With the 2017 tax year coming to a close, the Michigan Department of Treasury is asking Michiganders to consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund.
Donations made to the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund provide scholarships to young adults who have experienced foster care and are enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university. Awards are paid to the students’ college or university to assist with tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies.
“Approximately 13,000 children are in the Michigan foster care system at any given time,” said Robin Lott, executive director of the Michigan Education Trust (MET). “A growing number of our youth are reaching adult age while in foster care and have no resources to attend college when they age out of the system. This scholarship provides some help with college expenses when no other assistance may be available.”
Since 2012, fundraising efforts have totaled more than $1.1 million. This was done through individual donations, group donations, sponsorships, ticket sales, auctions and many volunteer-based fundraising events.
All of the money raised during the calendar year is distributed annually to scholarship recipients.
Lansing, Mich. – Michigan school counselors are spread thin, with the third-highest student-to-counselor ratio in the nation, according to a recent report from the American School Counselor Association.
That ratio – 729 students for every counselor – makes it difficult for students to get the guidance they need, especially when it comes to exploring careers and pathways to good jobs.
The Michigan Career Pathways Alliance is working to support school counselors and help them provide students with the most current information about careers and training needed to get good jobs. Three of the alliance’s 17 recommendations include proposals aimed at providing more counselors, or resources to those currently in the job.
“We know many of our school counselors are asked to do more and more,” said Roger Curtis, director of the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development. “But their role is going to become even more vital as students start thinking about careers and navigating potential pathways earlier. We’re looking to help communities provide additional resources for counselors and give them the tools they need.”
Curtis and State Superintendent Brian Whiston at the direction of Gov. Rick Snyder co-lead the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance, which has recommendations to improve student access to the multiple career pathways that lead to good-paying, rewarding jobs in Michigan.
Based on the most recent data available, from the 2014-2015 school year, only Arizona and California have higher student-to-counselor ratios, and Michigan is well above the national average of 482 students per counselor. The American School Counselor Association suggests an optimal ratio of 250 students per counselor.
The Michigan Career Pathways Alliance recommends creating a program to provide state matching dollars through crowdfunding to assist in covering the costs for additional counselors and Professional Trades programs.
Another initiative calls for hiring career development facilitators to support counselors, with the focus on helping students explore career options and learn what training they need to get in-demand jobs.
The alliance also calls for counselors and teachers to be able to use externships and other experiences gained with local employers to count toward professional development requirements.
Snyder in November signed into law a bill that mandates school counselors dedicate 50 hours of the current 150-hour professional development requirement to better assist students with college and career selection, helping them assist students with additional information about career technical education and all possible pathways.
Several state agencies recently unveiled Pathfinder, a free, online tool providing counselors, students and adult jobseekers with real-time data about careers, the training needed to get those jobs, projected openings and average wage information.
The American School Counselor Association recommends that school counselors spend 80 percent or more of their time in direct and indirect services to students. School counselors participate as members of the educational team and use the skills of leadership, advocacy and collaboration to support the academic, career and social/emotional needs of all students.
Tony Warren, president of the Michigan School Counselor Association, said counselors today are pulled away from their core responsibilities. He said counselors also serve as test coordinators, Individualized Education Program facilitators, and Americans with Disabilities Act coordinators in addition to entering data for new enrollees, dealing with discipline issues and covering other administrative duties.
“Schools should eliminate or reassign all inappropriate tasks as identified by ASCA, doing so would allow counselors to carry out career development activities that align with state initiatives and promote equal access to school counseling programs for all students,” Warren said.
As the 21st century workforce adapts to technology and the jobs of the future, the Career Pathways Alliance recognizes the need for educators and employers to work more closely so students can explore careers and obtain in-demand skills.
Patrice Mang, a veteran school counselor in Allen Park, Mich., said she is excited to see school counselors get much-needed support.
“We love what we do,” Mang said. “The students must be the focus of what we are doing and seeing the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance make these strong recommendations to help us gain resources shows that we are working together to support our students. We need people to support this effort and see it through.”
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan students would receive even more tools to explore, receive training and land one of the state’s thousands of good jobs available now and into the future under bills introduced today in the state Senate, said Talent and Economic Development Director Roger Curtis and State Superintendent Brian Whiston.
Senate Bills introduced today, if adopted, would create talent portfolios, allow more frequent and meaningful use of educational development plans and update career development plans in a school’s improvement plan.
“We applaud the leadership shown by Sens. Peter MacGregor and Ken Horn with the introduction of this critical legislation,” Curtis said. “These bills are aimed at providing students with the resources needed to explore careers and understand the training needed to land jobs in our 21st-century economy.”
