2010 Prospective Awardees

What is the best way to contact the MSU Good Schools Resource Center?

Email is likely to produce a more timely response, as the directors are frequently working in the field.  Be sure to leave your contact information and the nature of your inquiry.

Shirley Jackson:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Gloria Waters:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GSRC Phone:  313-309-1682 or 313-309-1688

• How does the Good Schools Resource Center verify test scores and accreditation qualifying criteria?
• What are the criteria for preliminary qualification?
• What happened to the Education YES, school report card criteria?
• Are the applications for elementary and middle school different?
• What are the grant award amounts for High Performing and Improving schools?
• What criteria does the Skillman Foundation consider in awarding grants?
• What is the difference between a high quality and poorly written application?
• What kinds of data/evidence can be included in the application?

• When are budget/initiative proposals due?
• How are the proposals rated?
• Are there guidelines for writing the proposals?
• What is the best way to contact the MSU Good Schools Resource Center?
• Why are schools required to address professional learning in their proposals?
• Can you use charts and graphs in the proposal?
• What does a well written proposal look like?
• What does a poorly written proposal look like?

• What is the process for receiving the award check?
• When are progress and final reports due?
• What if there are changes in the proposed activities and/or budget expenditures?

Application Process

Question:  How does the Good Schools Resource Center verify test scores and accreditation qualifying criteria?

Schools that take the MEAP have their test scores verified by what is posted on the Michigan Department of Education's website at:  https://oeaa.state.mi.us/oeaa/directory/chooseLetter.asp?Search=1

Schools that do not take the MEAP must submit hard copies of their school's profile at the 5th & 8th grade levels to representatives at the Good Schools Resource Center for verification.

Public and charter schools have their accreditation verified by what is posted on the Michigan Department of Education's website at:  https://oeaa.state.mi.us/ayp/district.asp?Alpha=D

Private and Religious schools must submit hard copies of their accreditation to representatives at the Good Schools Resource Center.

Since there is at least one Religious school that takes the MEAP (U of D) the wording is different in the testing answer than what is suggested for the accreditation answer.

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Question:  What are the criteria for preliminary qualification?

In June, 2009, the Skillman Board of trustees approved new criteria for schools to pre-qualify for awards in 2010.  Two categories were approved, high performing and improving.  The aspiring category was eliminated.  The new criteria are as follows:

High Performing

To qualify to apply for an elementary or middle school award in the "High Performing" category, at least 75 percent of 5^th or 8^th grade students must be proficient in 2 of 3 subject areas tested by MEAP (reading, mathematics and science), and at least 60 percent in the third area. 

The school must not be designated higher than AYP phase 1.  In other words, the school will qualify if it is in AYP phase 0 or 1.

Improving

To qualify to apply in the "Improving" category either (a) at least 60 percent of 5^th or 8^th grade students must be proficient in 2 of 3 subject areas (reading, mathematics and science) or (b) the percentage of students who are proficient in two of the three subject areas increased by 10% from 2007 to 2008 MEAP tests. 

The school must not be designated higher than AYP phase 1.  In other words, the school may be in phase 0 or 1.

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Question:  What happened to the Education YES, school report card criteria?

These criteria (school must be designated a grade of A or B), have been eliminated.  The state is now considering a new accreditation system.  The Skillman national advisors and Board of Trustees is waiting until new accreditation criteria are in place.

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Question:  Are the applications for elementary and middle school different?

Everything requested in the applications is identical, except for indicator sections C1 and C2: "Challenging Curriculum and Instruction," on pages 12 and 13.  The information requested is different for elementary and middle schools in this case only.

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Question:  What are the grant award amounts for High Performing and Improving schools?

High Performing:  Up to $75,000
Improving:  Up to $37,500

Schools are not guaranteed the maximum amount.

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Question:  What criteria does the Skillman Foundation consider in awarding grants?

1. Quality of the application
2. Quality of the site visit
3. Size of the school – student population
4. Indicators of student success (achievement data and attendance)

Award amounts are based on a combination of school size and school poverty, with larger award amounts going to larger schools with a higher proportion of students receiving free or reduced price lunch.

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Question:  What is the difference between a high quality and poorly written application?

In short:  Concrete examples, evidence and data.

This is critical. You must provide hard data for every general claim you make.  For example:

Claim:  Parents and community and the students are consistently informed about Sunshine School's and their child's/children's progress.

Evidence:  Staff communicates with parents through scheduled parent teacher conferences using individual student data (sample reporting form or sample student portfolio).  Teachers schedule individual conferences with parents as needed throughout the year.  These conferences take place by phone, in person or can be a written report (sample record of additional conferencing).  Individual contracts are made with students and parents on issues of improvement (sample contract). Individual progress on meeting the state's content expectations for reading are monitored and communicated to both students and parents (sample record of progress). Also used to inform parents and community about the school's progress are the monthly school newsletter, flyers, yearly calendar, information provided on the school website.

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Question:  What kinds of data/evidence can be included in the application?

