April 16, 2021

MRS (Michigan Rehabilitation Services) is partnering with Dearborn Public Schools to provide transition and pre-employment services to our students. These programs will be run during school hours, while the students are in class. We will begin virtually, and will move to in-person type services when it is safe to do so. This means ALL students, whether virtual or in-person, will be able to participate right now. In order to expedite the process, every family was emailed the application packet earlier today. In addition, students who attend in-person will be bringing home a printed packet. In the packet, there are 6 forms to complete in order for the students to participate. You will also need to include a copy of the students ID as well as their social security card. If you need help making copies, we can do that for you in the classroom and send the originals back home with the student. Packets are due back in school by Wednesday April 21, 2021. Please return the packet using the same envelope they were sent home in. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. There are a few questions that may come up that I think I can answer ahead of time:

  1. All students in this program have an IEP. They do not have a 504 plan.
  2. Your student is currently attending the transition program
  3. You student is considered “Grade 14”
  4. The students expected Graduation Date is the school year they turn 26. Example: 2021-2022 school year with a 26th birthday on 9/13/21 – graduation date will be June 2022. If the student turns 26 during the summer of 2022, the graduation date remains June 2022.
  5. Students in our program do not have a high school diploma or a GED
  6. Students in our program receive a CoC or Certificate of Completion

Due to lack of participation, the 9 a.m. virtual class will be paused until after Ramadan. The 9 a.m. class will resume on May 17th. The 10 a.m. class is required and will continue. Students not attending the 10 a.m .class will be marked absent.

Vaccines are now available for anyone 16 and over. Please follow the Districts Facebook Page and/or firstbell.dearbornschools.org for announcements about vaccine clinics and how to get a vaccine for you and/or the student in your family. Currently, walk up appointments are available in Taylor at the Wayne County Community College between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. until Saturday April 17th.

Student cell phones have become a problem for one or two students. As a reminder, students who cannot follow classroom rules regarding cell phones will be asked to keep them at our desk for the day. If the problem persists, the cell phone will be kept and a parent will have to pick up the phone from the teachers. Currently we have one student who is at this point. He knows who he is. LOL.