The two bills were created in the spirit of the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance recommendations announced this past summer.
“Senate Bills 684 and 685 are the culmination of years of work and I’m proud to be a part of yet another step in getting students the resources they need to make sound career choices,” said Sen. Horn, R-Frankenmuth. “We want to give students the chance to explore every opportunity available to them. Talent portfolios will be something that parents and counselors can point to as young people begin to look at their futures.”
Sen. MacGregor agreed.
“When I first took office, one of my principal goals was to get people back to work,” said Sen. MacGregor, R-Rockford. “The Legislature has championed many pieces of legislation aimed at expanding opportunities to students. We’ve come to realize that a four-year college degree is not ideal for every student and we need to improve access to options that help students make career choices. These bills would do just that.”
The alliance was created by Gov. Rick Snyder and is headed by Curtis and Whiston, and includes more than 100 education, business, economic development and labor organizations from across the state.
“Creating the talent of the future starts in our schools,” Whiston said. “These bills build upon our forward-moving progress to ensure students get career connected before graduation and help address our career awareness gap. These bills are good for our students, our economy and the future of Michigan.”
As part of the bills, students’ educational development plans would:
Provide them with an opportunity to explore careers specific to their interests and identify career pathways and goals for achieving success in those careers.
Offer information on various types of careers and current and projected job openings in the state with projected wages.
Create an opportunity to develop a talent portfolio, a record of a student’s experience, proficiencies, certifications or accomplishments that demonstrate talents or marketable skills.
The bills also require schools to involve hands-on learning, combined with classroom instruction that enhances a student’s employability skills and requires schools to provide age-appropriate career informational resources in all grades.
Schools will also need to provide students with the opportunity – in a grade the district deems appropriate – to complete one or more experiences in a field of the student’s interests and have school counselors discuss career interests, options and preparations with students at each grade level.
Schools also would offer programs providing students in grades six to 12 with work-based learning activities that make connections between industry experts in a variety of fields and ensure all students in grade 12 know how to develop and use a resume, reference letter, school record and talent portfolio.
The bills add to the House bill package currently being considered, which include HBs 5139-5142 and 5145 and support a number of the Michigan Career Pathways Alliance recommendations. The legislation also supports current efforts to make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years.
Curtis said the alliance is keeping its foot on the gas and will continue to work with lawmakers and stakeholders to make sure students are prepared post-secondary education, be it a four-year degree, apprenticeship program, certification program or community college.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today announced the approval of Michigan’s consolidated state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
“Michigan’s plan meets the statutory requirements. As such, I have approved it,” said Secretary DeVos. “I thank the U.S. Department and Michigan Department of Education for their hard work in ensuring the plan complied with the law.”
“While the plan meets the statutory requirements, Michigan must not view this as a ceiling, but rather as a baseline upon which to build, strengthen and expand. All Michigan students deserve an education that prepares them for success in the 21st century. I urge Michigan’s leaders to continue to find new and innovative ways to help students succeed.”
The Michigan Education Trust (MET) announced today that it will reopen enrollment on Friday, Dec. 1, just in time for holiday gift buyers to buy or contribute toward a child’s 529 prepaid tuition contract.
“We like to say that, unlike the latest toy or gadget that children will quickly outgrow or lose interest in, the gift of a college education lasts a lifetime,” said Robin Lott, executive director of the 529 prepaid tuition program administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Lott said that grandparents, other family members or friends can purchase a new MET prepaid tuition contract in a child’s name, or contribute money toward an existing contract.
She also noted that contract holders qualify for a tax deduction on their Michigan tax returns for purchases or contributions made by Dec. 31.
MET closes enrollment for a period each year in order to review pricing. During that time, it does not sell new contracts.
Also today, the 529 prepaid tuition program announced that its contract purchase prices will remain unchanged until April 30, 2018. Prices will increase 1 percent on May 1 and remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2018.
That means until April 30, for example, that purchasers of Pay-As-You-Go contracts will continue to pay $589 for a credit hour of tuition under a full-benefits contract, which guarantees full payment of tuition and mandatory fees at any Michigan public university; $474 per credit hour under a limited-benefits contract, which covers up to 105 percent of the weighted average tuition of Michigan’s public four-year universities; and $110 per credit hour for a community college contract.
MET also sells contracts through lump-sum and monthly purchase plans.
More information about MET is available at SETwithMET.com or 800-MET-4-KID.
