About Us:

The MISD Department of Center Programs provides support, training and services for Macomb County's local school district staff, students and families. Center Programs also works collaboratively with Local Educational Agencies (LEA), Special Education Director who through a referral process request assistance for students requiring more intensive educational supports. Our partnership is collaborative and relies on working closely with LEA staff and families. 

General Referral Procedure

📤 Step 1: Referral Submission

• Local district identifies a district level Center Programs Liaison in addition to Center Programs Director.
• Local district sets referral form to “review” and submits referral through PowerSchool Special Programs (PSSP).
• MISD notifies through PSSP the District Director and Center Programs Liaison of receipt within 1-2 school days. ⏳
• To withdraw program referral for a student, refer to directions available in PSSP “Other” section.

📋 Step 2: Initial Review by MISD

• MISD reviews the referral for completeness.
• If complete: Day 1 of the 45-school-day timeline begins.⏳
• If incomplete: MISD will return the referral for corrections and resubmission. Local district must edit and note correction(s) made, set form to review mode, and resubmit the form for consideration.

👀 Step 3: Student Observation

• The MISD will identify the observer(s) and the district will identify its key team members.
• MISD and district schedule observation(s) at a mutually agreeable time. MISD sends PSSP notification on the referral form to District Director/Supervisor and Liaison with observation appointment details. Specific dates will be reserved throughout the year.
• Observer(s) may gather additional information and review student records during observation.
• If district team members are unavailable for the duration of the observation(s), the observation(s) will be rescheduled.
• If there is a change in MISD team members, the MISD center program designee will notify the district in advance of the observation and record the change on the PSSP referral form.
• If additional observations are needed, the MISD center program designee will notify the District Director/Supervisor and Liaison through PSSP by recording it on the referral form.

🤝 Step 4: Student Study Team (SST) Meeting

• The Student Study Team Meeting is a collaborative review of evidence provided by the district. Participants include district team members and Macomb ISD personnel.  
• The focus of the meeting will be on documentation, observations, and the Student Needs Matrix (Sections C & D).  
• MISD communicates with district director/supervisor to schedule a Student Study Team meeting between MISD team and district team. Specific dates will be reserved throughout the year.  
• Both the MISD and the district team should attend the SST with a draft of sections C and D of the Student Needs Matrix completed in advance to prepare for the discussion. 

 🧭 Step 5: Recommendations from SST

                      Could include the following:

• A collaboratively written action plan;
• Possible additional supports;
• Possible additional evaluations;
• Timeline of implementation support and progress monitoring;
• Evidence collection for IEP Team consideration;
• Request to convene an IEPT meeting to review the action plan and/or consider placement changes. 

The Student Study Team meeting is not a pre-determination for FAPE considerations outside of the IEP. Predetermination occurs when members of the IEP team decide on a student’s special education placement and related services in advance of an IEP meeting and refuse to consider alternatives. Predetermination happens when district members of the IEP team unilaterally decide a student’s educational placement in advance of an IEP meeting (“SmartStart: Predetermination”, Special Ed Connection, LRP Publications, August 16, 2023).

⏳ Timeline Notes

• 45-school-day timeline begins once referral is complete.
• MISD will communicate delays due to insufficient evidence, high volume, absences, waitlists, or parent/guardian disagreement.

Special Cases

1. Local district will complete student enrollment and ensure all documents have been received.
2. District contacts MISD Assistant Superintendent for Special Education.
3. If program is confirmed by MISD Assistant Superintendent for Special Education, a Transfer of Disability (ToD) form will be started in PSSP by the district for 30-day center program placement.
4. District contacts center program designee.
5. District/school gathers as much documentation as possible and completes a REED. Center program building designee collaborates on the REED. District/school schedules a mutually agreed upon time to meet with parent(s) and center program designee at local district/school and obtain REED signature. A Michigan evaluation is required for all out-of-state transfers. Evaluations must be completed by local districts.
6. District, MISD, and parent agree to a placement and an immediate 30-day start date.
7. District schedules IEP Team meeting to be held within 30 school days. Creation of the IEP will be started by the local district and collaborated on with MISD.

Specialized Programs and Schools

The Department of Center Programs operates six specialized schools, plus a program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which has classrooms at other sites.

Schools Calendars

Homebound Services for Center Programs

To be eligible for two nonconsecutive hours of home programming the student must be 1.) enrolled in a Center Program School, 2.) Unable to attend school because of an illness or injury or medically fragile status, 3.) An attending physician certifies a medical condition requires that the student be confined to the home during regular school hours.

Behavior Specialist Consultant

The Behavior Specialist Consultant provides observations, consultations and support to local school district teams for students with significant challenging behavior and special education certification.

Special Education Consultant

The Special Education Consultant provides professional development workshops and trainings for educators serving students in general and special education.  Works with classroom teams and facilitates grant programs, including the Statewide Autism Resource Trainings (START).

Technology Consultant for Center Programs

The primary role of the Technology Consultant is to work with the MISD Center Programs to provide support with curriculum instruction, professional development and hardware support in the area of computer technology.