Legislative Directives

This report is being submitted in fulfillment of the following legislative directive:

The Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the legislature not later than November 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section that includes its mission, its plans, and proposed benchmarks it must meet, including a plan to achieve the organizational priorities identified in this section, to receive full funding for the next fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section. By not later than March 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide an update to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid to show the progress being made to meet the benchmarks identified.

This update is also available on the Michigan Virtual website at /research/directives/.

Mission: Maximize learning and teaching by bringing together the best in people and technology.

Test, Evaluate Tools

Organizational Priority

2(a)(i) – Test, evaluate, and recommend as appropriate new technology-based instructional tools and resources.

Updates

Explore and test the application of emergent digital tools in classroom, school and district processes and systems and share findings through in-person presentations and workshops, and online through the Michigan Virtual Professional Learning Portal and the Michigan Virtual website.

In Winter 2026, Michigan Virtual opened enrollment for three full-semester, AI-enabled courses: Civics, Economics, and Career Planning. These courses integrate artificial intelligence tools designed to enhance learner support and promote student agency throughout the learning experience. The available tools include features such as guided academic assistance, key term support, comprehension checks, and contextual learning supports embedded directly within course content. Through this pilot, Michigan Virtual aims to evaluate student interaction with AI-enabled supports, assess the perceived usefulness of these tools, and better understand how students incorporate AI assistance into their coursework. Findings will inform future decisions related to the responsible and effective use of AI in K-12 online learning environments. A portion of these tools are available for district use in their own LMS through the Michigan Virtual Custom model.

Provide at least three innovative pilots that allow teachers and students to have hands-on, facilitated pilot experiences on advancements in educational technology and the impact on teaching and learning.

Michigan Virtual is currently recruiting participants for two free pilot initiatives scheduled for implementation in Spring 2026. The first pilot features Spelling Safari, an adaptive spelling application designed to meet students at their individual proficiency levels by delivering a personalized, data-driven spelling curriculum. Our target audience for this pilot are learners in the elementary level. Based on ongoing student performance, the platform adjusts instruction to support growth while remaining aligned to academic standards. The tool is intended to support a range of instructional settings and may help educators streamline spelling instruction through efficient student enrollment and targeted practice opportunities.

The second Spring 2026 pilot is being conducted in partnership with Topia School Space. Together, we have developed an immersive, world-building learning experience aligned to Michigan Virtual’s enrichment course, Thinking and Drawing Like an Artist. Our target pilot audience, based on the content provided, are those in grades 6th through 9th. This pilot will examine student engagement and learning behaviors when learners are provided multiple opportunities to interact with virtual content through self-directed exploration. Findings from this pilot will help inform how immersive environments can support creative learning and student agency.

Michigan Virtual is in year two of a pilot supporting schools with the implementation of career exploration simulations in virtual reality (VR) through partnership with Transfr VR. This year there are 3 schools participating, reaching 300+ students.

Continue to develop career-focused catalog of enrichment experiences, deployed through a next-generation learning engagement platform direct to parents, and through Michigan Virtual’s learning platform for integration into local school digital learning systems.

Michigan Virtual continues to run an online supplemental career exploration platform providing dozens of career exploration enrichment opportunities, from medical careers to digital media arts.

As mentioned above, Michigan Virtual continues to support the second year of a pilot with Transfr VR focused on career exploration through virtual reality simulations.

Support statewide data interoperability through partnership with MiGreatDataLake.

Michigan Virtual is participating as a member of the MiGDL Advisory Group, attending monthly meetings.

Publish, present on, or deliver workshops on findings around the exploration and use of learning tools and resources in-person, online through the Michigan Virtual Professional Learning Portal, and on the web.

Artificial Intelligence and Student Usage in Online Learning: A Longitudinal Analysis of Usage Patterns, Achievement, and Perceptions in K-12 Virtual Education was published on the Michigan Virtual website on December 8, 2026.

Research, Design, Recommend Virtual Delivery Models

Organizational Priority

2(a)(ii) – Research, design, and recommend virtual education delivery models for use by pupils and teachers that include age-appropriate multimedia instructional content.

Updates

Design and conduct a five-part research series exploring data around anytime, any place, any pace in Michigan Virtual courses.

This five-part research series will include an “Introductory” report that explores the benefits and challenges of flexibility in online learning, an “Any Time” report that leverages log-in and assignment submission times to understand flexibility in relationship to final course scores, an “Any Place” report exploring where (home or school) students are engaging with their online courses, an “Any Pace” report similar to the Out of Order, Out of Reach and Out of Order, Still Out of Reach reports, but additionally examining students’ assignment locations, and finally the “Synthesis” report will be the concluding piece of the series which will integrate both previously published literature and the insights learned from analyses conducted in the “Any Time,’” “Any Place,” and “Any Pace” reports. All analyses will be conducted using data from highly enrolled Spring 2025 courses across subject areas. As of now, the “Introductory” report is finalized and ready to be put into WordPress.

Design and conduct a research study exploring school district’s policies and practices around virtual learning grading decisions.

A survey was distributed in the fall of 2025. While the survey’s response rate was very low (not enough to draw conclusions), the responses still offer a helpful “pulse check” that echoes the same general patterns as the brief Michigan Virtual published in July 2025. A blog discussing the limited survey results and what seems to be happening in Michigan around the interpretation of students’ final course scores is in progress with publication estimated this spring.

Collaborate with Dr. Jacqueline Zweig to conduct research with Michigan Virtual data.

Analysis is underway for the research project conducted by Dr. Jacqueline Zweig, investigating new Michigan Virtual pacing and grading structures. Dr. Zweig is also working with Michigan Virtual staff to identify, design, and conduct research using additional Michigan Virtual data. Findings from Dr. Zweig’s work will be published on the Michigan Virtual website.

Update data within its Virtual Benchmarking Tool to include data from the 2024-2025 school year.

Michigan Virtual is on pace to add the 2024-25 data within its Virtual Benchmarking Tool by the end of April. This will add the 8^th year of data to the tool.

While not originally in the November 1 plan, a project was carried out that aligns with researching virtual delivery models outlined in 2a(ii). Design and conduct a research study to better understand what mentors of online learners want and need from professional learning.

A study assessing current practices, key challenges, and unmet needs of mentors to online students was conducted in Fall 2025 through Winter 2026 via an optional end-of-course survey embedded in the professional learning course, Mentor Essentials: Strategies for Guiding Online Learners. In collaboration with SMEs from Michigan Virtual’s Professional Learning Services and Student Learning Services departments, the goal of understanding how professional learning can better support mentors was achieved through analyzing survey responses. Mentors, who often hold multiple roles, specified both a lack of time and guardian communication as persistent challenges. To this end, mentors reported needing professional development that is accessible (in terms of cost and format), practical, emphasizes what mentoring strategies look like in practice, and focuses on strategies for monitoring and motivating students. The blog, Just the Essentials: What Mentors of Online Students Want and Need from Professional Learning, is available on the Digital Backpack.

Recommend Evaluation Criteria for Cyber and Online Providers

Organizational Priority

2(a)(iii) – Research, develop, and recommend annually to the department criteria by which cyber schools and virtual course providers should be monitored and evaluated to ensure a quality education for their pupils.

Updates

Promote the updated set of National Standards for Quality Online Learning (https://www.nsqol.org/) and provide feedback when NSQOL revises or releases standard sets.

Michigan Virtual continues to promote and use the National Standards for Quality Online Learning. The Quality Online Course standards are incorporated into both the Micourses website as well as referenced in the Guide for Online Course Review Process. Michigan Virtual also uses the Crosswalk of NSQ Teaching Standards and the Danielson Framework to maintain alignment for professional development and instructional support. Finally, Michigan Virtual offers NSQ-aligned Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) courses to help educators build the skills needed for effective digital instruction. Course titles include:

• Getting Started – Enhancing teaching practices for online and blended learning

• Course Content & Design – Designing, developing, and deploying online and blended instruction

• Assessment – Measuring and supporting student progress in digital learning environments

• Meeting Needs – Addressing individual learner needs through intentional course design

These courses provide foundational knowledge for educators creating online content and blended classroom experiences.

Send letter annually to the department to communicate recommendations.

Michigan Virtual sent a letter to the department in February communicating its recommendation that schools use the National Standards for Quality Online Learning as a mechanism to monitor and evaluate practice and performance.

Effectiveness Report

Organizational Priority

2(a)(iv) – Based on pupil completion and performance data reported to the department or the center from cyber schools and other virtual course providers operating in this state, analyze the effectiveness of virtual learning delivery models in preparing pupils to be college- and career-ready and publish a report that highlights enrollment totals, completion rates, and the overall impact on pupils. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall submit the report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, the department, districts, and intermediate districts by not later than March 31 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section.

Updates

Publish the Effectiveness Report on the Michigan Virtual website by March 31, 2026, with a link to the report and infographic sent to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department postmarked no later than March 31, 2026.

A draft of the 2024-25 Effectiveness Report is completed, and a copy was provided to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) for their review. A presentation to those organizations is scheduled for March 2026, to gather feedback and to receive permission to release the report. The report will be made publicly available through the Michigan Virtual website no later than March 31, 2026. As with the prior year, the entire report will be posted directly as a webpage on the Michigan Virtual website. Making the report available in this format helps users find the content more easily by improving search engines’ abilities to discover the findings and make them available to users. Putting the content directly into the website also helps meet web accessibility standards and provides a mobile-friendly version. Information about the report and how to view it online will be provided to the required subcommittee personnel and other government staff identified under this section.

Mail an At-a-Glance Report Infographic and cover letter detailing the online report and resources to superintendents and high school and middle school principals (approximately 2,000 people) no later than April 30, 2026.

An infographic and cover letter related to the report will be mailed to Michigan school superintendents as well as high school and middle school principals in April 2026, providing easy-to-consume key findings and communicating how to access the full report online.

Post recording covering key findings from the report on the Michigan Virtual website by April 30, 2026.

A recorded presentation that highlights key findings from the report is expected to be completed in April 2026. The recorded presentation, along with the infographic, will be linked to resources on the report webpage and available for on-demand viewing.

Deliver PD and Submit PD Report

Organizational Priority

2(a)(v) – Provide an extensive professional development program to at least 30,000 educational personnel, including teachers, school administrators, and school board members, that focuses on the effective integration of virtual learning into curricula and instruction. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute is encouraged to work with the MiSTEM council described in section 99s to coordinate professional development of teachers in applicable fields. In addition, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute and external stakeholders are encouraged to coordinate with the department for professional development in this state, including professional development for employees in child care facilities, early childhood facilities, and after-school programs. By not later than December 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall submit a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department on the number of teachers, school administrators, and school board members who have received professional development services from the Michigan Virtual University. The report must also include both of the following:

(A) The identification of barriers and other opportunities to encourage the adoption of virtual learning in the public education system.

(B) A link to, and explanation of, the Michigan Virtual University’s online course standards for professional development programming. The standards described in this sub-subparagraph must inform learners how to file a complaint about course content and detail the steps that will be taken for the review and resolution of complaints.

Updates

Develop and update professional learning courses based on the needs of schools and districts identified through market research.

Michigan Virtual has continued developing and releasing new professional learning to meet evolving school and district needs identified through market research, user feedback, course evaluations, and stakeholder input. This work is focused on improving relevance, accessibility, and overall impact while aligning our offerings to current professional development trends and statewide priorities.

As a result, we have refreshed and launched multiple new courses supporting leadership development, educator mentoring, statewide compliance requirements, and updated health and safety training for education and childcare audiences, including both SCECH and non-SCECH options.

Offer professional learning partnerships to schools, districts, and educational groups.

