MANISTIQUE, Mich. - Manistique Area Schools is bidding to become a "demonstration district" under a state program that may award funding to school districts to test innovative education methods, according to the (Escanaba) Daily Press.
If approved, the district would implement a pre-K-12 plan that incorporates more technology, individual learning plans for students, more time on math and reading at elementary levels and possibly an expanded school year, Superintendent John Chandler told the school board, according to the Daily Press.
According to information at the Michigan Department of Education Web site, the state will select up to 20 demonstration districts as part of "Project ReImagine," an effort to increase student achievement by focusing on such things as teacher and administrator quality, use of data, intervention in low-performing schools and more.
The proposals submitted by school districts will become part of Michigan's application for federal "Race to the Top" funds, intended to spur education reform nationwide.
SOURCES:
(Escanaba) Daily Press, "Manistique looking at new education methods," Aug. 18, 2009
Michigan Department of Education, "Project ReImagine"
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Report, "Teacher Quality Primer," June 30, 2008
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