In 1994, West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science (WMAES) opened their doors and became one of the first charter schools in Michigan. That school year, they welcomed 122 students. But, that was just the start to their story. Fast forward…
Improve Your Computer-Adaptive Assessments Using This “First Five” Method
It was July of 2013 when I realized I needed to become more knowledgeable regarding computer-adaptive assessments in schools. While traveling home from a meeting with our charter school’s authorizer, a colleague and I discussed the lack of progress observed…
CHARACTER CHOICES: GOOD JUDGMENT / JANUARY 2016
As children, we learn and understand the differences between up and down, left and right. However, knowing the difference between right and wrong is something we as humans continuously explore. Students across Choice campuses spent the month of January learning about…
Two Bradford Academy Football Players Earn Full-Ride Scholarships to Major Out-of-State Colleges
Choice Schools Associates is proud to announce that two seniors from Bradford Academy are headed to major colleges on full-ride scholarships! TaMarion Johnson will be attending the University of Minnesota, a Big Ten school, on a full ride scholarship to play football…
2016 National School Choice Week Recap
National School Choice Week was another week of celebration! Parents were raving about their love for school of choice on Facebook. Here are a few highlights from the week: Three Oaks Public School Academy Students everywhere at Three Oaks are…
7 Steps to Adopting a Growth Mindset at Your School
You have no doubt seen the “growth vs. fixed mindset” movement come across your inbox or Twitter feed. But what does this mean for you and your school? If you’ve never experienced the growth mindset, it might not mean much…
Charter School Gives Hope to Kids in Detroit
In the midst of chaos within the Detroit Public School System, where building conditions have been deemed unsafe, teachers aren’t teaching due to sick-outs and students aren’t being educated, there sits a community school who has quite a different story.…
School Spotlight: New Branches Charter Academy
New Branches Charter Academy Snapshot Students Served: 297 Grades Served: Preschool – 8th grade Year Founded: 1971 as The Climbing Tree School 1994 as the current New Branches Charter Academy Principal: Terry Larkin Board Members: Ryan Julian, Board President Nygil Likely, Board Vice President Scott Embree,…
Teacher Spotlight: Rebekah Host at New Branches Charter Academy
Rebekah Host is a 4th grade teacher at New Branches Charter Academy. Since the school year began, Rebekah has been creating a family-like atmosphere within her classroom. She finds ways to show her students the importance of learning, all while…
Why Charter Schools Matter to You
It was August of 1997 when I first understood why school of choice matters. I was in Buena Vista, Michigan at a recruiting event when an appreciative father, with his wife and three children, came up to me and said,…