Examples of current partnerships include:

• Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE – MITTIN)

• Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL)

• Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)

• Michigan CoOp (MiCoOp)

• Michigan School Counselor Association (MSCA)

• Online Learning Consortium (OLC)

• Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA)

Offer competency-based professional development courses to Michigan teachers and administrators.

In partnership with the Future of Learning Council and Learner Centered Leadership, Michigan Virtual launched four Competency-Based Education (CBE) micro courses that are short, self-paced professional learning experiences designed to help educators and school leaders build the foundational conditions for learner-centered, competency-based systems. Together, they move from understanding what CBE is and why it matters, to aligning a community around a shared vision, to establishing collaboration norms that build trust and collective responsibility, and finally to embedding reflection and SMART goal-setting to strengthen learner agency and continuous growth.

• Competency-Based Education: Collaboration by Design

• Competency-Based Education: Building a Shared Vision for Learning Communities

• Introduction to Competency-Based Education

• Competency-Based Education: Reflection & Goal Setting

Michigan Virtual’s micro-credential offerings grew this year to reflect emerging district needs and statewide priorities. A new series of eleven micro-credentials centered on AI integration frameworks is now available to support school districts as they establish and implement AI ready systems. These micro-credentials span critical areas such as policy, ethics, legal considerations, leadership and vision, professional learning systems, assessment, outreach, and student use.

In addition, the Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) program continues to provide a structured professional learning pathway through Level 1 and Level 2 courses, offering targeted development in online instruction—such as student engagement, assessment, grading and feedback, classroom management, and online learning community building.

Host the 2026 Collaboration of the Minds professional learning conference for instructors and a fall event for online mentors.

Michigan Virtual held the annual Collaboration of the Minds professional learning conference in August 2025 and offered eight webinars for online mentors. The 2026 event is scheduled for August 5-6.

Submit the 2025 PD report as part of a combined annual report that also includes Michigan Virtual’s annual Institute report specified under 2(b)(xiii) and the annual report required under subsection 7 for the Michigan Virtual School no later than December 1, 2025. This is a requirement from the previous fiscal year that crosses over fiscal years.

The 2024-2025 Professional Learning Report was sent to the legislature in December 2025 as part of the annual report, and it is also posted on the Michigan Virtual website.

Submit the 2026 Professional Development report detailing Michigan Virtual’s professional learning services and the identification of barriers and opportunities report by December 1, 2026.

Michigan Virtual is on track to submit the December 2026 report on time.

Identify/Share Best Practices

Organizational Priority

2(a)(vi) – Identify and share best practices for planning, implementing, and evaluating virtual and blended education delivery models with intermediate districts, districts, and public school academies to accelerate the adoption of innovative education delivery models statewide.

Updates

Host the Michigan Virtual Guides to Online Learning series, comprised of 9 guides, on our website.

In January 2026, Michigan Virtual updated the Guide for Online Course Review Process, which is available on the Michigan Virtual website. Based on the 2021 publication and recommendations made by made by Michigan Virtual staff, the Guide for Online Course Review Process was updated and revised to reflect additional guidelines and recommendations for course review cycles (i.e., maintenance updates vs. substantive course revisions, how to maintain integrity when reviewing a course, etc.). During spring/summer 2026, the other guides to online learning—Student, Parent, Mentor, Teacher, School Board, and Administrator—will be reviewed for necessary updates and revisions.

Design and conduct a research study investigating teacher and student perceptions of appropriate and ethical use of AI.

Artificial Intelligence and Student Usage in Online Learning: A Longitudinal Analysis of Usage Patterns, Achievement, and Perceptions in K-12 Virtual Education was published on the Michigan Virtual website on December 8, 2026.

Additionally, previous research by Michigan Virtual has found that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education is growing among teachers, administrators, and students. To understand the implications of this growth in use, and better prepare all educational stakeholders, Michigan Virtual has collected survey data from over 500 learners and educators. Analysis is underway and findings from this work will be shared on the Michigan Virtual website.

Host four Michigan meetings of the Michigan DLAC state affiliate.

As the State Affiliate for the nationally focused DLAC, Michigan Virtual coordinates and hosts four virtual State Affiliate meetings with digital learning stakeholders, including a “Michigan Meet Up” at the Ignite Conference. These networking and learning opportunities identify and share innovations and best improvement practices for digital learning environments, including but not limited to course content creation, instructional improvement, platform evaluation, and current research.

Present or exhibit at 20 or more Michigan professional learning conferences.

Michigan Virtual is active at Michigan education conferences. Staff have presented at over 20 Michigan professional learning conferences. Presentation and outreach at these events include sharing our resources and experience with research-based online learning for students, innovation with an emphasis on adoption of digital tools, artificial intelligence guidance, school redesign, and professional learning for educators.

Policy Recommendations to Gov./Legislature

Organizational Priority

2(b)(i) – Develop and report policy recommendations to the governor and the legislature that accelerate the expansion of effective virtual learning in this state’s schools.

Updates

Before December 31, 2025, submit virtual learning policy recommendations to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and Michigan Department of Education.

Michigan Virtual submitted four recommendations to address current virtual learning issues. They included:

• Embed AI Competencies in Teacher Preparation

• Update the MITECS to Include AI

• Recommend Mentor Training

• Revise Reporting Field to Collect Credit Recovery Data

Research Clearinghouse

Organizational Priority

2(b)(ii) – Provide a clearinghouse for research reports, academic studies, evaluations, and other information related to virtual learning.

Updates

Create and distribute quarterly newsletters that highlight new resources and document progress toward newly added resources to the clearinghouse by the end of the fiscal year.

The first quarterly newsletter of the year was sent out to subscribers in December 2025. The newsletter featured the following publications:

• Morrison, A., Smart, J., Wiles, D., & Bennett, L. (2025). Examining Differences Among K-12 Teachers’ Motivation for Online Teaching. Online Learning, 29(4), 162–173. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v29i4.5218

• McGehee, N. (2025). Artificial intelligence and student usage in online learning: A longitudinal analysis of usage patterns, achievement, and perceptions in K-12 virtual education. Michigan Virtual. /research/publications/artificial-intelligence-and-student-usage-in-online-learning-a-longitudinal-analysis-of-usage-patterns-achievement-and-perceptions-in-k-12-virtual-education/

• Agrati, L. S., Perla, L., Vinci, V., & Beri, A. (2025). Online assessment tools. The challenge of training pre-service teachers. Online Learning, 29(4), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v29i4.5217

• Zhou, Z. (2026). Artificial Intelligence and Student Engagement in Online Learning : A Literature Review. American Journal of Distance Education, 40(1), 8–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2025.2594282

• Zhu, M. (2025). Unpacking the Relationship Between Self-Directed Learning and Online Learning Satisfaction: A Structural Equation Model. American Journal of Distance Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2025.2576317

Continue to promote and add resources in the form of blogs, publications, webinars, and podcasts to the clearinghouse and the Michigan Virtual website.

Resources are added to the Clearinghouse platform on a quarterly basis. The next round of resources will be added in March 2026. The Clearinghouse now contains information from over 1,400 publications.

Continue to maintain the clearinghouse platform and update as needed for improved functionality.

Michigan Virtual has continued to maintain the K-12 Research Clearinghouse website and added additional resources to the website throughout the year. A sign out button was added to the Clearinghouse in January 2026.

Promote/Distribute Instructional Design Guidelines and Standards

Organizational Priority

2(b)(iii) – Promote and distribute the most current instructional design standards and guidelines for virtual teaching.

Updates

Include links to instructional design guidelines and standards in the Research Clearinghouse tagged under the keywords “instructional design” and “standards.”

Michigan Virtual maintains and updates the instructional design guidelines and standards tagged in the Research Clearinghouse. There are currently 99 publications tagged in the Clearinghouse with one or both of these keywords.

Add five new instructional design resources to the Clearinghouse.

At least five new instructional design resources will be added to the Clearinghouse to assist Michigan schools in developing and delivering their own digital content to students.

Promote the National Standards for Quality Online Learning by offering four professional learning courses.

Michigan Virtual continues to provide online professional learning aligned to the National Standards for Quality for Online Learning. These offerings focus on strengthening instructional practice in virtual and blended environments, including enhancing existing teaching strategies, designing and developing high-quality online content, measuring student progress effectively, and meeting individual learner needs. This work supports consistent, standards-based implementation of online and blended instruction across Michigan.

Along with these course options, Michigan Virtual recently shared an overview with Oakland ISD on the updated ADA Title II regulations and what they mean for districts developing and publishing digital content. A key takeaway is that accessibility must be treated as a core instructional design and communication standard, which will not be optional. The updated rule reinforces WCAG 2.1 AA as the minimum conformance level and establishes compliance timelines based on population size, with deadlines beginning in April 2026. We also shared practical steps districts can take now: inventory digital materials, build and train an accessibility team, set priorities, use accessibility checklists as guides, and continue staff training. Michigan Virtual highlighted tools and resources districts can adopt immediately, including WebAIM tools, W3C guidance, Microsoft accessibility training, and Section 508 remediation resources.

Promote, maintain, and support free online professional development resources to train teachers in the instructional design of online content, including through the offering of online professional courses.

In partnership with the REMC Association of Michigan, we offer a free course on Open Educational Resources. Educators learn to distinguish OER from free content, apply Creative Commons licensing, and revise and remix resources for classroom use.

We also offer a free course from the Michigan Learning Channel. This course prepares educators to share broadcast and on-demand digital resources with families and align them to literacy, math, and science goals.

Propose a session focused on instructional design best practices for at least two Michigan-based education conferences.

As of March 1, Michigan Virtual has continued to advance instructional design best practices through proposals and presentations at multiple Michigan-based education conferences. Michigan Virtual successfully presented at the MASA 2026 Midwinter Conference, where the session examined the intersection of AI transformation and school design. The presentation highlighted how artificial intelligence is reshaping instructional practice and leadership decision-making, using one district’s evolving AI journey to analyze the structural conditions that accelerate or inhibit meaningful integration. District leaders left with actionable planning tools, guiding questions, and strategies for building staff capacity, trust, and equitable systems that support future-ready innovation.

In alignment with the goal of proposing sessions focused on instructional design best practices at Michigan conferences, Michigan Virtual has also submitted a proposal for UP MACUL 2026. This session centers on practical digital accessibility and Universal Design for Learning strategies, emphasizing hands-on, immediately applicable design practices that strengthen inclusive digital learning environments and support educators in creating accessible instructional materials.

Additionally, Michigan Virtual submitted a proposal to the MAPSA Charter School Symposium (December 2025) titled Content that Clicks: Flexible Content Models for Every Student and Every School. Although the proposal was not accepted, the session was to focus on instructional design approaches that support personalization through flexible content delivery models, including full-length LMS-integrated courses, high-interest enrichment modules, and digital resources for blended classrooms. The proposal reinforced Michigan Virtual’s commitment to helping schools align content strategy with learner needs and instructional vision.

Work with College and Universities on Digital Learning

Organizational Priority

2(b)(iv) – In collaboration with the department and interested colleges and universities in this state, support implementation and improvements related to effective virtual learning instruction.

Updates

Work with interested Michigan teacher preparation institutions to coordinate access to the Michigan Virtual-hosted content, or where applicable, provide technical support for materials made available for self-hosting by the college or university.

Michigan Virtual partnered with Central Michigan University to provide a course for pre-service teachers as part of statewide efforts led by MiCAREER, the Rural Credentialling Hub. The course prepares candidates to take the Michigan state teaching certification test and supports broader efforts to strengthen and sustain the rural educator workforce. Michigan Virtual also provided development support for the MiCAREER application hub, working with CMU staff to design and build the MiCAREER application and candidate tracking system.

Michigan Virtual offers a free, self-paced course to support new teachers or educators who are new to the Michigan Online Educator Certification System. This course provides practical guidance on navigating MOECS, understanding certification types and renewal requirements, tracking professional learning hours, and submitting applications accurately. Designed to reduce confusion and prevent common errors, the course helps educators manage their credentials effectively and remain in good standing.

