Michigan Staff Development Council

Friday, July 03, 2009

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WHAT WE DO

The Michigan Staff Development Council advocates for quality research-based professional development policies and practices to increase the capacity of those who work to improve student learning.

Programs, resources, advocacy, and expertise focus on Michigan education issues such as:

Professional Learning
Curriculum and Instruction
Assessment
Students with Disabilities
Career-Technical Education
Education Legislation
State Board of Education

Through our close cooperation with other organizations and a powerful network of professionals dedicated to providing the best education to Michigan’s students, the MSDC brings the latest research, best practices, and timely information to our members.

Join a team that is working to make you the educator you want to be.

Join the MSDC

Latest News

Newsletter - June 2009

Featuring:

What does the economic stimulus plan mean for professional development
NSDC challenges districts to create effective professional development in a difficult economy
Talk About Teaching! Leading Professional Conversations
Does Race Impact Adult Relationships In Schools and Do Adult Relationships Impact Student Achievement?
Three elected to Board of Directors

Research Report

United States Is Substantially Behind Other Nations in Providing Teacher Professional Development That Improves Student Learning; Report Identifies Practices that Work

Nation Making Progress in Ensuring More Teachers Have Deep Content Knowledge and Mentoring But U.S. Teacher Development Lacks Intensity, Follow-up, & Usefulness

Read full report...

Economic Stimulus

What does the economic stimulus plan mean for professional development?

The Department of Education has outlined initial guidelines for three components of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding: the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Title I, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In addition to distributing monies quickly to avert layoffs and stimulate job creation, a key principle that will guide the use of ARRA funds is improving student achievement through school improvement and reform... More>

Learning Point Associates Recovery and Reinvestment Center

The new Learning Point Associates Recovery and Reinvestment Center offers a single site where educators and policymakers can track all the developments and find current information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. There, you will find information on all aspects of the recovery funds. Learning Point Associates has tailored resources to all the needs they anticipate, including a helpful side-by-side guide to the funds available to Michigan or your locality and its reporting requirements. They have supplemented the resources with the best information from other sources. Users can also submit questions and receive a customized response.

The site will be updated twice a week with new materials.

Executive Director selected

Dr. Amy Bernstein Colton has been named as the first Executive Director of the Michigan Staff Development Council (MSDC). Dr. Dan Jonker, Superintendent of Allendale Public Schools and current president of the Michigan Staff Development Council said, "MSDC’s Board of Directors is committed to increasing the organization’s visibility and influence in supporting quality professional learning for educators in Michigan. With the hiring of Dr. Colton, we feel we are taking a giant step forward in our efforts to influence policy and the quality of staff training." ...More>

Events

School Improvement: How to Achieve It?
Tuesday, June 23 - WEBINAR
President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have repeatedly stated their desire to turn around underperforming schools across the country. With the infusion of $3 billion into the School Improvement Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the "Economic Stimulus Package," states, districts and schools are now searching for ways to rapidly increase student achievement and improve overall school performance in a sustainable manner.