Michigan's first virtual charter school selects downtown Grand Rapids site, accepting applications

Deborah Johnson Wood

A virtual charter school sponsored by Grand Valley State University will welcome its first students on September 7 at what school leaders say is its first Michigan location – a former office space at 678 Front Ave. NW.

Michigan Virtual Charter Academy, operated by Herndon, Va.-based K12, Inc., will launch with a curriculum geared for high school dropouts ages 17 to 21, offering onsite and online learning in half-day formats.

"It's a hybrid blend of onsite and online learning, and we'll have two shifts of students," says Randall Greenway, vice president of school development. "This was a promising location and it's close to where we believe our students reside and work. It also has public transportation nearby, and that's a big part of it."

Greenway says the school is not a GED program. Students can select the morning or afternoon shift, they will work at individual computer stations, in a group format and one-on-one with teachers. There will also be counseling and social services onsite.

"[K12] is the nation's largest provider of online learning and services for public schools in the country," Greenway says. "We currently have over 70,000 students enrolled in the high schools where we're providing services."

K12, Inc. will review student applications and school transcripts, then will select qualifying students by lottery.

According to the K12 web site, students must:

• Currently reside within the state of Michigan, and be
• Identified in the Michigan student data system as a student under the age of 21 who has dropped out of high school and can attend the learning center five days a week for site-based instruction (grades 9-12 only).

The school is accepting applications now. Click here for more information or to apply.

Source: Randall Greenway, K12, Inc.

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].