Those filling those positions will be Linda Steinga and Jen Orton both formerly of the West Shore Educational Service District. Stoneman said they are utilizing some of those additional $100,000 in funds that have been committed to MAPS which will be used to sign an agreement to bring on two literacy coaches for their district and support for the Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy literacy coach for the remainder of the grant. 'They hired a literacy coach who is serving the out county school districts right now and we have haven't accessed those funds yet.' 'The Michigan Department of Education money for literacy coaches is last year's money that has already been delivered to the ISD and is being used,' said Stoneman. MAPS superintendent Ron Stoneman talked about how it is helping his district through an agreement where MAPS will bring on two coaches and get reimbursed by the ISD through the grant. The Manistee ISD is also working with area schools on a literacy grant program that is putting literacy coaches in the schools. 'It is ISDs who are all trying to solve a problem for our local districts who work together to fund this in a low cost solution,' said Lockman. What she also likes about it is this portal is a combined effort of educators in the ISDs who created it and is not a private company generated tool that was designed for profit. Lockman said it keeps everyone who needs to be in the loop informed about that particular child. 'Eventually parents can log in and see little video clips of intervention strategy, so parents could use them at home to get tips to implement.' 'There are plans to write a portal log-in where parents can go in and see, but that isn't operational yet,' said Lockman. Parents will be with the teacher through the planning with the IRIP and then receive a copy of that plan. 'So if a student has a general classroom teacher, a reading teacher or a special education teacher then all of them can see what strategies are being used for that student at different points in time. 'It is really nice if you have a student that interacts with several teachers,' said Lockman. They can also look at student assessments and group the students into small groups for specific strategy for their deficits or strengths.

Lockman said that the new district teacher can look at all the reading plans that were in place for that student and see what ones were the most successful in supporting them. So all that data is available for the new teacher and they will be able to see any prior reading plan for that student.' 'When teachers come into the site they will be able to see teachers longitudinal assessment data and that travels with the students if they go to another school. 'While MiRead meets the requirements of the Third Grade Reading Plan it also provides best practice strategies for schools to use and access for parents and teachers for literacy essentials that the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Districts Association project for what every student should have every day in terms of reading,' said Lockman. Ensuring that every student has access to high-quality literacy instruction every day is critical to student success. The portal supports the work of the Literacy Essentials by providing a clear and compelling view and focus on Tier-I. A lot of students who are using it make a plan for all students to support them and to communicate with parents.' 'It has evolved into a more comprehensive way of tracking students' reading skills. 'MiRead was originally kind of geared up after the third grade reading law was enacted to give districts an easy way to do the IRIP reading plans for students who are behind in the K-3 grade levels,' said Lockman. More details on the program can be found at. MiRead is designed to enhance that work and to help schools and educators effectively and efficiently comply with Michigan’s third grade reading law.

Irip reading