THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: FOCUSING ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTPresentation to the OCTE Spring Update

March 12, 2014

Venessa A. Keesler, Ph.D.

Deputy Superintendent, Education Services

NEW DIRECTIONS AT MDE

VENESSA KEESLEREDUCATION SERVICES

JOSEPH MARTINEAUACCOUNTABILITY

SERVICESOffice of Educational

Improvement and Innovation (OEII)—Linda Forward

Office of Standards and Assessments (OSA)—Vince

Dean

Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE)—Patty Cantu

Office of Systems, Psychometrics, and

Measurement Research (OSPMR)—David Judd

Office of Field Services (OFS)—Mike Radke

Office of Evaluation, Strategic Research and Accountability

(OESRA)—Erika Bolig

Office of Special Education (OSE)—Eleanor White

Office of Assessment Business Operations (OABO)—Marilyn

Roberts

School Reform Office (SRO)—Deborah Clemmons

Office of Professional Preparation Services (OPPS)—

Flora Jenkins

MDE MISSION AND PRIORITIES Mission:

“All Michigan students graduate ready for careers, college and community.”

MDE PRIORITIES

Close achievement gaps Increase the number of children in appropriate

high quality early learning and development programs

Increase the number of children who are reading at grade level by the end of third grade

Increase the use of personalized teaching methods

Implement policies and activities to drive quality improvement and accountability in Educator Preparation Institution programs

Reduce health and safety barriers to learning [Seventh priority to be added—dealing with fiscal

accountability, financially distressed districts, etc.]

HOW DO WE REACH THAT MISSION? HOW DO WE OPERATIONALIZE THESE PRIORITIES?

Core areas of focus for Education and Accountability Services/our work: Closing the achievement gap while accelerating

achievement for all students Moving beyond compliance Effective educators K-3 literacy Data driven decision making

EDUCATION SERVICES “MASTER PLAN”

Key Areas of Focus What these are:

The key pieces that help us make progress on the priorities

The elements to a holistic approach to improving our work on behalf of Michigan’s students

What these are not: An all-inclusive list of all the work we do in our

divisions

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP; CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS FOR ALL STUDENTS Why does this matter?

Too many Michigan students are being left behind—at each stage of the pipeline

Success as an educational system means making sure each and every student has access to high-quality education

Key initiatives: Delivery plan to implement gap closure strategies Associated research agenda Priority and Focus school interventions Achievement gap focus in CTE data Early Middle Colleges, enhanced dual enrollment, CTE

articulation agreements, opportunities for credit while still in secondary education

Integration of gaps into accountability system and development of associated data tools

BUILDING ON/MOVING BEYOND COMPLIANCE Why does this matter?

We have been compliant; compliance has not uniformly led to increased student achievement.

Compliance is necessary… but it is not sufficient How can we, as the SEA, renew our focus on students, find

innovative ways to support good practice, provide technical assistance BEFORE a district is non-compliant, and act as a partner in the educational system and process?

Key initiatives: Data tools to use assessment and accountability results Strategic policy evaluation and research Leveraging grants Quality in plans initiative Reducing reporting burden; aligning requirements Focus on technical assistance and models; early adopters

and fast followers

EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS

Why does this matter? Education happens at the intersection between a

student and a teacher, in the presence of content.

Michigan needs talented, trained and well-supported educators to make this happen.

Key initiatives: MCEE report on educator evaluations; legislative

work to support this report New teacher standards (InTASC) Revised EPI Performance Score MTTC cut scores Educator evaluations for CTE educators

EARLY LITERACY

Why does this matter? In the educational pipeline, students need to gain

skills in literacy (and numeracy) early in their educational careers.

By the time we test in third grade, it is very late in the game for those students

Key initiatives: We will be putting together an overall plan using

the delivery model starting this month Researching/learning about multi-tiered systems

of support and how they can support this goal Third grade retention bill; legislative interaction Kindergarten entrance exam K-2 interims

DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS Why does this matter?

We need to work smarter, not harder. We need to use the massive wealth of data we have to

actually improve education. When decisions are informed by information in a timely

manner, we have a better chance of identifying the correct solution to problems in education.

Key initiatives: Strategic Policy Evaluation and Research work: having

evidence available on core priority areas Collaboration with CEPI to refine the portal Continued development and enactment of a strategic

research agenda that addresses our major priority policy areas

Having actionable data in the hands of MDE program offices, districts, ISDs, schools and teachers to inform instructional decisions

OTHER PIECES OF THAT CHART

Cross-Office Work Specific cross-office collaborations that

Directly support the key areas of focus and That we are involved with directly

Office Specific Focus Specific topics/areas within each office that

Relate directly to the key areas of focus and That we are involved with directly

NOT fully inclusive of all the work completed by an office!

ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS Focus on getting Ed Serv offices the data and the

training they need for data-driven decision making. Greater alignment between our offices and initiatives;

we do not have sufficient staff or resources to duplicate efforts AND it burdens the field.

How do we tie finances to academics? Finalize an early literacy plan and begin

implementation Multi-tiered systems of support—how to encourage,

how to align work across all offices, how to support the field

Develop and finalize our approach to postsecondary transitions and to STEM

Reduce reporting burden for our schools, particularly our Priority schools

ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS

Implementing a balanced assessment system Building out strategic policy evaluation

research capacity and systems Implementing the revised EPI score Recruiting high-quality providers for

advanced professional licensure Supporting schools in educator evaluations—

system build and technical assistance

LEADERSHIP GOALS/VISION• Focus on students– Ask ourselves: “How will this help us increase career-and

college readiness in students, close achievement gaps and accelerate achievement for all students?” If we can’t answer that, consider whether we need to do it…

• Cross-office collaboration; integrated and innovative approaches to our work – Helps create alignment for the field if we align our

initiatives.• MDE Connection with the field– Within the state and national connections

• Decision-making informed by data, information and research

FOCUS ON STUDENTS

We are the Department of Education We have a special privilege and responsibility

in state government as being entrusted with providing leadership and support for over 1.5 million students, 100,000 teachers, 20,000 administrators, 3500 schools and 800 districts.

It is about the students. Every day, we need to remember that.

Make our decisions here based on what helps students receive a higher-quality education

MAJOR HOT TOPICS AND CHALLENGES

Educator evaluations Assessment decisions and transitions Third grade retention bills Letter grade bill/accountability system Statewide School Reform and Redesign

District New science standards ESEA Flexibility: next steps Others that you want to ask about?

THANK YOU!

Venessa A. Keesler, Ph.D.Deputy Superintendent, Education Serviceskeeslerv@michigan.gov

Michigan Department of Education