Approximately $49 million in grant funding is available ($10 million annually for five years) for Michigan school districts and ISDs to provide mentoring and induction supports for teachers, counselors, and administrators – including superintendents, assistant superintendents, and other similar roles.
While Section 27h was signed into law some time ago, there’s been significant confusion about who qualifies for these grant-funded supports. It’s important to note that even though the law doesn’t require district-level leaders to have a mentor, they are eligible.
The first round of grant funding opened a few weeks ago and applications are due in NexSys by this Thursday, Mar. 27, at 5 p.m.
Whether you’re new the role yourself, have a new team member to onboard, or are planning to retire and want to help your district’s next Superintendent be set-up for success, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. And don’t worry, MASA is here to help – with both the programming and the grant application!
MASA Mentor Coaching
Did you know MASA offers Mentor Coaching services? Our long-running program provides district leaders with multi-tiered supports focused on the development of critical leadership skills, while also fostering reflective and strategic thinking. Our one-to-one matching system draws from a cadre of experienced mentors who have successfully navigated district leadership roles and completed research-based training.
Draft Responses for Grant Application
We know this grant application is a tight turnaround, especially for district leaders who didn’t realize they qualify. To help make it a little easier, we’ve drafted responses for the two major questions on the grant application. Use the link below to access a copy of the draft responses via Google Docs.
➡️ 27h Grant Application – Draft Responses
(NOTE: This link opens a forced copy, allowing you to make and save your edits without overwriting the original.)
For questions about MASA’s Mentor Coaching, please contact Dr. Shawn Bishop at sbishop@gomasa.org. For more information about the Section 27h grant funding and technical assistance, please visit MDE’s website.