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Michigan Model for Health^®: Revisions in Progress
Evaluation                                                        return to Evaluation Results

From a Fact Sheet issued jointly by the Michigan Dept of Education and the Michigan Dept Community Health. (View and/or print pfd of fact sheet )

What is the Michigan Model (MM) Evaluation Project?

As a result of substantial revisions made to the MM, a key question becomes, “Is the MM still effective?” Researchers from Madonna University and The University of Michigan, with support from the Michigan Departments of Education and Community Health, are partnering with sixty school buildings in Michigan and Indiana to conduct an evaluation of the revised MM curriculum for Grades 4 and 5.  Grade 4 lessons are being implemented and evaluated during the 2006/2007 school year.  Grade 5 lessons are being implemented and evaluated during the 2007/2008 school year.

What does this project have to do with academic achievement?

The aims of this project are to help students develop positive health behaviors and attitudes, improve health knowledge and skills, and improve factors related to academic success, such as attendance. 

Health education helps students attain health knowledge and skills that are vital to success in school and the workplace, such as setting personal health goals, resolving conflicts, solving complex problems, and communicating effectively. Research shows that effective health education also helps students do better in their other studies. The American public agrees that health skills should make up nearly half of the most important skills students should have mastered to graduate from high school.  For more information about the link between health and learning, see the Michigan State Board Policy on Comprehensive School Health Education at www.michigan.gov/mde.

How are parents involved?

Active parental consent is required for student participation in the evaluation survey, which is administered at three points during the school year.  The lessons themselves include a great deal of information for parents regarding the content that students are learning in the classroom, including suggestions for related activities that can be done at home.

What topics are covered in the survey?

The topics covered at both Grade 4 and Grade 5 are: Social-Emotional Skills, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Safety, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. 
 

What are the benefits to schools from participating in this project?

«   Free MM curriculum, materials, and training to all participating classes.  Some schools will be designated “program schools” and receive the curriculum early in the project.  Other schools will be designated “control schools” and receive it two years later, when they begin implementing the curriculum.   

«      Costs for substitutes for teachers being trained will be covered by the project.

• A gift of $200 for the building, as our thanks for participating in the project and assisting with collecting completed parental consent forms.

• A gift of $100 to $200 for each participating teacher, depending on assignment, for completing the teacher logs.

What is the timeline for this project?

The evaluation will be conducted over two school years, from January 2007, to June 2008. In Year 1 (2006/2007), students in Grade 4 will take a survey at three points in the school year. In Year 2 (2007/2008), those same students – now in Grade 5 – will take a survey again at three points. Below is a timeline of major project activities:

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Please contact your Comprehensive School Health Coordinator.  You may also direct questions to:

IMPORTANT ONGOING SUPPORT
It is important to note that while the revision process continues, and after it is completed, the EMC will continue to support the curriculum as it stands now. For schools already implementing the curriculum who do not wish to reduce lesson counts, materials will remain available.