<div dir="ltr">MAME is asking school library supporters to contact Michigan legislators about the Michigan Department of Education's ESSA Accountability Plan.  Explanation of the issue with a sample message for legislators is included below.<div><br></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MDE is close to making a final decision on how it will implement ESSA’s accountability requirement.  There were three options in the plan submitted to the US DOE.  [See below for the three options.]  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In all options, “<i>access to a library media specialist</i>” is a part of the School Quality / Student Success Accountability Indicator for K-8.  In options 1 and 2, “access to a library media specialist” will be included in the overall Grade (option 1) or one of the Grades (option 2) for each K-8 school; thus, receiving more importance than the many items which will be included on the transparency dashboard.  In option 3, “access to a library media specialist” will be just one of </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">many </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">items on the transparency dashboard; and, thus, may be “lost in the volume of data” with no particular importance or visibility.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thus, the decision on which option MDE implements will either make school library staffing evident to parents and the community (Option 1 or 2) or will be too nonspecific such that districts may ignore the measure (Option 3).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MAME recommends that our legislators choose option 1 or 2 which will provide the most visibility for the community on school library staffing. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To ensure that school library staffing information is accessible to school communities,</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> MAME needs school library supporters to contact their legislators to ask them to support either option 1 or option 2 in MDE’s ESSA Accountability Plan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If the legislature does not take action by June 30, MDE will default to Option 3.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To reach out to your legislators:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><ol style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Find your Michigan Senator & House Representative:</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://www.senate.michigan.<wbr>gov/fysbyaddress.html</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://www.house.mi.gov/<wbr>mhrpublic/</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><ol start="2" style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Write and/or call your legislator </span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sample message:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear ___________,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">I am writing / calling to ask you to support Option 1 or Option 2 of the options given for MDE’s Accountability Plan under ESSA. I believe that one of these two options will incentivize school districts to make positive change for the students in our state.  These options will also provide more transparency to parents and the community at large.   Action must be taken by June 30th or the Accountability Plan will default to Option 3.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thank you,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Your Name</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Address</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Phone</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">______________________________<wbr>______________________________<wbr>_____________</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For information purposes --</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Three Options for MDE’s ESSA Accountability Plan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">FROM the MDE document:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Michigan’s Approach to the Every Student Succeeds Act: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Overview of Michigan’s Consolidated State Plan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">April 3, 2017</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Michigan-ESSA-Consolidated-Plan-Overview_558371_7.pdf" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">http://www.michigan.gov/<wbr>documents/mde/Michigan-ESSA-<wbr>Consolidated-Plan-Overview_<wbr>558371_7.pdf</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Option 1. An A-F grading system for all schools that produces a final summative grade. Please note: creating this system was the charge given to the ESSA Accountability Action Team, based on Superintendent Whiston’s direction and the interest of the legislature and governor at that time. Therefore, the bulk of the comment obtained through the four rounds of feedback reacts to this plan. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Option 2. An A-F system that provides grades in six core components (proficiency, growth, graduation rate, English learner progress, school quality indicators, and participation in state assessments) but no final summative grade. This system utilizes the same underlying calculations as the A-F summative grade but does not add up to one overall grade. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Both Option 1 and Option 2 would be presented </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">along with an</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> additional transparency dashboard, which would include data and information that might be useful to parents or community members. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Option 3. A dashboard accountability system. This system is currently envisioned as a combination of the six indicators above, along with the transparency dashboard. However, the Michigan State Board of Education has signaled that they wish to further develop the dashboard. Therefore, the MDE submits to them the dashboard as is, and asks them to make necessary modifications. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Any technical details presented in the plan relate to all three systems and the underlying calculations unless otherwise noted. The major difference between the three is the amount of “summarizing” that is done to create a single measure or measures.</span></p><div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></div><div><br clear="all"><div><div class="m_-8692765650516035206gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div class="m_-8692765650516035206gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA<br><span style="font-size:12.8px"><i>ISTE Affiliate Representative, Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size:12.8px">Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)</span></div><div><i style="font-size:12.8px">SIGLIB Steering Committee</i><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr">Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL)</div><div dir="ltr"><i style="font-size:12.8px">School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach</i></div><div dir="ltr"><i style="font-size:12.8px">SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century 2016-2019</i><i><br></i><div>East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools</div><div><i style="font-size:12.8px">2012 </i><i style="font-size:12.8px">State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner</i><br></div><div><span>
<a href="mailto:kathyL@mimame.org" target="_blank">kathyL@mimame.org</a></span></div><div><span><a href="tel:(810)%20333-5873" value="+18103335873" target="_blank">810.333.5873</a></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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