Specifications include, but are not limited to: This professional development experience will prepare DHS instructional staff in the three Juvenile Justice facilities for the implementation of federal and state requirements to improve the quality of education services in DHS residential school programs and students academic achievement. The overall outcomes of this training are to improve students academic performance in mathematics, develop literacy-based plans to accommodate diverse learning levels of students and ensure instructional personnel in the centers are knowledgeable of Title I and MDE requirements. To accomplish these outcomes, programmatic requirements include adopting Michigans Curriculum Content/Common Core Standards, aligning Math Standards with coursework content, increasing core subject teachers knowledge and competencies for developing contextualized math literacy activities in coursework content across the curriculum, participating in statewide testing, utilizing research-based instructional strategies, improving students yearly progress rate, creating instructional accountability, engaging students in the development of Mathematical literacy skills, and making general education Math Standards and coursework accessible to youth with diverse learner needs. The proposed three phase PD workshop will substantially improve the quality of residential school programs by implementing Math Standards, integrating Standards and literacy into coursework content and adopting a higher expectation level for student academic performance. Instructional staff will participate in three (3) different hands on workshop training sessions. The anticipated qualitative outcomes are to equip all staff with the knowledge and skillset for teaching and scaffolding Content Standards in a systematic, enriched, literacy-based, learning experience. Staff will align and incorporate Math Standards in the planning of coursework content, conduct analyses of coursework plans and content, review adequacy of instructional accountability, and explore methodologies to enhance student performance e.g., research-based instructional strategies, contextualized learning, differentiated instruction, graphic organizers, instructional technology and data-driven decisions. Work sessions are designed to promote on-going collaboration among instructional staff in preparing coursework experiences, expanding their skillset/professional competencies and fostering student engagement. Another important milestone to be attained is building capacity within each centers school programs to support qualitative improvements.
