden City School District		Burger Development Center
George Washington Carver Academy		George Washington Carver Academy
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools		Lee High School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Alger Middle School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Gerald R. Ford Middle School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Lincoln School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Ottawa Hills High School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Union High School
Grand Rapids Public Schools		Westwood Middle School
Grant Public School District		Grant High School
Highland Park City Schools		Highland Park Community H.S.
Kalamazoo Public School District		Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts
Kalamazoo Public School District		Milwood Middle School
Lincoln Park Public Schools		Lincoln Park Middle School
Michigan Health Academy		Michigan Health Academy
Michigan Technical Academy		Michigan Technical Academy High School
Mt. Clemens Community School District		Mount Clemens High School
Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools		E.A. Johnson Memorial H.S.
Muskegon Heights School District		Muskegon Heights High School
New City Academy		New City Academy
Oak Park City School District		Oak Park High School
Old Redford Academy		Old Redford Academy - High
Pontiac Academy for Excellence		Pontiac Academy for Excellence - High School
Pontiac City School District		Pontiac High School
Redford Union School District		Elem. Day Treatment
River Rouge School District		River Rouge Middle College High School Academy
Romulus Community Schools		Romulus Middle School
Roseville Community Schools		Roseville Middle School
Ross Hill Academy		Ross/Hill Academy-Elementary
Saginaw City School District		Arthur Hill High School
Saginaw City School District		Ruben Daniels Middle School
Saginaw City School District		Saginaw High School
Saginaw City School District		Thompson Middle School
School District of the City of Inkster		Inkster High School
Southfield Public School District		Southfield Regional Academic Campus
Southgate Community School District		Beacon Day Treatment Center
Springport Public Schools		Springport High School
Taylor School District		Truman High School
Van Dyke Public Schools		Lincoln High School
Waldron Area Schools		Waldron Middle School
Weston Preparatory Academy		Weston Preparatory Academy
Westwood Community Schools		Robichaud Senior High School
Westwood Heights Schools		Hamady Community High School
Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools		Whittemore-Prescott Area H.S.
Willow Run Community Schools		Willow Run High School

MDE releases list of schools eligible for federal School Improvement Funds