Michigan Connections Academy Report to the Legislature

2010-2012 Michigan Connections Academy Report to the Legislature Prepared by Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

2140 University Park Drive Okemos, MI 48864 Phone: 517.507.5390 Fax: 517.507.5389 Date Report Submitted: September 1, 2012 Date Cyber School Opened: 2010 Authorizer: Ferris State University Charter Schools Office 1020 Maple Street Big Rapids, MI Name of Person Completing Report Joan Beadle Academic/Assessment Specialist 231/591/5805 Beadlej1@ferris.edu Michigan Connections Academy () is a free online public school, also known as a cyber charter school serving students in grades K 12 throughout Michigan. FAM Academy of Detroit is a free, flexible public school option for students who have previously terminated their high school education. 2 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

PA 205 of 2009 ushered in a new era in Michigan public education. This law established the first K-12 cyber schools in our State, expanding educational options and opportunities for Michigan families. In response to this opportunity for Michigan families, Ferris State University authorized Michigan Connections Academy (), one of the first K-12 cyber schools in our State. The new law requires authorizing institutions of a school of excellence that is a cyber school to submit an extensive report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Legislature summarizing two years of performance metrics. In adherence to the letter of the law, Ferris State University Charter Schools Office produced this report. The report details the operation of, including pupil participation statistics, academic performance data, along with Charter Schools Office (CSO) recommendations. In the spirit of the law and in recognition of the importance of transparency and openness, it is our intent that this report will enable Michigan families and interested persons to be aware of the work conducted by the staff on behalf of the children served by the academy. It will also facilitate the choices parents make in selecting schools that may best meet the educational needs of their children. Further, it summarizes a way in which the CSO has sought to operationalize the words of W.N. Ferris, our University founder, education for all the children, all men, and all women of Michigan, all the people in our State all the time. Lawrence V. Wells, Ph.D. Director 3

2010-2012 Michigan Connections Academy Report to the Legislature Prepared by Ferris State University Charter Schools Office Authorizer s Narrative... 3 Enrollment Data... 5 Special Programming... 6 Student Residency... 7 Student Performance Data... 8 Student Achievement and Growth...9-12 Full/Non-full academic year students... 13-15 act data... 15 Indicator of Student growth... 16 Financial Data from Audit... 17 Financial Data from Audit... 18 Cyber School Expenses... 19 4 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Enrollment Data Information The enrollment information is generated from The Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) using data collected in the fall of 2010 and 2011 and filed in the Michigan Student Data System (MSDS). Data come from the MSDS Single Student Records database and include records from the Fall 2010 and 2011 General and Student Record Maintenance collections. The Data represents both Michigan Connections Academy () and FAM Academy of Detroit. 60 Fall - 375 students Spring - 399 students 120 Fall - 663 students Spring - 749 students 119 120 55 50 49 Fall 100 40 30 43 38 37 37 36 36 36 35 33 32 31 29 27 27 26 25 24 23 29 28 Spring 80 60 68 65 63 60 56 54 4950 51 51 48 4849 48 48 45 83 66 20 19 40 36 34 36 33 10 13 20 22 0 4 2 K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 0 10 K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Number of K-12 students who transferred from cyber school to another school during the year : : FAM FAM 19 0 69 8 *Number of K-12 students certified as drop-outs when they enrolled in : : FAM FAM 0 0 0 259 Number of K-12 students who dropped out of cyber school and did not enroll in another school : : FAM FAM <5 0 0 14 Number of K-12 students who were home-schooled when they enrolled in : : FAM FAM 124 0 207 6 All percentages under 5% must read *For the 2011-2012 academic year corresponding students are enrolled at the cyber school on a one for one basis when a CEPI certified dropped out student is enrolled. Please Note: N/A indicates FAM Academy of Detroit was non-operational in 2010-2011 5

Student Diversity White African American Hispanic 7.73% Asian Indian American 20.8% 27.45% 56% 56.41% Percentage of Students who Qualified for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program 64% 61.08% Special Programming The following graph shows 2 years of special education data for and 2011-2012 FAM special education data. Data collected from CEPI and Michigan Connections Academy School data files. Students Who Have Active 504 Plans FAM Students Receiving Special Education Services N/A 5.6% N/A 6.9% Please Note: N/A indicates FAM Academy of Detroit was non-operational in 2010-2011 6 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Student Residency Number of students enrolled and student dropouts (indicated in parenthesis) by region UPPER PENINSULA 20 (0) 30 (0) WESTERN LOWER PENINSULA 42 (0) 40 (9) NORTHERN LOWER PENINSULA 36 (0) 50 (1) CENTRAL LOWER PENINSULA 121 (0) 222 (17) EASTERN LOWER PENINSULA 180 (0) 331 (119) *Enrolled as drop out numbers were calculated using data generated from the October 2011 Student Count Day provided by Michigan Connections Academy. 7

