Barbara Markle, assistant dean for K-12 outreach in the College of Education.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Dozens of Detroit schools striving to improve student achievement now have direct support from Michigan State University’s distinguished pool of education researchers.

The Detroit-based Skillman Foundation selected the MSU College of Education to re-establish and operate its Good Schools Resource Center, starting Jan.1. By accepting the two-year, nearly $2 million grant, MSU has committed to help increase the number of high-performing schools in Michigan’s largest city.

“This is a significant opportunity to build and support the capacity existing in more than 100 schools,” said Barbara Markle, assistant dean for K-12 outreach and executive director of the new resource center. “Our college is focused on helping principals and their teams improve teaching and learning across Michigan, and we pay special attention to the challenges of urban schools.”

The foundation’s Good Schools: Making the Grade initiative provides direct grants to public, private, religious or charter schools located in the city of Detroit. During the application stage, schools are identified as “emerging,” “aspiring,” “improving” or “high performing” based on nine indicators such as academic performance, attendance and strong leadership. The resource center provides tailored guidance and training to teachers, administrators and parents as they work toward meeting goals outlined by each grant.

“Research is so crucial to the process,” said Skillman program officer De’Angelo Alexander, noting too many elementary, middle and – especially – high schools are not meeting standards or improving. “We need the brain trust at MSU to help us change the playing field in Detroit.”

More than 15 MSU faculty and staff members plan to conduct seminars and workshops, visit schools, analyze data, maintain a Web site of resources and otherwise consult with educators as requested. The resource center currently is housed at YouthVille Detroit, a youth development facility where the College of Education also works with Detroit teens interested in becoming teachers.

“This is an excellent opportunity to build on our enduring commitment to quality education for children in Detroit,” said Sonya Gunnings-Moton, assistant dean for student support services and recruitment. “The Skillman Foundation has set the stage for MSU and Detroit educators to share and apply promising practices in support of students who truly deserve our best efforts.”

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Created in 1960, The Skillman Foundation is a private philanthropy whose chief aim is to help develop good schools and good neighborhoods for children. Though grants are made throughout metropolitan Detroit, most grants are directed at six Detroit neighborhoods – Southwest Detroit (Vernor and Chadsey/Condon), Brightmoor, Osborn, the Northend and Cody/Rouge – and toward innovative and successful schools throughout the city of Detroit.

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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.