Michigan Virtual has prepared a number of our professional learning courses to be delivered directly to local institutions LMS for hosting and offering learning to their instructors. We are in talks with a few higher education institutions on delivering courses to them in this format.

Continue to support an educational technology entrepreneurship program to support one cohort of educators/innovators interested in developing and scaling their education technology solutions with relevant stakeholders.

Our 2026 EdTech Pitch Competition and Innovation Bootcamp programs will be announced in Spring 2026. Once again, these initiatives will be conducted in partnership with Spartan Innovations at the MSU Research Foundation and SBDC Michigan. Designed to foster innovative thinking within Michigan’s education ecosystem, these programs support educators, entrepreneurs, and innovators in developing and sharing business ideas that have the potential to enhance teaching and learning through existing or emerging technologies.

Extend offers to provide presentations and workshops to interested educator preparation programs on the implementation of digital learning tools into K-12 learning.

AI Literacy sessions were provided to Northwestern Michigan College and Mid-Michigan College for their faculty and staff.

Public/Private Partnerships

Organizational Priority

2(b)(v) – Pursue public/private partnerships that include districts to study and implement competency-based technology-rich virtual learning models.

Updates

Maintain membership in at least two national-level organizations that advocate for and support digital learning at the K-12 level.

Michigan Virtual has memberships/affiliations with:

• 1EdTech

• Digital Learning Consortium (State Affiliate)

• NROC

• Quality Matters

• Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance

Collaborate with the Future of Learning Council to provide opportunities for Michigan school leaders to learn about next generation learning models, share design practices, and gain access to high quality professional learning.

Michigan Virtual continues to support the Future of Learning Council through coordination, staff support, and facility use. The Council is comprised of 56 LEA Districts, 24 ISDs, 2 PSA Districts, 2 non-profit organizations, and 1 consortium including:

• Adrian Public Schools

• Anchor Bay School District

• Bath Community Schools

• Bay City Public Schools

• Berrien RESA

• Berrien Springs Public Schools

• Birch Run Area Schools

• Bloomfield Hills Schools

• Calhoun ISD

• Capac Community Schools

• Carrollton Public Schools

• Charlevoix Public Schools

• Clare-Gladwin RESD

• Clinton County RESA

• Concord Community Schools

• Croswell-Lexington Community Schools

• DeWitt Public Schools

• Dexter Community Schools

• Eaton RESA

• Elkton Pigeon Bay Port Laker Schools

• Farmington Public Schools

• FlexTech High Schools

• Frankenmuth School District

• Fraser Public Schools

• Freeland Community School District

• Genessee ISD

• Goodrich Area Schools

• Grand Ledge Public Schools

• Gratiot Isabella RESD

• Grosse Ile Township Schools

• Grosse Pointe Public School System

• Haslett Public Schools

• Henry Ford Academy

• Holly Area Schools

• Holt Public Schools

• Hudson Area Schools

• Huron ISD

• Ingham ISD

• Ionia County Intermediate School District

• Jackson ISD

• Jenison Public Schools

• Kenowa Hills Public Schools

• Kent ISD

• Kentwood Public Schools

• Laingsburg Community Schools

• Lake City Area Schools

• Lapeer ISD

• Lenawee ISD

• Lincoln Consolidated Schools

• Meridian Public School District

• Merrill Community Schools

• Michigan Assessment Consortium

• Michigan Virtual

• Montcalm Area ISD

• Muskegon ISD

• Muskegon Public Schools

• Newaygo County RESA

• Newaygo Public Schools

• Northwest Education Services

• Oakland Schools

• Okemos Public Schools

• Orchard View Schools

• Ottawa Area ISD

• Perry Public Schools

• Pewamo Westphalia Community Schools

• Plainwell Community Schools

• Plymouth Canton Community Schools

• Port Huron Area School District

• Portland Public Schools

• Potterville Public Schools

• Redford Union Schools

• Reeths-Puffer Schools

• Saginaw ISD

• Saginaw Township Community Schools

• Saline Area Schools

• Shiawassee RESD

• Clair County RESA

• Traverse City Area Public Schools

• Vanderbilt Area School

• Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium

• Washtenaw ISD

• Waverly Community Schools

• Whitmore Lake Public Schools

• Yale Public Schools

• Ypsilanti Community Schools

As part of the support for FLC, Michigan Virtual is engaged in working with FLC partners Getting Smart to provide professional learning on design thinking approaches to implementing student centered competency-based learning in K-12 schools through the FLC Design Cohort.

Continue to collaborate and partner with private and public sector organizations around Michigan to promote entrepreneurial activity, including an edtech accelerator program, for safe and ethical edtech development in Michigan.

Our 2026 EdTech Pitch Competition and Innovation Bootcamp programs will be announced in Spring 2026. Once again, these initiatives will be conducted in partnership with Spartan Innovations at the MSU Research Foundation, SBDC Michigan and other partners and sponsors from the public and private sectors. Designed to foster innovative thinking within Michigan’s education ecosystem, these programs support educators, entrepreneurs, and innovators in developing and sharing business ideas that have the potential to enhance teaching and learning through existing or emerging technologies.

We also ran the Conquer Edtech Accelerator powered by Michigan Virtual during the fall of 2025. This partnership with the MSU Research Foundation provided five early-stage edtech companies with 10-weeks of programming in customer discovery, marketing, product design, as well as one-on-one coaching and introductions to education leadership and entrepreneurship support programs across the state. Planning is underway for the accelerator to be offered again in fall 2026.

Michigan Virtual will promote 1EdTech’s “Trusted Apps Pledge” agreeing to a set of fair and acceptable business practices in the use of open standards by suppliers.

As a contributing member of 1EdTech, Michigan Virtual promotes the use of the Trusted Apps Dashboard to districts looking for ways to evaluate the adoption of technology tools into their schools. At Michigan Virtual, we evaluate enterprise applications through the 1EdTech Trusted Apps Dashboard process, including having staff members certified as Trusted Apps Certified Leaders, to better demonstrate and understand the needs of districts when adopting tools.

Accelerate the awareness and adoption of the beneficial use of digital learning tools in K-12 schools in Michigan through developing a strong network of industry partners and K-12 schools, and through offering pilots and training opportunities, to assure K-12 schools in Michigan stay current on latest developments with the technology.

Michigan Virtual has engaged with the multiple providers to pilot innovative digital learning tools in classrooms across Michigan including:

• Agilix – Online course delivery to a wide-range of LMS options allowing districts to localize use of a high-quality, Michigan Merit Curriculum aligned digital learning content in their local district infrastructure.

• SchoolAI – A teacher-guided, student-safe AI learning platform that helps educators understand how students learn and personalize instruction in real time.

• Spelling Safari – The first classroom spelling app developed alongside teachers to personalize learning for K-6 literacy support.

• Topia – A safe, moderated space for students to express creativity, explore educational experiences, and enhance their sense of belonging and community.

• Transfr VR – VR career technical education exploration for middle and high school students.

Mentor Network

Organizational Priority

2(b)(vi) – Create a statewide network of school-based mentors serving as liaisons between pupils, virtual instructors, parents, and school staff, as provided by the department or the center, and provide mentors with research-based training and technical assistance designed to help more pupils be successful virtual learners.

Updates

Lead the Mentor Advisory Committee.

Michigan Virtual hosted a fall Mentor Advisory Council meeting the last week in October 2025. The spring meeting is scheduled for April 2026.

Provide opportunities for engagement with mentors outside the committee through weekly virtual Mentor Support office hours and monthly virtual after-school Mentor Meetup events.

Michigan Virtual hosts weekly mentor support office hours and a series of Mentor Meetups, virtual sessions offering mentor support and collaboration, providing an opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics relating to mentoring best practices.

Maintain monthly communication, providing timely updates for mentors in the Mentor Minute publication.

Michigan Virtual sends a monthly newsletter to mentors with tips and resources for effective mentoring of virtual learners and state reporting practices and maintains an extensive Knowledge Base to support mentors with resources for best mentoring practices.

Provide at least two vendor-agnostic mentor meetings for the sharing of best practices and collaboration amongst mentors across the state.

Michigan Virtual will host a statewide mentor meeting in the spring and at the beginning of the next school year to share mentor best practices and foster collaboration from mentors across the state.

Focus Groups/Annual Surveys

Organizational Priority

2(b)(vii) – Convene focus groups and conduct annual surveys of teachers, administrators, pupils, parents, and others to identify barriers and opportunities related to virtual learning.

Updates

Convene a minimum of three focus groups of online students.

Michigan Virtual visited East Lansing High School and St. Joseph High School in December 2025 to conduct two fall-semester focus groups with students. At least one more focus group will be held in the spring semester.

Distribute an end-of-course survey to students and professional learners taking courses through the Michigan Virtual Student Learning Portal and the Professional Learning Portal.

Michigan Virtual administers end-of-course questionnaires to all learners enrolled in professional and student courses. Between October 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, we received 30,721 responses to the professional learning questionnaire and 6,869 responses to the student questionnaire. Results indicate that 90% of student respondents report high satisfaction for 2025-26, while 97% of professional learners report high satisfaction.

These surveys provide critical insight into learner experiences with our courses, platforms, and instructors, as well as their course enrollment motivations. Our learning services and instructional design teams apply these findings to deliver targeted instructor feedback and enhance both course content and instructional design. Improvements range from technical corrections—such as fixing broken links or clarifying confusing content—to addressing broader design factors that drive satisfaction, including clear course instructions and intuitive platform navigation.

Distribute an end-of-year survey to mentors of students in Michigan Virtual courses.

A mid-year survey of mentors with students taking courses with Michigan Virtual was distributed in early February 2025 to align with the end of all Semester 1 courses. An additional survey is planned for May or June to collect year-end feedback.

Convene a Mentor Advisory Board twice a year where mentor annual survey feedback is used to expand resources and effective training models for mentors.

The Mentor Advisory Board convened on October 29, 2025. The spring meeting is planned for April 30, 2026.

Consumer Awareness Report

Organizational Priority

2(b)(viii) – Produce an annual consumer awareness report for schools and parents about effective virtual education providers and education delivery models, performance data, cost structures, and research trends.

Updates

Update the Consumer Awareness resource twice annually (fall and spring).

The Consumer Awareness report was updated in October 2025 to reflect fall 2025 course offerings and data and February 2026 to reflect spring 2026 course offerings and data.

Internet-based Platform

Organizational Priority

2(b)(ix) – Provide an internet-based platform that educators can use to create student-centric learning tools and resources for sharing in the state’s open educational resource repository and facilitate a user network that assists educators in using the content creation platform and state repository for open educational resources. As part of this initiative, the Michigan Virtual University shall work collaboratively with districts and intermediate districts to establish a plan to make available virtual resources that align to Michigan’s K to 12 curriculum standards for use by students, educators, and parents.

Updates

Provide leadership to the state’s GoOpen initiative by contributing staff who serve on the GoOpen strategy teams and sub-teams.

Michigan Virtual continues to make staff available to support the work of the state’s #GoOpen initiative.

Make available modules on the Professional Learning Portal that address open educational resources, including the state’s GoOpen initiative.

In partnership with Michigan #GoOpen, Michigan Virtual continues to host modules on our professional learning platform that help educators understand the initiative, explore open educational resources, and discover how they can contribute their own resources. These modules can be accessed at the following URL: /course/dive-into-oer/.

Provide funding for maintenance of Michigan’s GoOpen hub.

Michigan Virtual provides funding to support the Michigan #GoOpen Hub, ensuring that educators have access to a diverse collection of free digital learning materials. This platform empowers teachers to integrate OER into their instruction, enhancing learning opportunities while reducing costs.