Student Performance Data Data collected and used in the following graph is generated using school data provided by Connections Education Corporate Office. Average Daily Attendance 91% 82% Diplomas Issued or Predicted to be Issued 1 13 Graduation Rate Dropout Rate 50% 59% 8 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Student Academic achievement and Growth Student achievement measures student performance against set standards. The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) and the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) identify students who score a one or two as proficient. The following charts indicate the percentage of students that scored proficient in grades 3-9 on the MEAP and MME during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic year. The 2011-2012 graphs shows proficiency levels for all students. MEAP Reading Grade 3 Grade 4 75% 63.2% 64.4% 62% 71.1% 63.5% 82.2% 68% Grade 5 Grade 6 72.2% 65.3% 77.7% 69% 75.7% 63.2% 83.3% 67% Grade 7 Grade 8 73.1% 55.6% 59.6% 60% 65.6% 56% 56.9% 61% 9

Student Academic achievement and Growth MEAP Math Grade 3 Grade 4 44% 34.9% 42.2% 36% 23.7% 39.6% 37.8% 40% Grade 5 Grade 6 38.5% 33.3% 40% 36.2% 37% 13.9% 18.9% 19.4% Grade 7 Grade 8 34.6% 35.9% 36.2% 37% 18.8% 28.9% 7.8% 29% 10 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Student Academic achievement and Growth MEAP Science Grade 5 Grade 8 8.3% 17.4% 18.5% 15% 12.5% 14.9% 16% Social Studies Grade 6 21.6% 28.1% 21.4% 28% Grade 9 - Grade 9 - FAM 34.7% 33.2% 32% 29% 29% 10% 11

Student Academic achievement and Growth MME Reading Grade 11 - Grade 11 - FAM 52.7% 67% 56% 56% 37.5% MME Math Grade 11 - Grade 11 - FAM 12.5% 27.3% 33% 29% 29% 12 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Full Academic Year Students and Non-Full Academic Year Students The following charts demonstrate the performance of Full Academic Year students (FAY) compared to the students enrolled during 2011-2012 academic year (Non-FAY). Michigan Connections Academy MEAP Reading Proficiency 2011-2012 Grade 3 71.4% 61.3% FAY Students Non-FAY Grade 4 81.5% 83.3% Grade 5 Grade 6 86.7% 81.6% 68.8% FAY Students 75.0% Non-FAY Grade 7 Grade 8 67.6% 60% 58.3% FAY Students Non-FAY 35.3% 13

Full Academic Year Students and Non-Full Academic Year Students Michigan Connections Academy MEAP Math Proficiency 2011-2012 Grade 3 Grade 4 64.3% 32.3% FAY Students 37.0% 38.9% Non-FAY Grade 5 Grade 6 37.5% 31.6% 33.3% FAY Students Non-FAY 13.3% Grade 7 Grade 8 41.7% 34.3% FAY Students Non-FAY 11.8% 0% 14 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Full Academic Year Students and Non-Full Academic Year Students Michigan Connections Academy MEAP Social Studies Proficiency 2011-2012 Grade 6 Grade 9 20% 25% FAY Students Non-FAY 33.3% 28.6% Science Grade 5 Grade 8 18.8% 18.4% FAY Students Non-FAY 5.9% 0% Act Data English Math N/A 19.8% 10.3% FAM of Detroit N/A 18.5% 13.9% Reading Science N/A 22.5% 12.8% FAM of Detroit N/A 19.7% 12.3% FAM Composite 20.3% 12.4% 15

