Robotics Competition Grant Award Announcement 

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is announcing that robotics competition grants are being awarded this year. These grant funds are provided from section 99h of the state school aid act and will fund more than 2,800 FIRST Robotics, Square One, and VEX teams in 400 public school districts, both traditional local school districts and public school academies, and 58 nonpublic schools across the state.

Join your colleagues virtually on March 8, 2021, from noon - 2:00 p.m. for the latest information on educational policy issues impacting non-public schools. The MANS staff will be setting up virtual appointments with your legislators on March 9-10, 2021, and will send meeting information a week prior.

The MANS staff has learned that Governor Whitmer plans on applying for the Emergency Assistance to Non-public Schools (EANS) Program before the February 8, 2021 deadline. The MANS Board is working with the Michigan Department of Education to develop a plan for grant submission and the distribution of funds. Please continue to check the MANS Weekly Update for additional information including how to apply for funding.  

The Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Program was included in the CRRSA. Under the EANS Program, established as part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER II), the U.S. Department of Education awards grants to Governors to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address the impact that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had, and continues to have, on non-public school students and teachers in the State. Michigan’s allocation is $86,776,84.00.

MANS will monitor how the EANS program is rolled out and share the eligibility requirements when they are known.

Nonpublic schools are eligible to participate in this program that provides weekly antigen testing to teachers and school staff in order to detect the presence of the COVID virus in people who are otherwise asymptomatic. The MHSAA successfully ran this program for member schools participating in athletics for the past several weeks.

Any MANS member interested in participating should review this website and the webinars that are embedded in it. If your high school participated in the MHSAA sponsored testing program you may continue with that program. Your school will not be part of the MANS waiver.

One of the requirements to participate in the program is obtaining a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver. The waivers allow simple laboratory examinations and procedures that have an insignificant risk of an erroneous result to be conducted in a non-lab or medical facility. In this case, schools. These waivers cost $180.  MANS has applied for an expedited CLIA waiver for all of its schools for just one payment of $180. Following the approval of the waiver, MANS will send out the enrollment link and interested schools can enroll.

The antigen testing is for school staff only due to current limitations in the number of tests available. As more and more teachers become vaccinated a school could possibly begin using the tests for students.

As we move forward MANS will work out the logistics of the test deliveries (likely at ISDs) to help streamline access to the tests for all of its schools.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are looking forward to partnering with schools to provide vital pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to Michigan students and help reduce food insecurities in our communities (see PDF flyer for more information).

The state of Michigan is offering a free program to stop adult-oriented advertisements from reaching e-mails and mobile phones (text messaging ads). The Michigan Child Protection Registry, created by Michigan’s state legislature in 2004, allows Michigan schools and families to protect their students from receiving adult-themed content and is located at www.ProtectMiChild.com.

Students and families looking for help paying for college are encouraged to register for an upcoming Virtual College Financial Aid Night hosted by the Michigan Department of Treasury’s MI Student Aid team. Sessions will be available from 6:30-8 p.m. EST every Tuesday and Thursday in February. All sessions are free and open to the public. Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:

 

Due to limited space, participants are encouraged to sign up for one session only. Click Here to Register

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is consolidating systems and logins/passwords beginning in February and throughout the calendar year 2021. The Cash Management System (CMS) and Michigan Electronics Grants System Plus (MEGS+) will be integrated into NexSys. MDE will be providing technical support to assist with this change.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development invite students to participate in either the Earth Day poster contest or the Environmental Service Award. The deadline for both contests to submit entries is February 28, 2021.

This virtual workshop provides an immersive experience where teachers learn science by doing science. Participants will conduct science investigations utilizing the Van Andel Institute’s Instructional Model for Inquiry-Based Science, which integrates a process of scientific inquiry, a rich learning environment, and scientific habits of mind.

This complimentary program is brought to you by the Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC).

Michigan College Access Network (MCAN): College Readiness Curriculum with FranklinCovey Education

This webinar will discuss key skills and characteristics business leaders and universities expect of today's young adults. The FranklinCovey Education and Leader in Me curriculum is available to close the skill gap and assist students in becoming high achievers after high school. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey. State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) will be available.

Click Here to Register

This series of webinars will provide a financial aid overview from Michigan's postsecondary institutions and address recent changes to financial aid policies and practices. Participating colleges and universities will provide a 30-minute presentation packed with insider tips and participants will have 30 minutes to ask questions. State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) will be available.

In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, the Alliance for Catholic Education is excited to bring the FACE to FACE series to a culmination by hosting a panel discussion highlighting the voices of those who have said "yes" to Catholic education.

Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, a faculty member in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program and chaplain of the Fighting Irish football team, will facilitate a conversation among Catholic school principal Kristy Martinez, as well as Catholic school parents and students throughout the U.S.

Whether you’re looking to renew your own “yes” to Catholic schools or are trying to find the language to invite others into Catholic education’s unique mission, culture, and experience, join for this final FACE to FACE that will remind participants of the power of Catholic schools. 

This virtual, 3-session Conference, sponsored by Notre Dame Center for STEM Education and the College Football Playoff Foundation, will draw on research and the wisdom of practice to help teachers from the STEM disciplines as well as the humanities integrate core concepts and practices from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in ways that address problems that are meaningful to our nation’s youth.

Almost 85 schools are working with MANS as their SCECH coordinator for the 2020-2021 school year. At this time we are unable to take on additional schools due to capacity limits.

The week of January 18th was spent reviewing all Google folders and contents. To make this as smooth a process as possible in the spring, please make sure you are doing the following:

At the end of the school year, or after the last PD offering, those applying for SCECHs will apply using a link just for your school. They will total their SCECHs earned and pay one processing fee. Please let Shelley Long know when your PD is complete for the school by emailing her at slong@m-a-n-s.org.

As an educator, you know how challenging it is to attract—let alone retain—skilled teachers as you work to build and sustain a thriving school environment. It’s been proven that teachers (particularly inexperienced instructors) who work closely with instructional coaches are more likely to remain with their schools. Catapult’s high-impact coaching solutions provide educators with the tools they need to grow their skills and build capacity while applying research-based best practices to create positive outcomes in the classroom.

During this free half-day professional development event, you will start your day with words of wisdom and encouragement from award-winning author and radio host, Mitch Albom. Following the keynote, choose from breakout sessions on SEL & mental health, designing for online learning environments, engaging students in online environments, and leadership.

It’s The Meemic Foundation’s monthly opportunity to quickly “click-in” to be considered for a valuable resource or tool that will enhance your school or classroom learning for your students! For the month of January, enter to win a VariDesk Pro Plus 30.