All public, charter, religious and private schools are eligible to participate in the Good Schools initiative.  There are four steps to the application process:

Elementary & Middle Schools

Using the academic achievement scores and attendance rates of the students in your school, decide which of the following three categories your school can apply
(link to Categories under Good Schools Profiles)

HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOLS must meet basic requirements that

• At least 75 percent of the students have met or exceeded Michigan standards on MEAP or other acceptable achievement standards in two of three academic subjects: mathematics, science and reading/language arts
• At least 60 percent achievement in the third subject
• Accreditation by Michigan Education YES! be either A or B; or be in the top two categories of other nationally recognized accreditation programs
• Meets its state appointed target (Adequate Yearly Progress) under the No Child Left Behind program or meet state AYP targets
• Student attendance rates be 90 percent for all, and for each subgroup.

IMPROVING SCHOOLS must meet basic requirement that

• At least 10 percent increase of students that meet achievement standards over the prior year in two academic subjects: mathematics, science or reading/language arts
• Accreditation by Michigan Education YES! Be A, B or C or an average rating in other nationally recognized accreditation programs.
• Meets its state appointed target (Adequate Yearly Progress) under the No Child Left Behind program or meet state AYP targets or be in the first year of school improvement
• Student attendance rates be 90 percent for all, and for each subgroup.

ASPIRING SCHOOLS must meet basic requirement that

• At least 60 percent of the students meet or exceed acceptable achievement standards in two of the three areas – mathematics, science and reading/language arts  OR must have at least a 5 percent increase in two of the three areas. 
• Students meeting the achievement standards increased by at least 5 percent over the prior year.

Non-MEAP schools must adhere the guidelines listed in Criteria for Student Achievment Data. (Chris same link here)

After you have identified the category you qualify in, check this web site to find out when Good Schools grant writing workshops are scheduled.  The Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove College organizes the workshops to help you complete the application process.  Check the web site for information on all grantwriting workshops organized, deadlines for submission and other relevant Good Schools’ resources.

Send your email address to GoodSchools@marygrove.edu if you want to be on the mailing list.

Select your application package from the following and download by clicking it:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (.pdf format) 

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

MIDDLE SCHOOLS (.pdf format)

The application form for participation in the Good Schools: Making the Grade Initiative is a self-assessment tool designed to help individual schools review their school using nine indicators to measure their strengths and weaknesses. 

The Good Schools review team assigns scores to rate performance in each of the Indicators of School Success. The team makes a consensual recommendation on whether the applicant should continue to the next phase of a site visit. 

Site visits are conducted to observe classrooms; interviews teachers, students, parents and support staff; checks for cleanliness in the halls, classrooms, and student lavatories. Schools receiving site visits are also invited to submit program proposals for funds to attain or maintain a specific indicator of success.