Indicators of Student Growth Measuring student growth estimates how much knowledge students learn over the school year and provides information on school programming and curriculum. This table demonstrates the percentage of students that made or exceeded the expected yearly growth targets in subjects of reading and math. Reading 100 80 82 78 83 68 70 67 60 61 58 56 59 52 57 55 63 40 20 Math 0 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 61 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Grade 72 74 64 74 78 67 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Grade 59 70 *Grades 9-12 were not required to test using GlobalScholar s Performance Series. Baselines were established using 2011-2012 EXPLORE/PLAN test data for grades 9-12. 62 41 63 39 55 GlobalScholar Performance Series is administered in the fall and spring which provides data used to generate a Gains Analysis Report. The report indicates that five out of seven grades increased the percent of students that met or exceeded the expected yearly growth targets in reading. In the subject of math, four grades increased the percent of students meeting growth targets while grade three made no change from the 2010-2011 academic year to the 2011-2012 academic year. 16 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Michigan Connections Academy Revenue and Expense Statement 2010-2011 FINAL BUDGET AUDITED ACTUAL DIFFERENCE Revenues 10-100 Local Sources 0 0 0 10-300 State Sources $2,970,400 $2,959,568 ($10,832) 10-400 Federal Sources $259,333 0 $(259,333) 10-500 Other Sources 0 0 0 Total Revenues & Other Sources $3,229,733 $2,959,568 ($270,165) EXPENDITURES 11-100 Instruction 11-110 Basic Programs $1,616,499 $1,650,572 $34,073 11-120 Added Needs $50,400 $75,506 $25,106 11-130 Adult Education N/A N/A N/A Total Instruction $1,666,899 $1,726,078 $59,179 11-200 Supporting Services 11-210 Pupil Services 0 $34,667 $34,667 11-220 Instructional Staff $89,388 $183,819 $94,431 11-230 General Administration $87,600 $6,415 $81,185 11-240 School Administration $501,812 $364,564 $137,248 11-250 Business Services $441,718 $405,207 $36,511 11-260 Operation of Plant $79,500 $53,040 $26,460 11-270 Pupil Transportation N/A N/A N/A 11-280 Central Staff/Services $87,500 $92,704 $5,204 11-290 Other Supporting Services 0 0 0 Total Supporting Services $1,287,518 $1,140,416 $415,706 11-300 Community Services 0 0 0 11-400 Capital Outlay $77,585 $66,645 $10,940 11-511 Debt Principal and Interest 0 $10,940 0 11-600 Other Uses-Interfund Transfers 0 0 0 Total Expenditures & Other Uses $3,032,002 $2,944,079 $98,863 Fund Balance $15,489 17

Michigan Connections Academy Revenue and Expense Statement Budget VS Actual June 30, 2012 During their regularly scheduled meetings, the school s Board reviews the results of its monthly financial statements. All variances from Budget are reviewed and addressed by the Board via a reforecast of projected year end results that are presented at each meeting. FINAL BUDGET UnAUDITED ACTUAL DIFFERENCE Revenues 10-100 Local Sources 0 0 10-300 State Sources $7,559,826 $5,120,284 $(2,439,542) 10-400 Federal Sources $730,003 $357,951 $(372,051) 10-500 Other Sources $36,808 $371,950 $355,142* Total Revenues & Other Sources $8,326,637 $5,850,185 $(2,476,451) EXPENDITURES 11-100 Instruction 11-110 Basic Programs $3,950,530 $3,225,425 $725,104 11-120 Added Needs $71,429 $93,249 $(21,820) 11-130 Adult Education 0 0 0 Total Instruction $4,021,959 $3,318,674 $703,284 11-200 Supporting Services 11-210 Pupil Services 0 0 0 11-220 Instructional Staff $214,136 $182,546 $31,590 11-230 General Administration $226,493 $156,498 $69,995 11-240 School Administration $899,720 $717,628 $182,092 11-250 Business Services $2,660,965 $1,466,094 $1,194,871 11-260 Operation of Plant $62,535 $56,664 $5,872 11-270 Pupil Transportation 0 0 0 11-280 Central Staff/Services $229,650 $154,533 $75,117 11-290 Other Supporting Services 0 0 0 Total Supporting Services $4,293,499 $2,733,963 $1,559,537 11-300 Community Services 11-400 Capital Outlay n/a $57,140 $57,140 11-511 Debt Principal and Interest n/a n/a n/a 11-600 Other Uses-Interfund Transfers n/a n/a n/a Total Expenditures & Other Uses $8,315,458 $6,109,777 $2,205,681 Excess Revenue (expenditures) $11,179 $(259,591) $270,771 Fund Balance July 1, 2011 $10,729 *Included in Other Financing Sources as of June 30, 2012 is a $367,000 contribution from the management company (Connections Academy of Michigan, LLC) 18 Ferris State University Charter Schools Office

Cyber School Expenses Data for this report were generated by Connections Education Corporate Headquarters in Maryland using school data. Year 1-2011 Year 2-2012 Total Instructional Costs Personnel Costs $579,602 $1,049,583 Supplies & Materials $1,021,950 $1,935,623 Purchased Services $285,009 $1,187,056 TOTAL $1,886,561 $4,172,262 Average Instructional Cost/Students $4,866 $6,560 Average Personnel Cost/Students $1,495 $1,650 Average Supplies & Materials Cost/Student $2,636 $3,043 Average Purchased Services Cost/Student $735 $1,866 Total Number of Teachers (FTE) 10 20 Average Teacher Compensation $47,939 $47,399 Average Teacher Salary $37,748 $37,322 Average Teacher Benefits $10,192 $10,077 Average Total Cost/Student $7,421 $9,380* *During Fiscal Year 2012, the School incurred significant additional expenses for the implementation and operation of its FAM Academy of Detroit program (formerly Fusion Academy) and their centers. These additional costs are reflected in the higher average cost per student data presented above. 19