Brighton Schools Will Launch Virtual Academy This Fall

Brighton Area Schools will launch its Virtual Academy starting this September.

Board of Education members voted unanimously to create the online learning program that will provide Michigan Merit Curriculum (MME) online courses to resident and non-resident home schooled students in grades 9 through 12 through the use of Michigan Virtual High School and GenNet.

Laura Surrey, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, said the program would aim to develop strong college and career readiness skills in the home schooled student population.

The program will require one mentor per 25 students. Former Brighton High School Principal Ken Hamman will serve as the first mentor.

Hamman said he is hopeful that the program will exceed 25 students. The Virtual Academy will bring on additional mentors who are certified teachers as needed.

"As a mentor, you will be monitoring progress online at a regular basis, making sure they're staying on track as far as how many times they're logging in," Hamman said. "So you're really following each one of those students as they go through the course. You're not the instructor, however, there is a highly qualified instructor on the other end for each course."

The program would be conducted from students' homes, at no cost to the students. Brighton Area Schools will provide proper equipment, if it is not available.

"That's part of the state legislation, you have to offer connectivity and the hardware and the courses to run the program.

Hamman said many of the students they are looking at attracting are already taking online courses, however.

"So their equipment is probably much better than what we would be providing for them," he said.

The Virtual Academy will allow the district to collect full or partial full-time enrollment from the student foundation allowance on each participating student.

Each Michigan Virtual High School Course costs approximately $275, which the district will pay. Students will need to take  up to six online courses -- the equivalent to what Brighton High School offers.

Students who complete the program as a full-time student will earn a Brighton Area Schools/MME endorsed certificate.

Surrey said the Brighton Virtual Academy website will launch in April and open registration will begin in August.

Board Vice President Bill Anderson said he would vote to approve the creation of the program, even though previously having concerns.

"Not all programs are for all kids and this might be a great opportunity for some kids, but I just want to make sure that they thrive and that those who don't thrive are quickly made aware of it and look for different alternatives."