Make available modules on the Professional Learning Portal that support educators in developing their own digital learning objects.

Michigan Virtual provides educators with modules that support the design of digital content including courses such as Assessments in the Blended Classroom and #GoOpen: Open Educational Resources in Michigan.

Expand pilots to reach over 1,000 students and 25 educators within Michigan schools to provide Michigan Virtual content in multiple Learning Management Systems and provide appropriate training resources around utilization of this tool.

Michigan Virtual currently has 183 enrollments and 5+ teachers across three LEA-led virtual programs leveraging Michigan Virtual’s Custom Model for this purpose.

Maintain Statewide Catalog of Online Courses

Organizational Priority

2(b)(x) – Create and maintain a public statewide catalog of virtual learning courses being offered by all public schools and community colleges in this state. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall identify and develop a list of nationally recognized best practices for virtual learning and use this list to support reviews of virtual course vendors, courses, and instructional practices. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall also provide a mechanism for intermediate districts to use the identified best practices to review content offered by constituent districts. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall review the virtual course offerings of the Michigan Virtual University, and make the results from these reviews available to the public as part of the statewide catalog. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall ensure that the statewide catalog is made available to the public on the Michigan Virtual University website and shall allow the ability to link it to each district’s website as provided for in section 21f. The statewide catalog must also contain all of the following:

(A) The number of enrollments in each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(B) The number of enrollments that earned 60% or more of the total course points for each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(C) The pass rate for each virtual course.

Updates

Maintain the public statewide catalog of virtual learning courses.

Michigan Virtual continues to maintain the statewide catalog of online courses located at https://micourses.org/.

Include information about the National Standards for Quality Online Learning on the About page of the Micourses website.

The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute has worked with other leading experts across the country to develop a list of nationally recognized best practices for virtual learning programs, teachers, and courses. These sets of standards are formally known as the National Standards for Quality Online Learning. These standards have been added to the Micourses catalog and can be used by Michigan Virtual, intermediate districts and districts to report the results of their quality course review.

Submit a minimum of ten MVS semester-length courses to Quality Matters for independent course quality reviews.

Michigan Virtual is on track to submit a minimum of 10 MVS semester-length courses to Quality Matters for independent course quality reviews.

Implement code updates to the administrative interface.

Michigan Virtual will also implement technical enhancements to improve security and usability. Password authentication will be added to secure user accounts. In October 2025 button formats and field widths were adjusted to enhance customer experience. To support users more effectively, links have also been added to their profiles to aid in finding help. Administrative updates were made in January 2026 including the ability to delete courses in bulk and export user login history.

Offer professional development courses to Michigan schools and districts specific to applying National Standards for Quality Online Courses when performing course reviews.

Michigan Virtual offers a series of four asynchronous professional development courses housed on its Professional Learning Portal in an effort to help schools understand ways in which they could develop high-quality online courses for students. These courses, aligned to the National Standards for Quality Online Courses, are titled: Online National Standards 1: Getting Started; Online National Standards 2: Course Content & Design; Online National Standards 3: Assessment; and Online National Standards 4: Meeting Needs. These courses are available at no cost to all Michigan schools.

Send out performance data communication request and upload received results to the catalog.

Toward the end of each school year, Michigan Virtual will reach out to each course provider that offered online courses that year and request their performance data for inclusion in the catalog. MV staff will upload the performance data results we receive to the Micourses website.

Maintain Section 21f resources made available through the statewide catalog.

Lastly, Michigan Virtual continues to maintain the Section 21f documentation made available through the statewide catalog website.

Support Registration, Payment Services, and Transcript Functionality to Statewide Catalog

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xi) – Support registration, payment services, and transcript functionality for the statewide catalog and train key stakeholders on how to use new features.

Updates

Provide technical and customer support for users of the statewide catalog.

Michigan Virtual continues to support the functionality of the course catalog, including providing technical and customer support for users.

Based on customer feedback and help-desk tickets, update help documentation and user interface (when needed) to assist users to promptly resolve common issues.

Michigan Virtual continues to maintain a public-facing knowledge base allowing catalog users to browse for instant help. The resources available are shaped by customer feedback and help-desk tickets to continuously improve customer experience.

Examine District Level Accountability and Teacher Effectiveness Related to Virtual Learning

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xii) – Collaborate with key stakeholders to examine district level accountability and teacher effectiveness issues related to virtual learning under section 21f and make findings and recommendations publicly available.

Updates

Evaluate Michigan Virtual teachers using the updated Danielson rubric and corresponding effectiveness rating categories.

Lead instructors have conducted their first walkthroughs and will be completing their second round by the end of Feb. We fell short of our scheduled part-time instructor full evaluations for fall have been completed at this point, leaving us slightly behind our plan. Our team will continue to focus on evaluations through the end of May. Our full-time instructor evaluations are scheduled to begin in March.

Publish 1-2 page document on accountability and teacher effectiveness.

This work will begin following the completion of the evaluation cycle.

Institute Annual Report

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xiii) – Provide a report on the activities of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute.

Updates

By December 1, 2025, submit the combined Annual Report for the 2024-25 year.

The 2024-25 Institute Report was sent to the legislature in December 2025 and is also posted on the Michigan Virtual website as part of the annual report page at /about/annual-reports/.

By December 1, 2026, submit the combined Annual Report for the 2025-26 year.

Michigan Virtual is on track to submit this report by December 1.

Operate the Michigan Virtual School

Organizational Priority

(3) To further enhance its expertise and leadership in virtual learning, the Michigan Virtual University shall continue to operate the Michigan Virtual School as a statewide laboratory and quality model of instruction by implementing virtual and blended learning solutions for Michigan schools in accordance with the following parameters: (a) The Michigan Virtual School must maintain its accreditation status from recognized national and international accrediting entities.

Updates

Secure reaccreditation from AccredVEd and Cognia.

Michigan Virtual has been accredited since 2005 and is making strong progress on the AccredVEd Program Review and are on track to complete the full review by May 15. This holistic accreditation process examines our mission, governance and leadership, planning, resources and evaluation, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and access and stakeholder support. Once approved, Michigan Virtual will be accredited through both AccredVEd and Cognia.

Restricted Use of Appropriation for MVS

Organizational Priority

(b) The Michigan Virtual University shall use no more than $1,000,000.00 of the amount allocated under this section to subsidize the cost paid by districts for virtual courses.

Updates

Adopt a fiscal year 2026 budget which allocates no more than $1M to subsidize the virtual school.

In October 2025, Michigan Virtual’s Board of Directors approved its fiscal year 2026 budget fulfilling this benchmark.

Based on audited figures from the prior year, demonstrate that no more than $1M of the state allocation was used to subsidize the virtual school.

Based on audited figures from the 2024-25 school year, an independent third-party auditing firm concluded Michigan Virtual adhered to this requirement.

Background Checks for MVS

Organizational Priority

(c) In providing educators responsible for the teaching of virtual courses as provided for in this section, the Michigan Virtual School shall follow the requirements to request and assess, and the department of state police shall provide, a criminal history check and criminal records check under sections 1230 and 1230a of the revised school code, MCL 380.1230 and 380.1230a, in the same manner as if the Michigan Virtual School were a school district under those sections.

Updates

Conduct criminal background checks on Michigan Virtual staff and maintain appropriate related documentation.

Michigan Virtual is approved by the Michigan State Police (MSP) as a qualified entity to use the MSP Criminal History Record Internet Subscription Service (CHRISS) for fingerprinting for employment, assignment, or volunteer placement as authorized by the National Child Protection Act. Michigan Virtual works with its teachers and staff to complete background checks and MSP fingerprint checks through this process.

Appropriation for Expanding Online and Blended Professional Development Programs

Organizational Priority

(4) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), the Michigan Virtual University shall support the expansion of new online and blended educator professional development programs.

Updates

Design, test, and pilot new iterations of products and services associated with the delivery of effective professional learning for teaching in online and blended learning environments.

Michigan Virtual is designing, testing, and piloting updated versions of professional learning products and services that support effective teaching in virtual and blended environments. This work is informed by educator feedback, evolving district needs, and increasing expectations for instructional quality and accessibility.

In addition to strengthening course design and delivery models, Michigan Virtual is expanding options for districts to deliver our professional learning courses within their own LMS platforms. This approach increases local flexibility, streamlines implementation, and supports district-level integration with existing systems.

Provide face-to-face and online professional development to districts, in the form of workshops, presentations, and courses, on the topic of digital learning tools and their impact on teaching, learning, and other functions of schools.

Michigan Virtual continues to offer a robust suite of blended learning courses, including Instructional Tech 101, Digital Content, Blended Design, Digital Assessments, the Modern Classrooms Project, and Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) Levels 1 and 2. In addition, Michigan Virtual has updated its NSQ course offerings and is offering face-to-face and summer professional learning to include training for mentors, personalized learning, and accessibility in the classroom.

Facilitate a study tour for educators, administrators, and/or education stakeholders in attending one national-level conference around innovation in educational technology.

Michigan Virtual is working with the Future of Learning Council and ASU+GSV to distribute 33 scholarships to ten district leadership teams to attend the ASU+GSV Summit in April 2026.

1. Anchor Bay School District

2. Berrien Springs Public Schools

3. Concord Community Schools

4. Farmington Public Schools

5. Grand Ledge Public Schools

6. Kent ISD

7. Muskegon Area ISD

8. Perry Public Schools

9. Joseph Public Schools

10. Traverse City Area Public Schools

Review and update online and blended learning courses.

Michigan Virtual continues to strengthen the quality of our blended learning professional learning courses by conducting a targeted review of course content, structure, and learning activities based on direct user feedback and performance data. This work supports our commitment to high-quality instructional design and ensures our courses remain relevant, usable, and aligned to educators’ needs. As part of this refresh, we are updating course materials to improve clarity, streamline learner experience, and incorporate updated examples, resources, and best practices.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab

Organizational Priority

(5) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), the Michigan Virtual University shall operate a comprehensive statewide laboratory designed to function as a hub for cutting-edge research, the identification and dissemination of best practices, rigorous experimentation, policy formulation, and proactive efforts to enhance awareness about the responsible utilization of artificial intelligence in schools.

Updates

Facilitate the Statewide AI Workgroup on behalf of a dozen education associations and over 70 workgroup members. The workgroup will publish all resources created and curated to https://ai4mi.org,

Michigan’s Statewide AI Workgroup (AI4MI)—launched by Michigan Virtual’s AI Lab in February 2024—is a cross-organization coalition of educators, leaders, and education partners working to guide and coordinate safe, ethical, and inclusive AI integration across Michigan K-12. Its work centers on developing shared guidance and resources for schools, shaping a statewide communications approach, and ensuring diverse voices (including students) help inform how AI is adopted.

Across its subcommittees, the Workgroup is producing practical, district-ready supports—such as professional learning guidance for educator and student AI use, instruction-and-assessment frameworks grounded in research, and plug-and-play tools (e.g., prompt-ready slide decks and UDL-aligned guidance) that help districts move from awareness to consistent, responsible implementation.

Facilitate 15 free AI awareness sessions through conferences, regional meetings, or partner venues.

As of March 1, the AI Lab will have delivered 13 of 15 presentations:

• Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA) Mid-Winter Conference (2)

• Michigan School Testing Conference (1)

• Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) (1)

• Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) (1)

• Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) Catalyst Conference (3)

• Statewide AI Workgroup 3rd Annual AI Summit (3)

• Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) Assistant Principals & Deans Summit (2)

Train at least 5 regional leaders as AI Ambassadors, enhancing regional capacity for AI support through training, workshops, and presentations.

