MPAAA Newsblast - June 2026

Spring Testing and MSDS

Michigan Student Data System (MSDS) Updates for Assessment and Accountability Reporting

Student information on the Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability (OEAA) Secure Site is updated daily from student record maintenance (SRM) files submitted in the Michigan Student Data System (MSDS). These updates include:

Final updates for assessment and accountability reporting, which also includes student enrollment along with above listed student demographics, will have to be updated in the MSDS by the following dates:

School/district assessment coordinators are being asked to work with their authorized district MSDS user to ensure any student enrollment, exits, or demographics are included in the Spring MSDS General collection, or to ensure this information will be submitted in a student record maintenance (SRM) file by the posted deadlines with the correct “as of” dates. The OEAA will not use the end-of-year collection for student enrollment and demographic information, as the information collected at that time will be received too late.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact OEAA at 877-560-8378, select option 1 or email [email protected].

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Summer training sessions for Pupil Accountants and Auditors

MPAAA is proud to offer its members a suite of summer training sessions. These courses are offered in multiple formats and at different times to make them as accessible as possible.

REP Explained - This recorded 3-hour session will explain the basics of the REP report and provide you with the requirements of the collection.  This recorded session is available now through the end of June, and may be watched at any time through June 30.  This course is NOT part of an MSBO certification track.  You can learn more, or register for the course HERE.

TSDL Explained - In-person Session. This 3-hour class is offered live and in person on Thursday, June 25th from 9 AM until noon at the MPAAA Offices in Lansing.  Like the REP training above, this is designed for staff new to TSDL reporting or those wishing a refresher.  For more information, please click HERE.

TSDL Explained - Virtual Session. This 3-hour virtual course covers the same content as the session above and is offered from 9 AM to noon on Wednesday, July 1. For more information, please click HERE.

TSDL Explained - Recorded Session. Once the virtual session is completed, a recording of the session will be made available for those unable to attend either of previous dates. The link to register for the recorded session will be released in next month's newsletter.

Auditor's Bootcamp - Recorded Session. This set of 6 3-hour sessions provides a solid footing in the area of pupil accounting auditing.  You may watch the sessions any time you wish through the end of August.  More information is available HERE.

Pupil Accountant's Bootcamp - MPAAA will offer its pupil accounting bootcamp in early August, on dates to be determined and published at the beginning of July.  There will be a live session at the MPAAA offices in Lansing, a Virtual session the following week, and then the recordings of the virtual session will be made available as well.  Look for the July Newsblast for specific dates for each variant of the 3-day bootcamps.

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Membership Renewal

For those who wish to continue their membership in MPAAA, please be aware that renewal for the 26/27 year is now available HERE.

The renewal cost is $125, and all renewals, whether completed now or after July 1, will extend your membership to June 30, 2027.

We hope you find your membership in MPAAA to be valuable, will consider renewing.

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Data Quality Corner

MPAAA Data Quality Corner

Each month, the members of the MPAAA LEA/Data Committee have agreed to share a brief article on data quality with our members.

This month’s article focuses on how districts can use AI tools to support student data validation and state reporting readiness.

AI and Pupil Accounting

By Eppe Wolfis

Coordinator of Student Data Systems, Calhoun ISD

As an emerging technology, AI often evokes the feeling of an unmapped digital landscape defined by uncertainty and a lack of established protocols. While many education professionals employ AI for basic grammar and word choice, applying it to the rigorous world of pupil accounting—with its complex regulations and high stakes—presents a unique hurdle. This creates a central challenge:

"How can we regulate AI to maximize its assistance in Pupil Accounting while strictly adhering to all applicable rules and ensuring data integrity?"  

One practical solution is to limit the source material AI references, a process known as “grounding.” For instance, Gemini AI allows users to upload specific source material, such as the Pupil Accounting Manual, and issue targeted prompts like: “Based on the uploaded document, what are the requirements for 5-D Homebound students?”

But what if there are other considerations for my pupil accounting question not covered in one document?  

However, Pupil Accounting questions often span multiple regulatory areas. To address this, some interfaces allow for multi-document grounding. For example, a NotebookLM "notebook" can synthesize the Pupil Accounting Manual, the MSDS Collection Details Manual, and MARSE to field complex inquiries. This comprehensive approach ensures that AI responses account for the full spectrum of applicable rules.

The final piece of the puzzle is prompt engineering—the art of crafting precise instructions. Beginning with specific constraints is essential. For example:

“According to the Pupil Accounting Manual, what are the FTE requirements for a .1755 program?”.  

This prompt could be followed with: 

“What are the staff qualification requirements for this program?”, etc.

While AI is often viewed as a niche tech trend, it becomes a powerful asset for navigating Pupil Accounting when guided by robust constraints and intentional prompting.

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Upcoming Conference Dates

We get frequent calls and emails at the MPAAA office asking about future conference dates.  We're posting all known dates here and will include this article in each future Newsblast issue, adding new dates as we finalize those arrangements.

27/28

28/29

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