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 Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS) and Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) staff hosted an EANS Overview webinar on Thursday, February 4, 2021. The recording and PowerPoint can be found below:

The MANS and MCC will be hosting an additional webinar on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.This second webinar will cover the application process and allowable expenses. This is limited to the first 100 registrations. The webinar will be recorded.

EANS Information:

An extension has been granted for states to apply for the Emergency Assistance to Non-public Schools (EANS) Program until February 22nd. We are hopeful that Governor Whitmer will apply before that 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 $86,776,841.00.

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

The Michigan Association of Non-public Schools (MANS) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will be hosting a webinar for nonpublic schools interested in participating in the COVID Antigen testing.

When: February 12, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.

Any MANS member interested in participating should review this website and the webinars that are embedded in it. 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.

Please note that schools included in our CLIA waiver will not be assessed a fee for the waiver. Schools that pursue an individual waiver will be assessed a $180 fee. 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).

Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2021-02 yesterday to create the Student Recovery Advisory Council of Michigan. As Michigan continues to work around the clock to eliminate COVID-19, the Student Recovery Council will provide guidance and recommendations to ensure Michigan students have the tools and resources they need to get back on track.

Yesterday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated its current epidemic order to allow contact sports to resume as of Monday, Feb. 8, provided masks are worn during practices and competition. If masks cannot be worn, participants must be regularly tested for COVID-19 consistent with guidelines issued by MDHHS.  

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is releasing its Equity in Literacy guidance document. This resource advises school districts on the use of evidence-based strategies, initiatives, and programs to improve literacy achievement and access to literacy, with special attention to reducing class, racial, and ethnic disparities.

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.

The annual Do the Write Thing Challenge is a national essay program that gives middle school students an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives. Through this program, students are invited to communicate in written form what they think should be done to reduce youth violence. Students are also encouraged to make personal commitments to do something about the problem. 

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).

Learn about preparing students for the future of work by moving away from job titles and shifting their attention to challenges that exist in the world. SparkPath will share how this simple change can unlock new opportunities, a fresh perspective, and a powerful approach to preparing students for success. State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) will be available.

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.

This conference will focus on how to increase the amount of diverse literature available to students and how to use the materials for instruction and student engagement. The Keynote will be delivered by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy.

Catapult Learning offers a suite of special education and related services that can be funded using IDEA allocations, including coaching and professional development, counseling, small group and 1:1 instruction, in-class support, speech and language services, paraeducators, and resource center instruction. Catapult Learning school partnership experts consult with schools to understand and navigate funding resource channels to ensure a fair allocation and to optimize services for their students.

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.

More than ever, technology has an increasingly important role in supporting the education of our youth. That's why the Meemic Foundation wants to help by providing 15 schools the opportunity to update their technology. Each winning school will have $10,000 to work directly with Office Depot to enhance their school technology with items like computers, printers, monitors, headphones, scanners - whatever is needed! The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021.