Beyond achievement data, schools are encouraged to use a variety of data, for example:

Perceptions data:

• Surveys (students, staff, parents)
• MI-MAP – www.michigan.gov/mimap) - Knowing your students, school culture and climate)

Process data:

• Attendance
• Number of volunteers and what they do
• Behavior referrals (records over time)
• Numbers and types of meetings with parents
• Numbers and types of meetings held by staff committees, study groups, etc.
• Number whole staff meetings – focus of agendas
• Time on instructional tasks

Demographic Data:

• Free and reduced price lunches
• Racial/Ethnic
• Staff experience

Assessment Data:

·       MEAP and MME

·       Classroom assessments

·       Specific programs such as Accelerated Reading and Math

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Proposal Process

Schools receiving awards must submit a detailed plan and budget for how the funds will be spent.  Half-day proposal writing workshops are scheduled for May 26, June 29, and July 21. Schools are required to attend one of these workshops.

Question:  When are budget proposals due?

The budget proposal for 2010 first year awardees (including the public relations and professional development plans) are due no later than 5:00 pm on Wednesday, September 15 at the MSU Good Schools Resource Center, 7375 Woodward, Suite 1520, Detroit, MI 48202 (three hard copies) and electronically submitted in PDF format to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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Question:  How are the proposals rated?

These plans and budget proposals are read and rated by teams of educators, MSU faculty, educational organization leaders, representatives of the Skillman Foundation, Detroit business representatives and other Detroit community stakeholders.  The following rubric provides rating criteria:

Proposal Rubric and Scoring sheet

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Question:  Are there guidelines for writing the proposals?

Yes, the following criteria and materials are available to guide school teams in addressing each proposal section:

Instructions/Proposal Requirements

Data and Budget Worksheet

Electronic Proposal Template

Communications Plan worksheet

A packet with these items was distributed to each participant at the Proposal Writing Workshops, along with a flash drive (to each school) containing the templates and worksheets.

Please contact Shirley Jackson or Gloria Waters at the MSU Good Schools Center with your questions.

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Question:  What is the best way to contact the MSU Good Schools Resource Center?

Email is likely to produce a more timely response, as the directors are frequently working in the field.  Be sure to leave your contact information and the nature of your inquiry.

Shirley Jackson:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gloria Waters:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phone: 313-309-1682 or 313-309-1688

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Question:  Why are schools required to address professional learning in their proposals?

To effectively implement any proposed initiative, staff must be on board and trained.  There must be understanding of the vision, and trust among team members is critical. Team building is important in creating "relational trust."  However, team building

The National Staff Development Council has adopted a new definition of Professional Development (Professional Learning) and has proposed amendments to Section 9101 (34) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to include the NSDC definition.  The new definition can be found at http://www.nsdc.org/standfor/definition.cfm.

NSDC Website:  www.nsdc.org – There are many practical tools freely available to schools at the NSDC site.

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Question:  Can you use charts and graphs in the proposal?

Yes, as long as the 6-page limit is maintained.

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Question:  What does a well written proposal look like?

• The need addressed is clearly supported by data and linked to the indicator(s) your initiative addresses.
• All sections of the narrative are addressed directly and succinctly.  Refer to the rating rubric for the section details and use the check-off boxes.
• The proposal is written in a consistent voice and is free of spelling and grammatical errors……proofread, proofread, proofread! 

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What does a poorly written proposal look like?

• Data is missing, or not related to the need and proposed initiative (s)
• Proposal is not aligned with the indicator(s) identified
• Proposal is piecemeal/not written in one voice/incomplete thoughts/conflicting information – there may be several writers, so editing for consistency, grammar, spelling, etc. by a person(s) with sharp writing skills is important.
• Proposal not focused, succinct, specific – it's not the quantity, but the quality of the information.

 

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Receiving the Award Check and Submitting Progress Reports

Question:  What is the process for receiving the award check?

Once your proposal is reviewed, you (the principal) will be notified by email that your award letter is ready for pick-up at the Skillman Foundation office, 100 Talon Centre Drive, Detroit, MI 48207.

• For Detroit Public Schools:  Submit your signed award letter to Lillian Dock, Program Associate, DPS Department of State and Federal Programs.  The award letter must be signed by the principal, chair of the school improvement team, associate superintendent and executive director of the DPS Department of State and Federal Programs Fisher Building, Suite 450.  Lillian Dock will coordinate submission to the Skillman Foundation.
• For Religious, Private and Charter Schools:  Submit your award letter (signed by the principal and chair of the school improvement team) directly to the Skillman Foundation, 100 Talon Centre Drive, Detroit, MI 48207.

You (the principal) will again be notified by email when your check is available to be picked up at the Skillman Foundation offices, 100 Talon Centre Drive, Detroit, MI 48207.

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Question:  When are progress and final reports due?

A 6 month progress report by grantees in the 2010 Cohort, which includes a narrative report and expenditure report is due on February 1, 2011.  The final report is due on September 1, 2011.

A progress report by schools receiving third year payments is due September 15, 2010.

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Question:  What if there are changes in the proposed activities and/or budget expenditures?

Budget changes of 10% or more of the total grant must be pre-approved.   Please discuss changes with Kristen McDonald, Senior Program Officer, at (313) 393-1292 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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