MMC Moving on to the Personal Curriculum

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MMC Moving on to the Personal Curriculum

• May 12, 2008
• Presenters
• Kim Laing
• Laurie Jefsen

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Todays Agenda

• What is a Personal Curriculum?
• When does a student need one (and when does a
  student NOT need one)
• Decision-making Flowchart
• KRESA handbook and forms
• Exploring scenarios group discussion
• There are some things that we cant tell you
  Decisions that are needed from your district.
• Questions and some answers

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MMC Basics- A quick review

• Begins with 2007s 9th graders
• Except for World Language requirement
• Required of ALL students who want to receive a
  diploma
• Includes special education
• Includes alternative education
• MMC is the floor, not the ceiling

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Credit vs Course

• A course is made up of seat time
• A merit credit is made up of content expectations

Student A completed two semesters of English and
two semesters of Math in 9th grade.
Student B has shown mastery of 85 of 91 9th grade
ELA expectations and 156 of 161 Algebra I
expectations while in middle school.
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Assessment Issues

• State provided tests
• 9th grade English, Biology, Algebra I, and
  Geometry available
• State has a schedule for release of new tests
• Credit without taking high school classes
• Same test
• Testing out
• Pre-high school credit must count toward
  graduation
• Dual Enrollment
• Setting the cut scores
• No release of MME items

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• To Keep in Mind
• What will be tested?
• Can math be modified?

Yes
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• Potential Issues
• No wiggle room
• 4 Dispositions vs 91 expectations
• Grammar Module

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• To Keep in Mind
• What is testable?
• Are my teachers highly qualified?

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• To Keep in Mind
• HQ Certification issues
• Is Social Studies modifiable?
• Whats in parentheses counts!
• U.S. History 8.2.2
• Describing issues challenging Americans such as
  domestic anticommunism (McCarthyism)
• Evaluating policy decisions and legislative
  actions to meet those challenges (e.g., G.I. Bill
  of Rights)

Yes
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• To Keep in Mind
• HIV and Sexuality Education
• Are your teachers highly qualified?
• Extra curricular teachers

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• To Keep in Mind
• structured learning activity that utilizes
  technologyas the delivery method for
  instruction, research, assessment, and
  communication
• Does not have to be for credit
• Ambiguity on integrated experience
• MDE says the experience need only be
  incorporated into 1 credit
• Law says each teacher of each course that
  provides the required credits of the MMC has
  integrated

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• To Keep in Mind
• What about bilingual students?
• Implications of K-8 foreign language study

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Note

• Proposal out for Alt Ed to get 5th year grad
  counted for AYP and up to age 21
• For the first time this year for class of 2007-
  we have been able to count 5th year seniors if
  the extra year is related to the students
  disability.

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What is the Personal Curriculum?

• MDEs Definition documented process that
  modifies certain requirements of the Michigan
  Merit Curriculum.

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PC Requirements

• Initiated by the parent
• Agreement between the superintendent, parent and
  student
• Developed by a team that must include at least
• Student
• Parent/guardian
• Counselor/designee
• School psychologist or other knowledgeable person
• Aligned with the EDP
• Measurable goals
• Method to evaluate progress
• Communication of progress with the parent
• PC must lead to graduation with a diploma

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Revision of Algebra II requirements
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Extension of study in a specific area
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Transfer students
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Lack of progress despite intervention
(practicable for the student)
Permissible reasons for General Education
Personal Curriculums
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Legal Ambiguity

• Section 5

• All of the following apply to a personal
  curriculum
• Part b The personal curriculum shall
  incorporate as much of the subject area content
  expectations of the Michigan merit standardas is
  practicable
• MDE guidance has been hesitant to support
  altering content requirements out of concern for
  substantially changing the MMC requirements
• Until further clarification, it will be up to the
  district to decide to what extent content may be
  altered.

