Michigan Connections Academy

This school is very unethical. When you enroll, you are prompted via a popup box to "AGREE" to taking the standardized tests. It doesn't matter what you think or don't think about these tests, a public school receiving state aid CANNOT make conditions of enrollment. PERIOD. In an email from the principal in December 2018, he stated, " an agreed to condition of enrollment that you acknowledged, and all students must take these assessments". These schools MUST follow Michigan law. A charter school cannot deny a student enrollment unless they are at full capacity. PERIOD. It's spelled out by the MDE in the laws. This principal deliberately lied to me and told me my student would be held back if we were not available to take this. He didn't care to hear my concerns in regards to my child and his needs. It was a black and white issue with him. Their authorizer is Ferris State University and I contacted them asking to see this policy in writing. They have such policy and I was told that, "if there is a policy at the local level, it is ILLEGAL". I was told it is not realistic that EVERY KID is going to take this test and MICA has to follow Michigan law. Michigan does NOT offer waivers, but it's not because they said, "NO, you can't opt out", but because they have no addressed this. They state it's a requirement, but there are no repercussions if it is not taken. There are NO REPERCUSSIONS via LAW if this test is REFUSED. The principal, Bryan, lied to me about something that would be ILLEGAL to do in the first place. As soon as I spoke with Ferris, I let school know we were not taking these tests. There is NO WAY I am going to comply to a THING this school wants after the way this principal treated me. As soon as I let school know were weren't taking them, I get the Bryan email lecturing me on school loyalty (yes, I have a copy of this and so does Ferris..they asked for it) and it was a "condition" of enrollment (illegal). I called Ferris again and they wanted a copy of this email. A few days later, I was told Bryan Klochack will be pulled into a Board of Directors meeting on January 10, 2019 and I would be notified at the conclusion of it. What it all boils down to is this: Yes, the state requires a school administer this test. Yes, the state requires like 95 participation rate to avoid any intervention (lower rates three years in a row for a charter could mean trouble). Yes, the state can make them shut their doors if they are failing (Google "Nevada Connections Academy Public Hearing"). Yes, they say you are "required" to take these tests. NO, there are no repercussions if you don't take it. End of story. They MUST follow Michigan law...no exceptions. So if you want to be in a school that treats parents this way (they do business as Connections Academy, LLC and are owned by Pearson Technology...they are a business. And know that you CAN hit "AGREE" and it is NOT enforceable if you lie about the AGREE. Had this principal listened to my concerns about my kid and offered to help in whatever way he could, of course I would allow this test to be taken....HOWEVER, he did not. He was rude and claimed to have a policy that would've been illegal to have to begin with. They are more concerned about their MONEY than they are your kid. PERIOD. The other thing I would want to know is that there is a TON of screen time. Oh yes....HOURS. And if you join clubs, MORE screen time. You may get one live lesson a day (maybe two) and you may have math twice a week, etc. It's not like a regular school where you have class EVERYDAY. The rest of the time you are on your own...literally...teaching yourself through reading these Power Point type slides. Once in a while you get a "portfolio" to do (homework that you have to actually DO on paper or whatever and turn in..whatta concept), but it's screen time, screen time, screen time. If you have a child maybe 9 and younger, be prepared to be a HUGE part of this guiding them through. There is no way a younger elementary child could do ANY of this without being guided every minute they are on. It's your new Full-Time job. I say, "If I had to do that, I would buy my own curriculum and teach it myself and avoid this nightmare". ALSO.....I had asked what happens if an assignment isn't turned in ontime. Ready for this one?? I was told, "as long as it is turned in by the end of the school year". SAY WHAT??? How does THAT work in real grown-up world in job-land??? There is no accountability and you can redo wrong answers to get points back. Yea. This is so unrealistic in life, though, I am aware some traditional school teachers allow such a thing..ours never did, thankfully. Indoctrination. I JUST decided to pull my kid from MICA tonight. He was assigned a portfolio based on the school's political opinion on the topic. He had to create something based on THEIR belief....A political issue based on THEIR opinion. Worse than reg school.