Michigan Virtual currently has 10 regional leaders serving in an AI Ambassador role:

• Betsy Springer, Assistant to the Director of Homeschool Partnership. Gull Lake Virtual Partnership, Gull Lake Community Schools

• Eugene Binder, Educational Technology Consultant. Gratiot Isabella RESD

• Jarrah Latz, Instructional and Technology Coach; Technology Teacher. Ovid Elsie Area Schools

• Jen Lawson, Instructional Technology Integration Coordinator. Northville Public Schools

• Jessie Wiercinski, Teacher. Kenowa Hills Public Schools

• Jill Hill, Teaching & Learning Specialist. Royal Oak Schools

• Judy Bowling, Instructional Technology and Library Consultant. Wayne RESA

• Michelle Gierman, District-Wide Artificial Intelligence Strategist / Gifted & Talented Education Coach/Coordinator. Avondale School District

• Peter Milne, REMC 2C Director/Educational Technologist. REMC 2C/Northwest Education Services

• Randi Watts, College and Career Coordinator/Teacher/Advisor. Northwest Community Schools

The AI Ambassadors are currently engaged in the following projects:

• Building an AI Exemplar Library to showcase classroom examples of AI integration across a variety of subjects and grade bands from Michigan Schools available on the Michigan Virtual AI Lab website.

• Free webinar series to address common misconceptions about AI in education with expert panelists to support nuanced conversations and a balanced approach to AI topics.

• Free Michigan Education Association (MEA) Co-Intelligence Book Study launched in February 2026 facilitated by AI Ambassadors

Provide enhanced training to at least 100 educators in innovative AI uses in the classroom.

Advanced training sessions were provided to Menominee Intermediate School district and Northwestern Michigan College with 100 attendees across the two venues. An expanded series, delivered through webinars and in-person training at Michigan Virtual is planned for Spring & Summer 2026.

Host the 3rd annual Michigan Virtual AI Summit for up to 500 attendees and around 40 AI-related presentations.

The 3rd Annual AI Summit was held October 15, 2025, and was attended by 500+ participants. The programming consisted of 44 sessions from Statewide AI Workgroup members and other K-12 educators, plus two keynotes focused on understanding the AI landscape and implementation in K-12 learning.

Publish two comprehensive guides on responsible AI use and distribute them through the Michigan Virtual website.

Michigan Virtual is working on expanding the existing Administrator, Teacher, and Student Guides to AI with a supplementary Parent guide. A second guide focused on AI’s potential for personalizing learning is in the planning stages.

Build and disseminate AI literacy materials for use in grades 3-5.

As of March 1, Michigan Virtual has created prototype videos that have been tested in grade 3-5 classrooms. Production on 10 videos will start in spring with a late summer release date.

This work represents a fraction of the effort of the AI Lab, which currently is working as thought partners with over 30+ LEAs across the state to better understand and support the journey Michigan K-12 districts are experiencing in navigating AI implementation, with activities including:

• Leadership and classroom level AI literacy training

• Strategic planning, guidance and policy creation

• District AI task force planning & facilitation

• Tool procurement and evaluation processes

• AI-enabled Instructional design practices

• Student-focused AI literacy efforts

This includes 5+ ISDs focused on providing the above support to their constituent districts, totaling 40+ LEAs on top of the individual district efforts.

MVS Catalog

Organizational Priority

(6) If the course offerings are included in the statewide catalog of virtual courses under subsection (2)(b)(x), the Michigan Virtual School operated by the Michigan Virtual University may offer virtual course offerings, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Information technology courses.

(b) College level equivalent courses, as that term is defined in section 1471 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1471.

(c) Courses and dual enrollment opportunities.

(d) Programs and services for at-risk pupils.

(e) High school equivalency test preparation courses for adjudicated youth.

(f) Special interest courses.

(g) Professional development programs for teachers, school administrators, other school employees, and school board members.

Updates

Continue to offer over 240 teacher-facilitated online courses for middle school and high school student enrollment.

Michigan Virtual currently offers 262 teacher-facilitated online courses for middle school and high school student enrollment and has enrollments in 256 of these online courses to date in the 2025-2026 school year.

Home-Schooled and Nonpublic Students

Organizational Priority

(7) If a home-schooled or nonpublic school student is a resident of a district that subscribes to services provided by the Michigan Virtual School, the student may use the services provided by the Michigan Virtual School to the district without charge to the student beyond what is charged to a district pupil using the same services.

Updates

Produce 2025-26 pricing with no additional charges for a home-school or nonpublic school student.

Michigan Virtual’s prices for the 2025-26 school year are the same for home-schooled and nonpublic school students as they are for district students using the same services. Pricing information is available on the Michigan Virtual website at /students/pricing/.

MVS Annual Report

Organizational Priority

(8) By not later than December 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department that includes at least all of the following information related to the Michigan Virtual School for the preceding fiscal year:

(a) A list of the districts served by the Michigan Virtual School.

(b) A list of virtual course titles available to districts.

(c) The total number of virtual course enrollments and information on registrations and completions by course.

(d) The overall course completion rate percentage.

Updates

Publish MVS Annual Report no later than December 1, 2025.

The 2024-25 report on the Michigan Virtual School was sent to the legislature in December 2025 and is posted on the Michigan Virtual website as part of the annual report page. The 2025-26 report will be provided in December 2026.

MVS Schools Served

Organizational Priority

(9) In addition to the information listed in subsection (8), the report under subsection (8) must also include a plan to serve at least 600 schools with courses from the Michigan Virtual School or with content available through the internet-based platform identified in subsection (2)(b)(ix).

Updates

Serve at least 600 Michigan schools through the Michigan Virtual School or our internet-based platform efforts.

This school year, Michigan Virtual has already served over 450 Michigan schools through its student course offerings. The remainder of the schools are expected to come from educators who are using the #GoOpen Michigan website.

Advisory Board

Organizational Priority

(10) The governor may appoint an advisory group for the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute established under subsection (2). The members of the advisory group serve at the pleasure of the governor and without compensation. The purpose of the advisory group is to make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the president and board of the Michigan Virtual University that will accelerate innovation in this state’s education system in a manner that will prepare elementary and secondary students to be career and college ready and that will promote the goal of increasing the percentage of residents of this state with high-quality degrees and credentials to at least 60% by 2030.

Updates

Since this section pertains to the actions of the Governor’s office rather than Michigan Virtual, no plan has been created by Michigan Virtual.

MVS Budget Costs

Organizational Priority

(11) By not later than November 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a detailed budget for that fiscal year that includes a breakdown on its projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services. By not later than March 1 each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a breakdown on its actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

Updates

No later than November 1, 2025, submit a detailed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year that includes a breakdown on Michigan Virtual’s projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services.

A detailed budget breaking down 2025-26 projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services was submitted by November 1, 2025.

No later than March 1, 2026, submit a breakdown on Michigan Virtual’s actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

The breakdown of Michigan Virtual’s actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year was included for legislators in the same mailing as this update.

This report is being submitted in fulfillment of the following legislative directive:

The Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the legislature not later than November 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section that includes its mission, its plans, and proposed benchmarks it must meet, including a plan to achieve the organizational priorities identified in this section, to receive full funding for the next fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section. By not later than March 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide an update to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid to show the progress being made to meet the benchmarks identified.

Mission: Maximize learning and teaching by bringing together the best in people and technology.

Test, Evaluate Tools

Organizational Priority

2(a)(i) – Test, evaluate, and recommend as appropriate new technology-based instructional tools and resources.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will explore different applications associated with defined innovation pathways around using technology to increase instructional capacity and improve effectiveness, learner engagement and communications, access to educational technology and curriculum, and demonstrate personal and professional learning. This work will encompass exploring the impact of next-generation learning engagement platforms, safe and ethical use of digital tools in classrooms, student and professional credentials and badges, and the impact of digital learning tools on physical space and infrastructure. Bringing together interested schools, partners, and tool providers, Michigan Virtual will organize pilots to enable continuous design and iteration of digital tool use in classrooms.

Michigan Virtual will participate in an advisory role with MAISA’s MIGreatDataLake project to continue to push for interoperability of digital learner records and how it impacts the recognition and portability of student achievements and outcomes in K-12 settings as well as the impacts of AI on unstructured data usage in support of improved student outcomes.

Michigan Virtual will engage in year-round enrichment programs that explore next-generation learning platforms and offer innovative learning opportunities to students as supplemental learning in-school and out-of-school environments. These programs will be offered at a low cost through schools, community-based organizations and direct to parents interested in providing enrichment opportunities for students.

Michigan Virtual will publish posts, research articles, presentations and workshops documenting applications for creating new educator and student pathways using technology to achieve instructional goals in their online, blended, and traditional classrooms in a variety of student-centered learning models.

Benchmarks

1. Explore and test the application of emergent digital tools in classroom, school and district processes and systems and share findings through in-person presentations and workshops, and online through the Michigan Virtual Professional Learning Portal and the Michigan Virtual website.

2. Provide at least three innovative pilots that allow teachers and students to have hands-on, facilitated pilot experiences on advancements in educational technology and the impact on teaching and learning.

3. Continue to develop career-focused catalog of enrichment experiences, deployed through a next-generation learning engagement platform direct to parents, and through Michigan Virtual’s learning platform for integration into local school digital learning systems.

4. Support statewide data interoperability through partnership with MiGreatDataLake.

5. Publish, present on, or deliver workshops on findings around the exploration and use of learning tools and resources in-person, online through the Michigan Virtual Professional Learning Portal, and on the web.

Research, Design, Recommend Virtual Delivery Models

Organizational Priority

2(a)(ii) – Research, design, and recommend virtual education delivery models for use by pupils and teachers that include age-appropriate multimedia instructional content.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will design and conduct a five-part research series exploring what learning “anytime, any place, any pace” looks like in practice, and how variations in flexibility may be associated with important course metrics. Across five reports, namely using quantitative methodology alongside integrated literature reviews, this series will aim to elucidate the scope of learning “anytime, any place, any pace” among Michigan students by examining changes in their time stamps, and pacing behaviors throughout their virtual coursework. The findings from this series will facilitate a better understanding of how students leverage the flexibility of online learning and how this may be associated with course outcomes. Ultimately, this understanding can help inform the creation of more targeted student supports.

Building on the FY25 brief, Online Courses, Offline Grades: What Some Michigan Schools Are Doing, Michigan Virtual will design and conduct a follow-up research study to further explore school district’s policies and practices around virtual learning grading decisions. Researchers will gather quantitative data to better understand how Michigan schools and districts interpret and record the final course scores students receive in their online courses, why their approaches vary, and resulting implications and recommendations. Findings from this study will help Michigan Virtual better understand and serve Michigan schools.

Michigan Virtual will continue to collaborate with Dr. Jacqueline Zweig. Dr. Zweig will research new Michigan Virtual pacing and grading structures. Dr. Zweig will also work with Michigan Virtual staff to identify, design, and conduct research using Michigan Virtual data. Findings from Dr. Zweig’s work will be published to the Michigan Virtual website.

Finally, Michigan Virtual will update the data within its Virtual Benchmarking Tool (/research/effectiveness-reports/benchmarking-tool/) to include data from the 2024-2025 school year. This tool allows users to see how the number of virtual learners as well as their virtual pass rates change with key demographic (e.g., sex, race, etc) or other educational factors (e.g., school level, subject area). Data are available beginning with the 2017-18 school year.

Benchmarks

1. Design and conduct a five-part research series exploring data around anytime, any place, any pace in Michigan Virtual courses.

2. Design and conduct a research study exploring school district’s policies and practices around virtual learning grading decisions.

3. Collaborate with Dr. Jacqueline Zweig to conduct research with Michigan Virtual

4. Update data within its Virtual Benchmarking Tool to include data from the 2024-2025 school year.

Recommend Evaluation Criteria for Cyber and Online Providers

Organizational Priority

2(a)(iii) – Research, develop, and recommend annually to the department criteria by which cyber schools and virtual course providers should be monitored and evaluated to ensure a quality education for their pupils.

