Big changes are coming to students in Albion • Albion Michigan

From Michigan Public Radio – an interview on May 24, 2016.
“Big changes are coming to students in Albion. Voters have approved Marshall Public Schools’ annexing of the struggling Albion School District.
Among the changes coming to Albion are greater flexibility in a student’s academic path, including something called the Pre-K to Grade 16 approach.
Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Randy Davis joined us on today’s Stateside to discuss this new plan.”

Listen to the 30 minute interview on Michigan Public Radio by clicking here.

Some quick notes transcribed from the conversation:

Dr. Davis has been with Marshall Public Schools, Marshall Michigan since 2009. This is the 13th year with the middle college concept.

“Pre-K to Grade 16 will serve as a model for other struggling districts.
All students in eastern Calhoun County will have equal access, no matter the context they enter Marshall schools.

We offer pre-school, daycare before and after school, GSRP (Great Start Readiness Program).
Pre-K kindergarten placement, not quite ready to be in kindergarten (Young 5s)
Greater flexibility in a students academic path.
Working since 2010 on better and more varied plans for students that live in our region of eastern Calhoun County.

Build Albion Fellows is attracting more students to go to Albion College.
Changing mindsets across region – students look at their options after 8th grade
Non-traditional high school, Marshall has had this since 2001. There are a number of things that could disenfranchise a student’s learning [and we take these into account].
Introduce them to the world of college, the feeling of a safety net that they could go on. They start to see themselves differently.
Integrated applied arts area, vocational ed, many districts don’t have these.
Participate in our career center and they have their own area of service (in the integrated applied arts).
Early College – Middle College, graduate after 13 years with their Associates degree; have to complete 15 college credit hours as well as high school curriculum; free; some students are going to night classes and graduating even earlier.
One of the first annexations with such dichotomous districts in over 30 years.
Annexation: two combine to create an entirely unique district. Including the school boards.
New relationship with Albion will make Marshall stronger.
Schools of Choice has been affecting all districts, but negatively for rural districts.
Albion Public Schools became 80% children of color. Marshall was about 7-8% children of color. Neither school was diverse. We are better preparing our children for college through more diversity. ”

We will post more links to official information soon. Annexation occurs on July 1, 2016.