The Michigan legislature recently increased State School Aid Act Section 25g summer school funding from $750,000 to $3 million, giving school districts more resources to impact at-risk students during the summer months.

Section 23a, a “special membership counting provision” for dropout recovery programs, allows students to receive funding over 12 consecutive months of enrollment. Districts can claim 1/12 of state funding for each month a student is enrolled in a dropout recovery program and receive an additional .25 FTE over the summer months for eligible students.

Hear directly from school counselors at Mason Public Schools and Pellston Public Schools—two dedicated professionals who closely support at-risk students—about their district’s summer programming. Learn how their partnership with Graduation Alliance has benefited their schools and student bodies. Watch the on-demand webinar at any time here.

Michigan school districts, including Mason Public Schools and Pellston Public Schools, use Graduation Alliance’s Dropout Recovery program to enhance their summer school offerings. Summer school includes:

  • 100+ teacher-led, asynchronous courses tailored to diverse student needs
  • Support for academic and life challenges, ensuring student development
  • Essential technology resources, including a laptop, wifi hotspot, and IT support for any student who needs them
  • 24/7 virtual tutoring services to provide around-the-clock assistance
  • No financial obligation for districts — Payment is required only for students who meet the state’s definition of satisfactory academic progress, and as long as districts submit claims, state aid will cover the cost of the program.

As districts finalize their summer school plans, now is the perfect time to explore alternative options that offer flexibility for students and solutions for schools. Partnering with an organization like Graduation Alliance is also a great way to offer courses that districts may not have the personnel to teach during the off season—with over 100 courses to choose from, students have access to any class they need to get back on track to graduation.

“One of the easiest things is that we are not using our facilities and resources throughout the summer. So we can turn it over to Graduation Alliance, and (they) really have taken care of everything from enrollment to the day-to-day to if there’s a technology concern,” Mason Public Schools High School Counselor Kathleen Oaks said. “Everything is handled by Graduation Alliance, which allows us to utilize our resources in other areas and our staff to not be tied up in summer school.”

Learn more about the increase in 25g funding and Graduation Alliance by watching the on-demand webinar here.