Plans

Michigan Virtual continues to collaborate with the National Standards for Quality Online Learning (NSQOL) (https://www.nsqol.org/) and recommends its suite of National Standards, which include separate quality standards for programs, teaching, and courses.

Benchmarks

1. Promote the updated set of National Standards for Quality Online Learning (https://www.nsqol.org/) and provide feedback when NSQOL revises or releases standard sets.

2. Send letter annually to the department to communicate recommendations.

Effectiveness Report

Organizational Priority

2(a)(iv) – Based on pupil completion and performance data reported to the department or the center from cyber schools and other virtual course providers operating in this state, analyze the effectiveness of virtual learning delivery models in preparing pupils to be college- and career-ready and publish a report that highlights enrollment totals, completion rates, and the overall impact on pupils. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall submit the report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, the department, districts, and intermediate districts by not later than March 31 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section.

Plans

By March 31, 2026, Michigan Virtual will produce the Effectiveness Report in a form and method consistent with the past version as it has been well-received and represents the most in-depth, state-level analysis of virtual course enrollments in the country. Like past reports, Michigan Virtual will also create an infographic summarizing key findings from the report. A link to the infographic and the report will be mailed to required recipients and published on the Michigan Virtual website. The report’s author will produce a recording that will be made available on-demand through the Michigan Virtual website.

Benchmarks

1. Publish the Effectiveness Report on the Michigan Virtual website by March 31, 2026, with a link to the report and infographic sent to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department postmarked no later than March 31, 2026.

2. Mail an At-a-Glance Report Infographic and cover letter detailing the online report and resources to superintendents and high school and middle school principals (approximately 2,000 people) no later than April 30, 2026.

3. Post recording covering key findings from the report on the Michigan Virtual website by April 30, 2026.

Deliver PD and Submit PD Report

Organizational Priority

2(a)(v) – Provide an extensive professional development program to at least 30,000 educational personnel, including teachers, school administrators, and school board members, that focuses on the effective integration of virtual learning into curricula and instruction. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute is encouraged to work with the MiSTEM council described in section 99s to coordinate professional development of teachers in applicable fields. In addition, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute and external stakeholders are encouraged to coordinate with the department for professional development in this state, including professional development for employees in child care facilities, early childhood facilities, and after-school programs. By not later than December 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall submit a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department on the number of teachers, school administrators, and school board members who have received professional development services from the Michigan Virtual University. The report must also include both of the following:

(A) The identification of barriers and other opportunities to encourage the adoption of virtual learning in the public education system.

(B) A link to, and explanation of, the Michigan Virtual University’s online course standards for professional development programming. The standards described in this sub-subparagraph must inform learners how to file a complaint about course content and detail the steps that will be taken for the review and resolution of complaints.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to advance its professional development services by gathering and acting on feedback from individuals currently taking professional development courses, individuals who may be seeking professional development in the future, and from the field in general. Michigan Virtual will also develop new partnerships with schools or educational groups to provide professional learning services while integrating professional learning communities to build engagement. The Michigan Virtual professional development platform will be continuously improved through course updates, new courses, and pilots to explore opportunities for more competency-based learning at scale.

Michigan Virtual will continue to host the annual event called Collaboration of the Minds (COM). COM is an annual professional development conference that serves as an opportunity to bring the large remote teaching staff of Michigan Virtual, many of whom have full-time teaching positions in local school districts, together to learn, explore, and collaborate with each other. This is an opportunity for all instructors to meet face-to-face and provides time for like-content instructors to explore best practices and strategies for supporting students. The event introduces new learning in the virtual environment, training in effective practices, and collaboration time to explore with fellow instructors. Michigan Virtual is also putting on a virtual fall event for mentors of online learners to strengthen effective practices and expand their professional learning community.

Michigan Virtual will fulfill the PD report’s requirement through publishing its annual report. The report will include a section addressing identified barriers and other opportunities to encourage the adoption of virtual learning in the public education system. It will also include a link to a page on the Michigan Virtual website that identifies our online course standards for professional development programming. Along with the link, the report will document steps a learner can take to share feedback, including a complaint about course content, and outline how that feedback will be reviewed and resolved.

Benchmarks

1. Develop and update professional learning courses based on the needs of schools and districts identified through market research.

2. Offer professional learning partnerships to schools, districts, and educational groups.

3. Offer competency-based professional development courses to Michigan teachers and administrators.

4. Host the 2026 Collaboration of the Minds professional learning conference for instructors and a fall event for online mentors.

5. Submit the 2025 PD report as part of a combined annual report that also includes Michigan Virtual’s annual Institute report specified under 2(b)(xiii) and the annual report required under subsection 7 for the Michigan Virtual School no later than December 1, 2025. This is a requirement from the previous fiscal year that crosses over fiscal years.

6. Submit the 2026 Professional Development report detailing Michigan Virtual’s professional learning services and the identification of barriers and opportunities report by December 1, 2026.

Identify/Share Best Practices

Organizational Priority

2(a)(vi) – Identify and share best practices for planning, implementing, and evaluating virtual and blended education delivery models with intermediate districts, districts, and public school academies to accelerate the adoption of innovative education delivery models statewide.

Plans

Michigan Virtual developed a series of guides related to online learning, which are made available to students, parents, teachers, mentors, school administrators, and school board members. Michigan Virtual will host these guides on the Michigan Virtual website.

Previous research by Michigan Virtual has found that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 education is growing among teachers, administrators, and students. To understand the implications of this growth in use, and better prepare all educational stakeholders, Michigan Virtual will conduct research on teacher and student perceptions of appropriate and ethical use of AI. Findings from this work will be shared on the Michigan Virtual website.

As the State Affiliate for the nationally focused DLAC, Michigan Virtual will coordinate and host a minimum of four virtual State Affiliate meetings with digital learning stakeholders, a “Michigan Meet Up” at the Ignite Conference, and build greater community in the DLAC Community Portal through asynchronistic posting and sharing. These networking and learning opportunities will be designed around the identification and sharing of innovations and best improvement practices for digital learning environments, including but not limited to course content creation, instructional improvement, platform evaluation, and current research.

Finally, Michigan Virtual is active at Michigan education conferences. Staff will be presenting or exhibiting at 20 or more Michigan professional learning conferences. Presentation and outreach at these events will include sharing our resources and experience with research-based online learning for students, innovation with an emphasis on adoption of digital tools, school redesign, mental health awareness, and professional learning for educators.

Benchmarks

1. Host the Michigan Virtual Guides to Online Learning series, comprised of 9 guides, on our website.

2. Design and conduct a research study investigating teacher and student perceptions of appropriate and ethical use of AI.

3. Host four Michigan meetings of the Michigan DLAC state affiliate.

4. Present or exhibit at 20 or more Michigan professional learning conferences.

Policy Recommendations to Gov./Legislature

Organizational Priority

2(b)(i) – Develop and report policy recommendations to the governor and the legislature that accelerate the expansion of effective virtual learning in this state’s schools.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will provide feedback on current virtual learning policies and make recommendations that will accelerate the use of effective virtual learning in the state.

Benchmarks

1. Before December 31, 2025, submit virtual learning policy recommendations to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on state school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and Michigan Department of Education.

Research Clearinghouse

Organizational Priority

2(b)(ii) – Provide a clearinghouse for research reports, academic studies, evaluations, and other information related to virtual learning.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will maintain the existing clearinghouse website (http://k12onlineresearch.org/) and add additional resources to the website throughout the fiscal year. Currently, the nationally recognized clearinghouse acts as an aggregator of K-12 online and blended research and key publications. To date, there are over 1,400 resources cataloged in the clearinghouse. On a quarterly basis, Michigan Virtual will email a clearinghouse newsletter to the MVLRI mailing list and share it via social media to highlight resources added during that time.

Benchmarks

1. Create and distribute quarterly newsletters that highlight new resources and document progress toward newly added resources to the clearinghouse by the end of the fiscal year.

2. Continue to promote and add resources in the form of blogs, publications, webinars, and podcasts to the clearinghouse and the Michigan Virtual

3. Continue to maintain the clearinghouse platform and update as needed for improved functionality.

Promote/Distribute Instructional Design Guidelines and Standards

Organizational Priority

2(b)(iii) – Promote and distribute the most current instructional design standards and guidelines for virtual teaching.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will maintain and update the instructional design guidelines and standards tagged in the Research Clearinghouse. At least five new instructional design resources will be added to the Clearinghouse to assist Michigan schools in developing and delivering their own digital content to students.

Michigan Virtual will also promote the National Quality Standards for Online Teaching, National Quality Standards for Online Programs, and National Quality Standards for Online Courses (https://www.nsqol.org/), which will all help to inform Michigan-based work in online and blended learning. This includes offering four free online professional learning courses focused on different aspects of the national standards.

Michigan Virtual will also offer courses on instructional design and on creating digital content and effective online assessments. Michigan Virtual will submit at least two presentation proposals to Michigan-specific education conferences to promote and share best practices related to instructional design and standards of quality.

Benchmarks

1. Include links to instructional design guidelines and standards in the Research Clearinghouse tagged under the keywords “instructional design” and “standards.”

2. Add five new instructional design resources to the Clearinghouse.

3. Promote the National Standards for Quality Online Learning by offering four professional learning courses.

4. Promote, maintain, and support free online professional development resources to train teachers in the instructional design of online content, including through the offering of online professional courses.

5. Propose a session focused on instructional design best practices for at least two Michigan-based education conferences.

Work with College and Universities on Digital Learning

Organizational Priority

2(b)(iv) – In collaboration with the department and interested colleges and universities in this state, support implementation and improvements related to effective virtual learning instruction.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will make available a wide variety of online resources and courses to institutions that operate teacher and administrator preparation programs. These resources, which include digital content and professional learning related to early literacy; online, blended, and student-centered learning; and the use of open educational resources, will be available to colleges and universities through Michigan Virtual-hosted environments. In some cases, these resources may be made available in university-hosted environments.

Michigan Virtual will continue to collaborate with university entrepreneurship programs and technology accelerators / tech transfer teams to promote educational technology entrepreneurship and to catalyze teachers’ creation of new technology to solve educational challenges. This program includes a series of experiences that bring together college students, faculty, education technology entrepreneurs, and Michigan Virtual to support innovation in education throughout the state.

Where applicable, Michigan Virtual will work with educator preparation programs to help drive awareness and understanding around the impact of digital learning tools in K-12 learning.

Benchmarks

1. Work with interested Michigan teacher preparation institutions to coordinate access to the Michigan Virtual-hosted content, or where applicable, provide technical support for materials made available for self-hosting by the college or university.

2. Continue to support an educational technology entrepreneurship program to support one cohort of educators/innovators interested in developing and scaling their education technology solutions with relevant stakeholders.

3. Extend offers to provide presentations and workshops to interested educator preparation programs on the implementation of digital learning tools into K-12 learning.

Public/Private Partnerships

Organizational Priority

2(b)(v) – Pursue public/private partnerships that include districts to study and implement competency-based technology-rich virtual learning models.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to lead conversations about digital learning throughout Michigan. Maintaining memberships and affiliations with national digital learning organizations such as DLAC and the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance will help gain insight into other state and national trends as they relate to key issues in digital learning, policy development, and effective program practices, in general. Michigan Virtual will gather and share such information with schools and districts throughout the state as they continue to implement digital learning opportunities for their students.

Michigan Virtual will also provide direct support to the Future of Learning Council through a professional collaboration that provides a structured environment for Michigan leaders to learn about next generation learning models, share design practices, and gain access to high quality professional learning with other innovative school leaders. Both Michigan Virtual and the Future of Learning Council believe we have a unique opportunity to chart a new course regarding the structure of schools by blending the best of our traditional instructional models with an intentional focus on innovations in learning to better serve all children.

