Improve K-12 Performance

Action Description

Economic success for the region depends on well-educated, creative young people who choose to live, work and create here.  For this reason, economic development agendas must be built upon substantial investment in the development of indigenous human capital, through a transformation of all elements of the public education system.

High quality education systems (from early childhood through post-secondary) are needed to develop skilled workers and attract companies and talent to our region. Companies considering expanding or relocating to our region need to know that children of their employees can get the best education possible whether they live in our villages or urban core. This is one of the key factors that site selectors assess when recommending sites for expansion and relocation. High school graduation rates are good in most areas of the county but we need to consistently achieve high attainment levels in all school districts.

Status Ypsilanti District

• New Tech High - The District is one of six districts in the State to receive State grant funding to develop a New Tech High. The District also received $300,000 in grant funding from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation for program development. New Tech High is a national model that focuses on developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.  Visit the New Tech Network website at www.newtechnologyfoundation.org for more information about this program.
• Developed a restructuring plan for Ypsilanti High School to:
• Strengthen teaching and curriculum offerings in all core content areas, with an emphasis on supporting student success at the post secondary level, and in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math),
• Provide a mentoring experience for all students, and
• Provide additional learning options both inside and outside the traditional school setting. To support the reform at the high school, Ypsilanti Public Schools plans to undertake a number of changes at the middle-and high-school level including:
• Develop a pre-engineering program with a strong focus on STEM in grades 6-10,
• Add double math options at the middle-school level (This may be a two-hour block of math or an additional methods hour for students struggling with traditional instruction.  It is an opportunity for struggling students to receive supplementary instruction during the normal school day),
• Bring in engineering projects,
• Work with the Algebra Project supported by University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Intermediate School District,
• Redesign the middle- and high-school class schedules to provide options for more focused instruction for any student who is not performing at grade level in a core academic area, and
• Establish elementary and middle school STEM Academies.
• The District is a member of the Early College Alliance at Eastern Michigan University.

Action Outcomes

• Create a sixth-grade-through-college success pipeline, serving students who either chose to attend ECA or remain in their high school.
• Create a culture of high expectations for all Ypsilanti students. 
• Open the innovations at Ypsilanti High School, East Middle School, and Adams Elementary to all Ypsilanti Public Schools’ students. 

Status Willow Run Community Schools

Willow Run Community Schools is undertaking a number of changes at the middle-and high-school level in the recently combined middle and high schools secondary complex, which include:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive staff development plan around the theme of building a successful learning community including collaborative leadership and effective use of data to drive the instructional program. 
• Implementing a structured teacher mentor program.
• Providing students with extended learning through summer academies that include academic support and credit recovery through Michigan Virtual University and Sylvan Learning.
• Strengthening teaching and curriculum offerings in content areas through targeted professional development including Adolescent Literacy and Mathematics and a mathematics coach for the high school mathematics department to promote best practices in teaching mathematics.
• Working with the Algebra Project supported by University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Intermediate School District.

Action Outcomes 

• Complete alignment of curriculum and extended academic support at the secondary complex. 
• Create a learner-centered education with multiple pathways leading to 21^st Century jobs. 
• Provide each student opportunities for internships, project-based learning and mentoring experiences within the school and in settings beyond the school building.

Status Lincoln Consolidated Schools

• Updated the 5-year strategic plan in May 2009.
• K-12 summer enrichment program.
• Engineering summer program with Project Lead the Way and Eastern Michigan University.
• Michigan Institute for Aviation and Technology started at the Willow Run Airport.
• Founding member district of the Early College Alliance at Eastern Michigan University