Volume 2 No. 12
According to a recent poll that was conducted by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and Marketing Resource Group, Michigan charter school parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with their charter school and their child's education. They are also very likely to recommend charter schools to other parents.

 
The online survey reached more than 1,400 charter school parents across the state of Michigan thanks to the help of Bay Mills. Bay Mills participated by sending the survey to all of their school administrators which then was sent out to the parents. Most parents who have selected a different public school than the one assigned to their home address highly rate their child's new school, expect more of their child's educational success and recommend the experience to others. When asked to assign their charter school a grade, 85 percent of those surveyed gave their school an A or B rating. This high praise coming from parents explain why one in 10 public school students attend a charter school here in Michigan.

In polls of schools of choice parents and the general public, the surveys showed that more Michigan voters continue to favor charter schools and that support for Schools of Choice is also high. Schools of Choice allows students to attend schools in districts outside of the one they live in. "It's encouraging to see most Michigan residents, and even more so parents, recognize the value of choice," said Ben DeGrow, director of education policy at the Mackinac Center. "Our state would benefit by giving families from all communities and backgrounds the opportunity to select educational options that offer what their children need to be successful and reach their potential."


This months' Bay Mills featured school is the West Michigan Aviation Academy. The West Michigan Aviation Academy is a tuition-free public charter high school founded by Dick DeVos upon encouragement from his wife, Betsy. Stemming from their passion for both education and aviation, the school opened its doors in the Fall of 2010 located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The charter school is unique because students not only receive an education in the classroom, but in the hanger and the cockpit as well. 


Clearly this one of a kind learning environment has paid off as 61 students have earned their private pilot license since the school has opened. And as a science, technology, engineering and math-focused school, West Michigan Aviation Academy has not only produced pilots but also graduates who have been accepted to some of the top engineering schools in the country. That's what sets West Michigan Aviation Academy apart from other schools, not only do students learn about aviation and engineering, they personally experience it.

 
It was a great year for the school as Pat Cwayna, CEO of West Michigan Aviation Academy, was named the 2018 Michigan Association of Public School Academies' Administrator of the Year back in May. This is a school that recognizes the uniqueness of their students and offers a wide varieties of subjects, clubs, and organizations to them so that they may have the resources to be well equipped in the real world. Keep up the good work West Michigan Aviation Academy! Your commitment to your students and their education is inspiring!

Learn more about West Michigan Aviation Academy by visiting their website: www.westmichiganaviation.org
 
October 15-16, 2018: School Leaders Meeting in Bay Mills
About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools
Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257
 
Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.