Concord
Academy's 2008 Annual Report
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(.pdf)
Concord
Academy's 2009-2012 Technology Plan
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Concord
Academy's 2009-2010 Student/Parent Handbook
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(.pdf)
What is
a charter school?
A charter school is a public school that offers parents an
educational choice. Legislation was adopted in 1994 to allow parents to select
where their children become educated in the public school system.
Charter schools function similarly to traditional public schools in the State of Michigan. Around the country, twenty-six states have created legislation for charter schools. In Michigan, 232 charter schools, often called public school academies or PSAs, serve over 90,000 students.
Public school academies comply with the State of Michigan school code by following the same laws that apply to all other public schools. PSAs report to the Michigan Department of Education and to local intermediate school districts. In addition public school academies also have an authorizing agency, usually a state college or university, that provides additional oversight as well as support and valuable expertise. The State of Michigan funds public school academies through the per pupil state aid grant.
While public school academies abide by the same laws as traditional public schools, they are unique. The State of Michigan created public school academies so school could develop innovative and specialized instructional plans giving parents a choice from the traditional public schools curricula. In this way, public school academies could create innovative and effective instructional plans that served the particular needs and interests of a local area.
History
of Concord Academy
Concord Academy in Petoskey opened in the fall of 1994 as one of the first
public school academies in Michigan. Originally intended to be a K-6 school,
it opened as a K-8 school in response to public interest. The following year
it added grades 9-12 to become a complete K-12 school. School
enrollment climbed quickly from its original 110 students up to 200 students
and soon after to 270 students. Concord's current enrollment is 332 students.
Subsequently two other schools modeled after Concord Academy opened in Boyne City and later in Antrim. While Concord Academy – Petoskey was the original school, each subsequent school adopted the curriculum plan but operates and functions independently.
Concord Academy –
Petoskey operates with its own instructional plan written by Kim Overton,
co-founder, and the high school curriculum written by Anne Scott. Concord is a one-school district and operates as its own school
and as its own district and reports to all local and state agencies as such.
Over the course of fourteen years, Concord Academy has remained true to the original
mission and instructional plan, while continuing to update and refine the
curriculum. In 2003 the board of directors in conjunction with Lake Superior
State University adopted a comprehensive set of school policies and added
administrative guidelines in 2005