About MET
Administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, MET is Michigan’s Section 529 prepaid tuition program that locks future tuition at any of the state’s public universities and colleges at today’s rates. MET contracts are portable to out-of-state and Michigan private colleges and universities, may be transferred to other eligible family members and are refundable if the student does not attend college. More than 96 percent of high school graduates with MET contracts have attended a college or university.
Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs 517-241-4395
LANSING – Michigan’s plan to implement the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was approved Tuesday evening by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.DeVos said it was a pleasure working with the staff at the Michigan Department of Education on the review of the state’s plan.
“Please accept my congratulations for Michigan’s approved consolidated state plan,” DeVos wrote in her approval letter to State Superintendent Brian Whiston. “Thank you for the important work that you and your staff are doing to support the transition to the ESSA and most importantly to lead Michigan’s students to achieve at high levels.”
The plan was designed to do what is best for Michigan and Michigan’s children, Whiston said, based on input from thousands of stakeholders. It was built to tightly align with Michigan’s goals and strategies to become a Top 10 education state in 10 years.
“We will continue to move forward now in making Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years,” Whiston said. “Thousands of stakeholders in Michigan helped build the components of our ESSA plan. It is designed by Michigan, for Michigan’s students and educators. We appreciate working with the U.S. Department of Education to get this dynamic plan approved. The pieces are in place now, and prepared to be implemented and succeed.”
Whiston said Michigan’s ESSA plan has a “whole child” focus; will have less student testing; focuses on student academic growth; institutes a Partnership Model for improving low-performing schools; has a school accountability system tied to the Top 10 in 10 Strategic Plan; gives schools more flexibility on how they choose to improve; and gives schools greater ownership in how they follow their own plans.
What will be new with Michigan’s ESSA plan:
A Parent Transparency Dashboard is being developed to give parents a clearer understanding of where their child’s school is performing on things like student achievement, academic growth, attendance, and graduation.
It has a well-rounded and whole child focus. Academics in the core subjects, as well as access to the arts, libraries, and physical education are key. Physical, social, and emotional health and support, with assistance from counselors, social workers, and health professionals also are included in the state’s commitment.
It is supportive, and not punitive. Michigan’s accountability system no longer will be a top-down hammer for low-achieving schools. It will identify “Comprehensive Support Schools” and “Targeted Support Schools” and provide varying levels of support and assistance.
It continues the Partnership Model that the state has instituted to help schools and districts most in need – developing locally-driven solutions and measures of success, with the help of other state, local, and regional partners.
Every school will be conducting a Comprehensive Needs Assessment to study their resources and data, to find their school’s needs and gaps, and develop a School Improvement Plan, based on the results of that process.
There will be greater focus on developing the best educators, providing targeted professional development for teachers; honoring and lifting up Michigan educators; creating a stronger teacher preparation and development system with Michigan colleges and universities and other partners.
Following months of public input, the Michigan Department of Education submitted this past spring its plan for meeting the requirements of ESSA, which replaced the previous No Child Left Behind Act. Amendments were made as a result of federal peer review and input from the U.S. Department of Education.
“This ESSA plan is a key component of making Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years,” Whiston said. “Educators, parents, legislators and community members across the state devoted significant time and effort to this plan.
“We appreciate those individuals and groups who were genuine and supportive of everyone’s efforts to come together for Michigan students and educators to achieve and succeed,” he added. “There were outliers who had different opinions, and they were heard. In the end, the plan that Secretary DeVos has approved reflects a positive partnership of the education stakeholders.”
The Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into federal law on Dec. 10, 2015, replacing the No Child Left Behind Act. This law represents a shift from broad federal oversight of primary and secondary education to greater flexibility and decision-making at the state and local levels. ESSA requires states to develop plans that address standards, assessments, school and district accountability, and special help for struggling schools.
The U.S. Department of Education has had a light touch in implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. So far, it has approved just about every ESSA plan to come down the pike—except for one: Michigan.
The big takeaway: The department appears to think that Michigan’s application is now thorough enough to review. That could be a signal that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is likely to approve her home state’s plan.
The department did flag some problems with the state’s application though. For instance, the state did not set long-term goals for achievement that say exactly what Michigan expects for different subgroups of students, including English-language learners, students in special education, and racial minorities. And it isn’t sure that Michigan’s system makes it possible to compare schools across the state…
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of Heidi Maltby-Skodack of Traverse City to the MiSTEM Advisory Council.
The 11-member council was created to advise the Governor, Legislature, Department of Talent and Economic Development, and Department of Education with recommendations designed to improve and promote innovation and collaboration in STEM education and prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“Heidi’s distinguished background and commitment to promoting STEM programs will make her a great addition to this council,” Snyder said.