Michigan Virtual will continue to collaborate with national and regional technology and innovation programs to promote educational technology, edtech entrepreneurship, catalyze teachers’ creation of innovative technology to solve educational challenges, and promote high-quality educational technology development and implementations in Michigan. This includes promoting standards-based educational technology that promotes an agile, scalable, ethical & safe edtech ecosystem within K-12 districts.

Benchmarks

1. Maintain membership in at least two national-level organizations that advocate for and support digital learning at the K-12 level.

2. Collaborate with the Future of Learning Council to provide opportunities for Michigan school leaders to learn about next generation learning models, share design practices, and gain access to high quality professional learning.

3. Continue to collaborate and partner with private and public sector organizations around Michigan to promote entrepreneurial activity, including an edtech accelerator program, for safe and ethical edtech development in Michigan.

4. Michigan Virtual will promote 1EdTech’s “Trusted Apps Pledge” agreeing to a set of fair and acceptable business practices in the use of open standards by suppliers.

5. Accelerate the awareness and adoption of the beneficial use of digital learning tools in K-12 schools in Michigan through developing a strong network of industry partners and K-12 schools, and through offering pilots and training opportunities, to assure K-12 schools in Michigan stay current on latest developments with the technology.

Mentor Network

Organizational Priority

2(b)(vi) – Create a statewide network of school-based mentors serving as liaisons between pupils, virtual instructors, parents, and school staff, as provided by the department or the center, and provide mentors with research-based training and technical assistance designed to help more pupils be successful virtual learners.

Plans

Michigan Virtual has maintained a Mentor Advisory committee and has planned two events for 2025-2026.

Michigan Virtual will continue to maintain resources for effective mentoring of virtual learners and state reporting practices, offer opportunities for Mentor engagement and collaboration on topics such as pacing, building relationships, motivating students, and helping struggling students. Training will be offered to new Mentors, providing local online program planning strategies and mentorship best practices.

Michigan Virtual will continue to offer vendor-agnostic webinars, best-practice training, and space for networking and collaboration for mentors across the state.

Benchmarks

1. Lead the Mentor Advisory Committee.

2. Provide opportunities for engagement with mentors outside the committee through weekly virtual Mentor Support office hours and monthly virtual after-school Mentor Meetup events.

3. Maintain monthly communication, providing timely updates for mentors in the Mentor Minute publication.

4. Provide at least two vendor-agnostic mentor meetings for the sharing of best practices and collaboration amongst mentors across the state.

Focus Groups/Annual Surveys

Organizational Priority

2(b)(vii) – Convene focus groups and conduct annual surveys of teachers, administrators, pupils, parents, and others to identify barriers and opportunities related to virtual learning.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will collect feedback from key users and stakeholders through surveying, focus groups, and other means. Student focus groups will center on the student experience in online learning, their motivations for taking an online course, and their preferences for online or in person learning. The results will help Michigan Virtual refine its offerings and identify opportunities to improve virtual learning for students.

Surveys will be used with students and professionals to focus on the learner experience, their motivations, and opportunities for Michigan Virtual to improve its offerings and the outcomes for learners. The professional learning survey results will be filtered by the learner’s role (teacher, administrator, parent, support staff, etc.) to help identify and understand opportunities that may be unique to each role.

Michigan Virtual will also survey mentors of virtual students and conduct advisory committee meetings to learn from the field, gathering information on what supports work best for students in virtual learning and what does not work in terms of support, content, and systems.

Benchmarks

1. Convene a minimum of three focus groups of online students.

2. Distribute an end-of-course survey to students and professional learners taking courses through the Michigan Virtual Student Learning Portal and the Professional Learning Portal.

3. Distribute an end-of-year survey to mentors of students in Michigan Virtual

4. Convene a Mentor Advisory Board twice a year where mentor annual survey feedback is used to expand resources and effective training models for mentors.

Consumer Awareness Report

Organizational Priority

2(b)(viii) – Produce an annual consumer awareness report for schools and parents about effective virtual education providers and education delivery models, performance data, cost structures, and research trends.

Plans

The Consumer Awareness resource (/research/consumer awareness/) is available as an important link on the About page of Michigan’s Online Course Catalog (https://micourses.org/). The report includes sections devoted to background, providers, delivery models, performance data, cost structures, research trends, virtual benchmarking tool, conclusions, and resources. Including the Consumer Awareness resource as part of Michigan’s Online Course Catalog provides high visibility for parents, students, and schools exploring Section 21f options. Data on areas such as the school districts that are putting courses in the catalog, the distribution of courses by ISD, PSA, LEA, and Michigan Virtual, and disaggregation by key variables such as who is providing the content or the instructor, are updated in the fall and in the spring to reflect the changes in those two enrollment windows.

Benchmarks

1. Update the Consumer Awareness resource twice annually (fall and spring).

Internet-based Platform

Organizational Priority

2(b)(ix) – Provide an internet-based platform that educators can use to create student-centric learning tools and resources for sharing in the state’s open educational resource repository and facilitate a user network that assists educators in using the content creation platform and state repository for open educational resources. As part of this initiative, the Michigan Virtual University shall work collaboratively with districts and intermediate districts to establish a plan to make available virtual resources that align to Michigan’s K to 12 curriculum standards for use by students, educators, and parents.

Plans

Michigan Virtual acts as a close partner with the Michigan Department of Education and the #GoOpen Michigan Strategy Team to make available a common Open Educational Resources system throughout the state. On the GoOpen Michigan website, educators can access open educational resources for modification and use in the classroom. In addition to providing leadership on the platform, Michigan Virtual also covers the cost of maintenance of this platform for continued use.

Michigan Virtual also supports educators in the creation and sharing of digital learning objects by providing courses on its Professional Learning Portal. These courses provide training to educators on how to develop their own learning objects as well as learning more about open educational resources, including how GoOpenMichigan can be leveraged for use in their classrooms.

As districts increase their reliance on digital tools, many teachers are being asked to be instructional designers, creating new learning objects to support their curriculum, and learning facilitators. To enable district staff to use digital learning objects more effectively, Michigan Virtual will continue to build content delivery platforms that allows for efficient and intuitive access to the Michigan Virtual catalog of digital curriculum objects and courses to supplement local curriculum. Building upon lessons learned in pilots from previous years, Michigan Virtual will work to ramp up access to Michigan Virtual-owned digital learning assets in progressively more teacher-customizable models.

Benchmarks

1. Provide leadership to the state’s GoOpen initiative by contributing staff who serve on the GoOpen strategy teams and sub-teams.

2. Make available modules on the Professional Learning Portal that address open educational resources, including the state’s GoOpen initiative.

3. Provide funding for maintenance of Michigan’s GoOpen hub.

4. Make available modules on the Professional Learning Portal that support educators in developing their own digital learning objects.

5. Expand pilots to reach over 1,000 students and 25 educators within Michigan schools to provide Michigan Virtual content in multiple Learning Management Systems and provide appropriate training resources around utilization of this tool.

Maintain Statewide Catalog of Online Courses

Organizational Priority

2(b)(x) – Create and maintain a public statewide catalog of virtual learning courses being offered by all public schools and community colleges in this state. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall identify and develop a list of nationally recognized best practices for virtual learning and use this list to support reviews of virtual course vendors, courses, and instructional practices. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall also provide a mechanism for intermediate districts to use the identified best practices to review content offered by constituent districts. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall review the virtual course offerings of the Michigan Virtual University, and make the results from these reviews available to the public as part of the statewide catalog. The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute shall ensure that the statewide catalog is made available to the public on the Michigan Virtual University website and shall allow the ability to link it to each district’s website as provided for in section 21f. The statewide catalog must also contain all of the following:

(A) The number of enrollments in each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(B) The number of enrollments that earned 60% or more of the total course points for each virtual course in the immediately preceding school year.

(C) The pass rate for each virtual course.

Plans

Michigan Virtual continues to maintain the statewide catalog of online courses located at https://micourses.org/.The Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute has worked with other leading experts across the country to develop a list of nationally recognized best practices for virtual learning programs, teachers, and courses. These sets of standards are formally known as the National Standards for Quality Online Learning (https://www.nsqol.org/). These standards have been added to the Micourses catalog and can be used by Michigan Virtual, intermediate districts and districts to report the results of their quality course review. Michigan Virtual will also submit a minimum of 10 MVS semester-length courses to Quality Matters for independent course quality reviews.

Michigan Virtual will also implement technical enhancements to improve security and usability. Password authentication will be added to secure user accounts, and button formats and field widths will be adjusted to enhance customer experience. To support users more effectively, links will be added to their profiles to aid in finding help. Administrative updates will include the ability to delete courses in bulk and export user login history.

Michigan Virtual offers a series of four asynchronous professional development courses housed on its Professional Learning Portal in an effort to help schools understand ways in which they could develop high-quality online courses for students. These courses, aligned to the National Standards for Quality Online Courses, are titled: Online National Standards 1: Getting Started; Online National Standards 2: Course Content & Design; Online National Standards 3: Assessment; and Online National Standards 4: Meeting Needs. These courses are available at no cost to all Michigan schools.

Toward the end of each school year, Michigan Virtual will reach out to each course provider that offered online courses that year and request their performance data for inclusion in the catalog. MV staff will upload the performance data results we receive to the Micourses website.

Lastly, Michigan Virtual will maintain the Section 21f documentation made available through the statewide catalog website.

Benchmarks

1. Maintain the public statewide catalog of virtual learning courses.

2. Include information about the National Standards for Quality Online Learning on the About page of the Micourses website.

3. Submit a minimum of ten MVS semester-length courses to Quality Matters for independent course quality reviews.

4. Implement code updates to the administrative interface.

5. Offer professional development courses to Michigan schools and districts specific to applying National Standards for Quality Online Courses when performing course reviews.

6. Send out performance data communication request and upload received results to the catalog.

7. Maintain Section 21f resources made available through the statewide catalog.

Support Registration, Payment Services, and Transcript Functionality to Statewide Catalog

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xi) – Support registration, payment services, and transcript functionality for the statewide catalog and train key stakeholders on how to use new features.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to support the functionality of the course catalog, including providing technical and customer support for users. Michigan Virtual will also continue to maintain a public-facing knowledge base allowing catalog users to browse for instant help.

Benchmarks

1. Provide technical and customer support for users of the statewide catalog.

2. Based on customer feedback and help-desk tickets, update help documentation and user interface (when needed) to assist users to promptly resolve common issues.

Examine District Level Accountability and Teacher Effectiveness Related to Virtual Learning

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xii) – Collaborate with key stakeholders to examine district level accountability and teacher effectiveness issues related to virtual learning under section 21f and make findings and recommendations publicly available.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to conduct teacher evaluations using Danielson rubric housed within our KickUp tool with instructors both full- and part-time. This effort allows Michigan Virtual to continue its effort to support district level accountability and teacher effectiveness issues. However, Michigan Virtual will be integrating MDE’s guidelines on teacher evaluation cycles into our process. The state has moved to a three-year cycle based on maintaining an evaluation status of effective ratings. While we maintain our full-time teachers on an annual review schedule, we will transition groups of our part-time teachers to this model to provide some efficiency and greater sustainability for our team.

Currently, our part-time instructors receive two full walk-throughs each year (one per term) from their Lead instructor. Additionally, they receive a full walk-through in correlation to their full Danielson observation rubric evaluation. For those part-time instructors that do not receive the full Danielson evaluation, they would still receive the two Lead Walk-throughs and a walk-through by a supervisor to ensure they are still receiving feedback. However, they would not get the full Danielson rubric or the live call unless they requested it.

