Taylor Parks Elementary School was part of a recent visit by the Michigan Department of Education to the Taylor School District, which focused on Title I programs. The Sixth Grade Academy, Kennedy High School and other points of interest were also part of the visit.
School Improvement Coordinators and the director of the state and federal team in the Taylor School District previously prepared for the State of Michigan On-Site Review Team, which visited the system May 29-30.
The review team is scheduled focus on how the district spends federal Title I and IIA funds as well as state Section 31a funding and will visit Taylor Parks Elementary, The Sixth Grade Academy and Kennedy High School. It will also spend time at the district’s administrative level.
Taylor Parks and the others were given the opportunity to showcase programs like literacy interventionists, grade-level academic teaching assistants, student support consultants, positive behavior intervention support, "Watch dogs" (Dads of Great Students) and the Learn-to-Earn Credit Union program.
MDE officials complimented the schools and the district on their support data and organization. They also were very impressed with the work sample displayed on the walls of the halls in Taylor Parks, for example, as well as the "Writer's Gallery" that highlights pieces of writing from each class there.
The MDE shared its findings with the district and it was all good news. The MDE's report was very warm, glowing and highly complimentary. That made all the hard work preparing for the onsite visit worthwhile.
The on-site review is an important visit because the visitors confirm that the funds are being spent in ways that have been previously documented by the TSD. The district must have all documentation in order, including personal development session sign-in sheets, agendas, evacuation, program evaluation, written procedures, parent information, budgets and more.
As part of the process, the MDE also gives critiques and makes suggestions, which staff will be implementing across the schools in the district.
"I'd like to thank the entire MDE, principals and staffs at Taylor Parks, The Sixth Grade Academy and Kennedy High School for their hard work preparing for this visit," Supt. Diane Allen said. "I was very proud of you."
The state chose the schools to be visited.
District Title I funds Taylor’s parent facilitator, an elementary technology facilitator, ninth-grade advisors at each high school, and partly funds school improvement coordinators, just to name a few of the programs involved. Title I funds are also used at the building levels, where each school makes the decision on how they will spend the money. Many schools have academic teaching assistants, literacy consultants, behavioral specialists, etc.
Title II provides professional development for staff.
To learn more about the entire program, visit the Michigan Department of Education Web site’s Field Service page by clicking here.
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