Maltby-Skodack is the assistant principal and STEM director for Traverse City Public Schools, and previously served as the STEM & PLTW district delegate/coordinator and the CTE Engineering/architecture/robotics instructor for Farmington Public Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University and a master of science CTE administration from Ferris State University. She will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Satish Udpa.
She will serve a term expiring at the pleasure of the Governor.
Senate education committee Democrats used the confirmation hearing of two top U.S. Department of Education nominees to make their case against the Trump administration’s favorite K-12 policy: School choice.
Both contenders have long records in pushing for charters, vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, and other types of school choice programs. Mick Zais, who has been tapped for deputy secretary of education, the No. 2 post at the agency, helped create a tax-credit scholarship for students in special education when he was the state chief in South Carolina.
And Jim Blew, who has been tapped as assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy analysis, spent nearly a decade as the Walton Family Foundation’s director of K-12 reform, advising the foundation on how to broaden schooling options for low-income communities.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel, kicked off the hearing by saying that she finds it “troubling” that Zais shares Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ views on “privatization.” And she told Blew that his “record of promoting school vouchers gives me pause that you will not stand up for students and public schools.”
Senator after senator on the Democratic side of the dais echoed those concerns.
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., for instance, asked Zais if he was aware that the research on the efficacy of school choice is “abysmal.” Zais said, in his experience, broadening educational options improves student outcomes. But he agreed with Franken that the evidence for that is “anecdotal…”
As a part of Michigan’s Scholarship Month, MI Student Aid is offering Michigan students and their families six easy tips to consider when applying for scholarships.
“Applying for scholarships can be confusing and many students don’t know where to begin,” said Anne Wohlfert, director of the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Student Financial Services Bureau. “There are many scholarships out there. It’s all about following a few basic tips to create a perfect application that opens the door to more money for college.”
Tip No. 1: Get Organized
Every student should begin their scholarship journey by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA determines need-based federal aid such as grants and loans. The FAFSA also generates a Student Aid Report (SAR) which is used by colleges in determining need based grants and scholarships.
Scholarship applications often require recommendation letters, resumes, family financial information, transcripts, and lists of activities, academic honors, leadership roles, work experience, community service and more.
Prior to beginning a search, gather all these materials and save them in a folder for easy access. Having this information on hand will save time and ensure no information is left out of an application.
Tip No. 2: Get Smart
Scholarship applications should usually be completed six months to one year before the academic year they will be used.
High school seniors should be ready to start their scholarship applications in the fall. High school underclassmen should research scholarship opportunities and begin assembling application components so that they can prepare their scholarship applications in the fall of their senior year.
Individuals who requested a MI Student Aid scholarship search prior to their senior year in high school should re-request their scholarship search. The scholarship database is continuously being updated with new opportunities.
A common mistake students make with their scholarship search is limiting themselves based on scholarship amount. Small award amounts add up too, so apply for all eligible scholarships, even if the amount is smaller.
Never pay for scholarship information or advice. If a service requires money to get money, it is probably a scam.
Tip No. 3: Get Looking
College is expensive. Many students have to combine multiple types of financial aid, as well as savings and income from student jobs, to pay for college.
To put together a strong college financing plan, research and apply for multiple scholarships, including local, college and national scholarship opportunities.
Tip No. 4: Get a Scholarship Calendar
Create a schedule that sets aside time to apply for scholarships.
By creating a schedule, an individual is likely to submit more applications. Ideally, approach scholarship searches as if they are another assignment due.
Creating a calendar of due dates is a beneficial tool. Always set a due date on or before each deadline. It’s vital to keep track of all scholarship deadlines so no opportunities are missed.
Most scholarship committees discard late applications.
Tip No. 5: Get Writing
Be true to yourself when developing a scholarship application essay.
A review committee is interested in an applicant’s unique story. Make sure that an essay expresses the applicant’s voice and experiences.
Continuously review and work to improve application essays. Recycle application components that may be applicable to other scholarships.
Remember, by applying for many scholarships, an applicant betters his or her chances.
Tip No. 6: Get Connected
Follow @mistudentaid on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat for new scholarship opportunities, updates and best practices on all of our social media platforms.
Contact: Danelle Gittus (gittusd@michigan.gov), Ron Leix (leixr@michigan.gov) or call 517-335-2167
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today announced the approval of Michigan’s consolidated state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
The U.S. Department of Education has had a light touch in implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. So far, it has approved just about every ESSA plan to come down the pike—except for one: Michigan.