Further, we would like to transition roughly 15% of the full evaluations to the late fall timeframe to provide better overall balance and cycles for our evaluators (see suggested schedule below). These evaluations are the same in scope as those conducted in spring, simply adjusting the timing which we have done in the past when I team began growing.

Michigan Virtual will also publish a 1-2 page document that highlights key recommendations for districts around accountability and teacher effectiveness related to the offering of online courses.  

Benchmarks

1. Evaluate Michigan Virtual teachers using the updated Danielson rubric and corresponding effectiveness rating categories.

2. Publish 1-2 page document on accountability and teacher effectiveness.

Institute Annual Report

Organizational Priority

2(b)(xiii) – Provide a report on the activities of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute.

Plans

Submit required reports detailing Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute activities.

Benchmarks

1. By December 1, 2025, submit the combined Annual Report for the 2024-25 year.

2. By December 1, 2026, submit the combined Annual Report for the 2025-26 year.

Operate the Michigan Virtual School

Organizational Priority

(3) To further enhance its expertise and leadership in virtual learning, the Michigan Virtual University shall continue to operate the Michigan Virtual School as a statewide laboratory and quality model of instruction by implementing virtual and blended learning solutions for Michigan schools in accordance with the following parameters: (a) The Michigan Virtual School must maintain its accreditation status from recognized national and international accrediting entities.

Plans

Michigan Virtual is currently accredited through Cognia and is due for review this year. Michigan Virtual will participate in an accreditation review through AccredVEd this year which is powered by the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance and better aligned with the online education format that MV provides. AccredVEd has partnered with Cognia, which will result in a dual accreditation with both upon successful completion.

Benchmarks

1. Secure reaccreditation from AccredVEd and Cognia.

Restricted Use of Appropriation for MVS

Organizational Priority

(b) The Michigan Virtual University shall use no more than $1,000,000.00 of the amount allocated under this section to subsidize the cost paid by districts for virtual courses.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will pass a board-approved budget that caps appropriation spending for Michigan Virtual School to no more than $1M.

Benchmarks

1. Adopt a fiscal year 2026 budget which allocates no more than $1M to subsidize the virtual school.

2. Based on audited figures from the prior year, demonstrate that no more than $1M of the state allocation was used to subsidize the virtual school.

Background Checks for MVS

Organizational Priority

(c) In providing educators responsible for the teaching of virtual courses as provided for in this section, the Michigan Virtual School shall follow the requirements to request and assess, and the department of state police shall provide, a criminal history check and criminal records check under sections 1230 and 1230a of the revised school code, MCL 380.1230 and 380.1230a, in the same manner as if the Michigan Virtual School were a school district under those sections.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will conduct background checks through a private security firm that uses the FBI’s LiveScan fingerprinting process to comply with these requirements.

Benchmarks

1. Conduct criminal background checks on Michigan Virtual staff and maintain appropriate related documentation.

Appropriation for Expanding Online and Blended Professional Development Programs

Organizational Priority

(4) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), the Michigan Virtual University shall support the expansion of new online and blended educator professional development programs.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to provide support for and collaborate with the Future of Learning Council. This will result in supporting the specific professional learning needs of district teams participating in FLC activities and creating new opportunities to use the FLC as a feedback mechanism for professional and student learning needs across the state to address personalized competency-based learning. Michigan Virtual will work with the Future of Learning Council to address areas, identified by the participating districts, to develop, test, and pilot professional learning products and services focused on instruction in virtual and blended learning environments. These collaborations will provide opportunities to increase the reach and impact of both existing and newly identified professional learning programs for Michigan teachers.

In partnership with the Future of Learning Council, Michigan Virtual will offer one virtual and one face-to-face blended and online learning professional development to prepare educators for utilizing virtual and blended learning in the classroom.

Michigan Virtual will organize a study tour for educators, administrators, and education stakeholders, to attend a national educational technology networking event around innovation in education. The purpose of this tour will be to provide opportunities to connect and participate in next generation learning models, with the intent to build a strong innovation hub in Michigan schools to drive educational change.

Michigan Virtual will continue to offer a suite of courses focused on blended and online learning and will continue to create and offer course content specific to online and blended learning.

Benchmarks

1. Design, test, and pilot new iterations of products and services associated with the delivery of effective professional learning for teaching in online and blended learning environments.

2. Provide face-to-face and online professional development to districts, in the form of workshops, presentations, and courses, on the topic of digital learning tools and their impact on teaching, learning, and other functions of schools.

3. Facilitate a study tour for educators, administrators, and/or education stakeholders in attending one national-level conference around innovation in educational technology.

4. Review and update online and blended learning courses.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab

Organizational Priority

(5) From the funds allocated under subsection (1), the Michigan Virtual University shall operate a comprehensive statewide laboratory designed to function as a hub for cutting-edge research, the identification and dissemination of best practices, rigorous experimentation, policy formulation, and proactive efforts to enhance awareness about the responsible utilization of artificial intelligence in schools.

Plans

Michigan Virtual is working to improve AI knowledge and literacy in our schools. The work for 2025-2026 focuses on providing school leaders, educators, and students with a variety of publicly available offerings and opportunities to explore the use of AI in K-12 learning.

Continue to support the Statewide AI Workgroup, which includes nineteen education associations with over seventy-five members participating across five subcommittees. Resources generated by the Workgroup will be housed on https://ai4mi.org on behalf of the Statewide AI Workgroup.

Michigan Virtual will offer a multitude of free AI awareness sessions at conferences and regional meetings. These sessions are targeted at building basic AI fluency and exploring deeper implementation in school personnel.

To empower more local expertise, Michigan Virtual will work with at least five regional educators to develop their AI subject matter expertise, allowing them to provide more in-depth support and training in their region on AI readiness in schools.

To support a geographically diverse set of educators, Michigan Virtual will continue our strong tradition of creating high-quality online professional learning, targeted at the implementation of AI in learning for school leaders and educators.

To focus on more student-centered practices in AI, Michigan Virtual will continue to develop and host AI Literacy resources targeted towards K-12 students’ responsible use of AI.

Michigan Virtual will plan and execute the 3^rd annual AI Summit working with the Statewide AI Workgroup, consisting of the 14 education associations. The expected attendance will be 500 educators from across Michigan and will focus primarily on moving from awareness building to active implementation of AI in schools and classrooms.

Michigan Virtual also plans to continue the tradition of providing accessible materials to help school districts navigate the adoption of AI with the publication of guides for the responsible use of AI in schools. These guides will be available in web versions.

All these activities work together to prepare Michigan schools for AI readiness and implementation. We believe this will continue the work to help Michigan’s school personnel and students with the critical AI Literacy skills they need into the future.

Benchmarks

1. Facilitate the Statewide AI Workgroup on behalf of a dozen education associations and over 70 workgroup members. The workgroup will publish all resources created and curated to https://ai4mi.org,

2. Facilitate 15 free AI awareness sessions through conferences, regional meetings, or partner venues.

3. Train at least 5 regional leaders as AI Ambassadors, enhancing regional capacity for AI support through training, workshops, and presentations.

4. Provide enhanced training to at least 100 educators in innovative AI uses in the classroom.

5. Host the 3rd annual Michigan Virtual AI Summit for up to 500 attendees and around 40 AI-related presentations.

6. Publish two comprehensive guides on responsible AI use and distribute them through the Michigan Virtual

7. Build and disseminate AI literacy materials for use in grades 3-5.

MVS Catalog

Organizational Priority

(6) If the course offerings are included in the statewide catalog of virtual courses under subsection (2)(b)(x), the Michigan Virtual School operated by the Michigan Virtual University may offer virtual course offerings, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Information technology courses.

(b) College level equivalent courses, as that term is defined in section 1471 of the revised school code, MCL 380.1471.

(c) Courses and dual enrollment opportunities.

(d) Programs and services for at-risk pupils.

(e) High school equivalency test preparation courses for adjudicated youth.

(f) Special interest courses.

(g) Professional development programs for teachers, school administrators, other school employees, and school board members.

Plans

Michigan Virtual offers over 240 online courses, taught by Michigan certified teachers, for middle school and high school students in a wide variety of subjects that fulfill grade level and high school graduation requirements, other elective offerings, credit recovery, and Advanced Placement courses. Michigan Virtual also provides opportunities for personalized, independent study pathways in mathematics and English and access to online courses and content that can be taught by local educators.

Benchmarks

1. Continue to offer over 240 teacher-facilitated online courses for middle school and high school student enrollment.

Home-Schooled and Nonpublic Students

Organizational Priority

(7) If a home-schooled or nonpublic school student is a resident of a district that subscribes to services provided by the Michigan Virtual School, the student may use the services provided by the Michigan Virtual School to the district without charge to the student beyond what is charged to a district pupil using the same services.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to adhere to this requirement. Michigan Virtual makes available its courses to Michigan home-schooled or nonpublic students at the advertised base rate. Michigan Virtual pricing is available at /students/pricing/.

Benchmarks

1. Produce 2025-26 pricing with no additional charges for a home-school or nonpublic school student.

MVS Annual Report

Organizational Priority

(8) By not later than December 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the department that includes at least all of the following information related to the Michigan Virtual School for the preceding fiscal year:

(a) A list of the districts served by the Michigan Virtual School.

(b) A list of virtual course titles available to districts.

(c) The total number of virtual course enrollments and information on registrations and completions by course.

(d) The overall course completion rate percentage.

Plans

Submit the report detailing Michigan Virtual School activities for 2024-25 school year as part of an annual report that also includes the Michigan Virtual’s professional development report specified under 2(a)(v) and the Institute annual report required under 2(b)(xiii) no later than December 1, 2025.

Benchmarks

1. Publish MVS Annual Report no later than December 1, 2025.

MVS Schools Served

Organizational Priority

(9) In addition to the information listed in subsection (8), the report under subsection (8) must also include a plan to serve at least 600 schools with courses from the Michigan Virtual School or with content available through the internet-based platform identified in subsection (2)(b)(ix).

Plans

Michigan Virtual plans to serve over 600 schools through the Michigan Virtual School and the internet-based platform. Our student programming offers online courses for over 240 middle school and high school titles. Our internet-based platform includes support for the #GoOpen Michigan initiative (https://goopenmichigan.org/). The #GoOpen Michigan website has thousands of registered educators who represent many schools throughout the state.

Benchmarks

1. Serve at least 600 Michigan schools through the Michigan Virtual School or our internet-based platform efforts.

Advisory Board

Organizational Priority

(10) The governor may appoint an advisory group for the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute established under subsection (2). The members of the advisory group serve at the pleasure of the governor and without compensation. The purpose of the advisory group is to make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and the president and board of the Michigan Virtual University that will accelerate innovation in this state’s education system in a manner that will prepare elementary and secondary students to be career and college ready and that will promote the goal of increasing the percentage of residents of this state with high-quality degrees and credentials to at least 60% by 2030.

Plans

Since this section pertains to the actions of the Governor’s office rather than Michigan Virtual, no plan has been created by Michigan Virtual.

MVS Budget Costs

Organizational Priority

(11) By not later than November 1 of each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a detailed budget for that fiscal year that includes a breakdown on its projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services. By not later than March 1 each fiscal year for which funding is allocated under this section, the Michigan Virtual University shall submit to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees on school aid, the state budget director, and the house and senate fiscal agencies a breakdown on its actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

Plans

Michigan Virtual will continue to submit the required materials in accordance with the identified deadlines.

Benchmarks

1. No later than November 1, 2025, submit a detailed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year that includes a breakdown on Michigan Virtual’s projected costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the anticipated fees to be paid by districts for those services.

2. No later than March 1, 2026, submit a breakdown on Michigan Virtual’s actual costs to deliver virtual educational services to districts and a summary of the actual fees paid by districts for those services based on audited financial statements for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

For work from past years, please see our Annual Reports page.