Up North Progressive

The Ludington Daily News recently reported on the fate of some of the former students of Journey Junior Senior High School. The alternative school was closed at the end of the 2015 school year due to maintenance of the building not up to code. All of the students relocated to their home districts, and MCC stepped up to provide a classroom for them.

Currently 29 students attend alternative education classes at MCC. Most of the instruction takes place online, with ELA classes taught by classroom teacher Christine Justice. The students have been very successful achieving growth in their studies and the students have a quiet space away from larger classrooms so they can focus on school work.

Alternative education programs are helpful for students who don’t do well in a traditional setting; adolescents who may not be able to attend a traditional high school due to expulsion or behavioral issues. Alternative education gives students another chance to earn their high school diploma and go on to finding a job or education at a college or tech school.

MCC receives funding for the alternative education program from the state, and the success of the first year guarantees the program will continue into future school years. This is very good news, as these students will need somewhere to go and complete their high school education when building tiny houses at Gateway To Success doesn’t help them with the SAT or admission into college.

The new for-profit charter school insists they are not in competition with any of the surrounding school districts, but the reality is they will pull funding away with any students who attend Gateway To Success instead of a real public school. What is the purpose of supporting this for-profit school if local districts like MCC can provide successful alternative education on their own? Gateway To Success is unnecessary competition the region doesn’t need, especially when they can provide successful alternative education for at-risk students.