Great Lakes Learning Academy Selected to Participate in National Alternative Education Association Inaugural Cohort
EAST LANSING, Mich. (April 6, 2022) – Great Lakes Learning Academy (GLLA), an award-winning, tuition-free online public school in Michigan, has been selected by the National Alternative Education Association (NAEA) to participate in its inaugural cohort on Exemplary Practices. GLLA is one of just 18 schools and programs in the United States to meet both the Exemplary Practices and programming indicators, both of which are considered vital to high-quality alternative education.
The NAEA is a volunteer organization dedicated to professional development, best practices and advocacy for alternative learning and teaching. The organization has identified and crafted fifteen evidence-based Exemplary Practices, derived from research and leadership in the alternative education field. The practices represent a national effort to develop a common core of principles. As part of the cohort, GLLA will receive support in the areas of accelerated learning, decelerated learning, building an engaging online curriculum, and more.
“Great Lakes Learning Academy is honored to be a part of this cohort, and to be recognized for our educational excellence,” said GLLA Principal Kelli Marcus. “We are excited to learn as much as we can from the National Alternative Education Association and can’t wait to take those lessons, as well as their support and resources, and use them to support the academic success of our students.”
Alternative schools, programs, and classrooms are structured for students who have not found success in the traditional education setting. Many students who experience a variety of challenges, including learning disabilities, long-term illnesses, emotional or behavioral issues, and bullying, find alternative education to be a better fit. At GLLA, students enrolled in alternative education have flexible hours to access and complete their courses as well as opportunities to pursue classes tailored to their post-secondary goals. GLLA also emphasizes initiatives within their programs to help students and families overcome external barriers they may face, such as limited access to high-quality internet, access to technology, utility shut-off concerns, access to affordable food and nutrition, and parent employment stability.
With the COVID-19 pandemic’s role in learning loss, providing schools with more support and additional resources for alternative education is critical. Students were reported to be behind five months on average in math and four months behind in reading by the end of the 2020-21 school year, according to a recent McKinsey report. The National Alternative Education Association’s inaugural cohort will increase participating schools’ capabilities to support non-traditional students, giving educators another much-needed tool to boost overall student success.
To learn more about Great Lakes Learning Academy and the adult education program, please visit glla.org.
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About Great Lakes Learning Academy
Founded in 2013, Great Lakes Learning Academy is a Michigan-based, tuition free, fully accredited, 100% online alternative to traditional schooling. Certified by Central Michigan University and accredited by Cognia, the school features an award-winning curriculum from StrongMind, exceptional teachers, individual attention, opportunities for socialization, and parent-supported learning. The school serves over 1,000 students across the state of Michigan. Great Lakes Learning Academy is committed to improving education everywhere, but especially in the lives of its students. For more information on accreditation, curriculum or how to enroll your child, please visit https://glla.org/.