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• Exhaustion Requirement
• Prior to considering a PCevery effort must be
  made to helpachieve or exceed the MMC using
  varied and creative strategies such as
• Integrated and differentiated instruction
• Online learning
• College credit opportunities
• Work based learning
• Project based learning
• Flexible scheduling
• Spiraled Curriculum
• Peer coaching/adult mentoring

Sharon LaPointe
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Personal Curriculum General Ed
What is first?
Educational Development Plan (EDP) Begun in 7th
grade Finished by end of 8th grade

• EDPs are living documents that lay out the
  future plans of the student.
• Should be updated yearly and include work samples
• While the EDP does not replace the PC, it must
  precede and inform the PC.
• Essential Components
• Personal Information ?Assessment Results
• Career Goals ? Plan of Action
• Educational/Training Goals ? Parent
  Consultation/Endorsement

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When does a GenEd PC take effect?

• For Math modifications
• Student must have successfully completed two
  credits of math
• For Extension Studies
• After successful completion of two credits of
  math and two credits of social studies
• Or anytime if replacing Health, PE or VPAA
• For Transfer Students
• If the Student has already completed two years of
  high school, or the equivalent
• For Content Expectations Changes
• After the student has exhausted the districts
  intervention options

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Details on the Math Modification

• Must successfully complete two credits before
  applying to modify Algebra II to two years
• Those two credits must equal Alg I Geo.
• If a student successfully completes Alg I,
  Geometry, and ½ credit of Alg II their curriculum
  can be altered to allow the remaining credits to
  be taken in math related courses.

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Details on the Extension Modification

• After completion of two credits of social
  science, including civics, students may elect to
  replace the third credit with an additional ELA,
  math, science, or world language credit.
• Health and PE may be replaced with an additional
  ELA, math, science, or world language credit at
  any time.
• VPAA may be replaced with an additional ELA,
  math, science, or world language credit at any
  time.

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Warning

• For Extension Programs
• If a student does not achieve proficiency in
  their extension course the PC is invalidated, and
  the student must complete the previously omitted
  credit to receive a diploma

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Details on Transfer Modifications

• May use appropriate assessment to determine
  credits
• As much as is practicable
• One math in final year (Alg I or higher required)
• Must take civics

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Students with IEPs Additional Modification
Under Special (k)

• Sec. 1278b(5)(k) allows for additional
  modification not otherwise allowable in
  (5)(b)-(j) to the extent necessary because of the
  students disability, if the modification is
  consistent with the students IEP and EDP.

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Special (k) PC Guidelines

• Modifications not otherwise allowable
• additional credit substitution or content
  modification if the changes are based on the
  students disability and the IEP
• Additional credit swapping within the MMC
• Modification of math before completing 2 credits
• Method of assessing mastery
• Criteria for determining mastery.

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MDEs Take on Special (k) PC Supporting
Materials

• Modifications not otherwise allowable
• While it is conceivable under the language of
  the statute that the content of the PC may be
  modified to a grade level much lower than the
  HSCE, this was not the intent or expectation of
  the MDE. p.43
• we must understand and recognize that while
  IDEA 2004 establishes a right to FAPE, it does
  not establish an entitlement to a diploma. p.45
• could even include waiving certain
  requirements. p.48

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Some things are very clear.

• May not substitute alternative curriculum and
  count achievement within that curriculum towards
  the 18 credit requirements
• May not reduce the number of credits
• IEP does not trump MMC requirements
• Districts may issue certificates, but they do not
  end entitlement to SE services

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Remember Pick Up sticks??
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What is Permissible under Special (k)??

• Can you answer yes to
• Something not otherwise allowed in PC language
• Necessary due to the students disability
• Consistent with the students IEP and EDP
• Without creating an alternate curriculum

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Additional thoughts and cautions related to PCs

• Review IEPs for documentation on the amount of
  time spent away from gen. ed.
• Consider documentation on the present levels and
  the rate of growth on goals and objectives.
• Consider carefully any student who has been
  typically assessed through MI-Access- alternate
  curriculum

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EDPs and IEPs Alignment..with the PC

• An EDP is afforded to ALL students- the lead
  document
• The transition IEP reflects the framework of the
  EDP and provides the basis for PC decisions
  regarding current skills
• The Personal Curriculum must reflect the EDP/IEP-
  course of study and student skills
• The next IEP must provide the needed supports and
  accommodations to support the PC

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Putting together a PC

• KRESA Handbook
• PC Flowchart
• Websites
• http//kresa.schoolwires.com/merit
• http//www.michigan.gov/mde
• http//maase.pbwiki.com/
• MMC listserve- sign up today or sign up on the
  KRESA website

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MMC Credit Grid