A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

APPLICATION NO     :    R215G30022 APPLICANT          :    Michigan Department of Education                         Curriculum Development Program                         P.O. Box 30008                         Lansing, Michigan  48909 CONTACT PERSON     :    Sheila Potter TELEPHONE	   :    (517) 373-8793 AWARD TO DATE      :    $1,302,872 PROJECT PERIOD     :    07/01/93-06/30/96 

The Michigan Department of Education in collaboration with the University of Michigan and the Michigan Partnership for New Education has been developing and disseminating a curriculum framework for English/Language Arts in grades K-12. The ultimate goal of this project is substantive change in instructional practices that enable ALL students to become responsible, productive, literate citizens in the 21st century.

At present, Michigan has separate Core Curriculum Outcomes and Essential Goals and Objectives for listening and speaking, reading, writing, and literature. The major purposes of this project are to bring these areas together into a unified Michigan English/Language Arts Framework that integrate curriculum, instruction, and assessment, promotes systemic change, and impacts school, classroom, and individual levels of teaching and learning. This project will promote coordination of the many separate curriculum and assessment activities already in place or underway in Michigan and provide direction for district administrators and teachers, state and local policy makers, and teacher educators. This will be accomplished through the development of a framework that includes: a set of K-12 English/Language Arts outcomes; specific content, delivery, and performance standards for designated grade clusters; and guidelines for classroom instruction and assessment. Demonstration projects will be used for professional development and to pilot guidelines for teacher preparation developed as part of the project.

The primary benefits to be gained from the project are the content and processes necessary for systemic change and impact at the individual class and student levels. The substance of the Michigan English/Language Arts Framework and the process of developing and implementing it will also serve as models for other states to create systemic change and achieve world class standards for their students.

[Project Palms: Partnership...]

[Michigan Curriculum Framework...]