Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is one of the cornerstones of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). A  Title I  school that is identified for school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring because it did not meet the AYP proficiency goals in mathematics and/or reading receives services through MI Excel, the Michigan Statewide System of Support. MI Excel schools receive support from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and its partners to build capacity in order to increase student achievement and exit improvement status. 

More information on MI Excel Schools and services provided to them is available below.  

MI Excel Regional Assistance Grants ISD/School Service Plans  

• MI Excel Year One Service Plan (Request for Services)
• MI Excel Year One Service Plan Technical Assistance Video
• MI Excel Year Two, Corrective Action, and Restructuring Service Plan (Request for Services)  
• MI Excel Year Two, Corrective Action, and Restructuring Service Plan Technical Assistance Video

MI Excel School Support Team Training Materials  

• School Support Team Training Manual PowerPoint
• School Support Team Manual Technical Assistance   
• Instruction Learning Cycle Technical Assistance

School Support Team Documents

• School Support Team Manual
• Year One Quarterly Monitoring Report
• Year Two and Higher Quarterly Monitoring Report

2011-12 MDE Approved MI Excel Leadership and Content Coaches  

• Approved Coaches (Coaching 101 Graduates)
• Find a Coach Registry

2011-12 MI Excel Schools

• 2011-12 MI Excel Schools   

2011-12 Grants Supporting MI Excel Schools  

MI Excel Schools receive services and funding to support their school improvement programs and initiatives.  The Title I Regional Assistance Grants (RAG) are awarded to Intermediate School Districts with MI Excel Schools under their jurisdiction. The Title I School Improvement Grants are awarded to MI Excel Schools in Corrective Action or Restructuring to provide professional development focused on the reason(s) the school was identified.

• 2011-12 Regional Assistance Grant Allocations    
• Title I Regional Assistance Grants Frequently Asked Questions   
• 2011-12 Title I Building Level School Improvement Grant Allocations    

MI Excel, State Reform Office (SRO), and Section 1003(g) School Improvement Grants (SIG) Interaction  

Recent changes to Federal grant programs and Michigan Statute ( Public Act 204 of 2009 ) have had a significant impact on funding, services, and supports delivered to MI Excel Schools through the Statewide System of Support.  Both the Federal grant program and Michigan Statute require the annual creation of the "Persistently Low Achieving Schools (PLA)" list.  MI Excel schools that also appear as PLA schools have the option to apply for a SIG.  If awarded this grant, the school no longer receives direct support through MI Excel and the Statewide System of Support. Instead, the school follows an approved plan which may include purchasing MI Excel supports using its SIG funds. Below is a chart that provides a visual reference for the interactions between these initiatives.

• MI Excel Interaction with the SIG and PLAs/ State Reform Office   

Section 1003(g) School Improvement Grants  

• Section 1003(g) School Improvement Grants (SIG)  

MI Excel General Information

MI Excel Overview  

Michigan AYP Status Matrix for MI Excel Schools   

This document details the ESEA requirements for Title I schools identified for Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring. It also outlines the types of support available to these schools through MDE and its partners in the MI Excel Statewide System of Support.    

Glossary of Terms  

MI Excel Partners  

AdvancED Michigan

• AdvancED Michigan Website

Calhoun Intermediate School District  

• School Improvement Support Teams

Michigan State University  

• Fellowship of Instructional Leaders and Coaches Institute    
• Coaching 101

Additional Resources  

Legislation and Guidance 

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) 
• LEA and School Improvement Non-Regulatory Guidance  
• Michigan Revised School Code - School Improvement Plans  

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) 

• Michigan School Report Cards     
• Adequate Yearly Progress     

School Improvement and School Restructuring 

• MDE School Improvement  
• MI-Map School Improvement Toolkit     
• Center on Innovation and Improvement  
• U.S. Dept. of Education What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guides 
• Exploring the Pathway to Rapid District Improvement  
• Drop Out Prevention  
• Handbook on Restructuring and Substantial School Improvement  
• Breaking the Habit of Low Performance  
• Turning Around Chronically Low-Performing Schools  
• Turnaround Actions and Results     
• Beyond the School: Exploring a Systemic Approach to School Turnaround 
• Double Jeopardy: How Third Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation 

Statewide Systems of Support 

• Framework for an Effective Statewide System of Support  
• Coherence in Statewide Systems of Support  

Using Data to Inform Instruction 

• Using Student Achievement Data to Support Instructional Decision Making
• Data for Student Success 

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MI Excel Program Contacts  

• Karen Ruple, Program Manager: ruplek@michigan.gov  
• Piper Farrell-Singleton, Consultant: farrell-singletonp@michigan.gov 
• Bill Witt, Consultant:  wittb1@michigan.gov  
• Kristen Neal, Program Support: nealk1@michigan.gov  
• Telephone: (517) 335-4733