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Schools

Tri-County Educational Center to Let Students Take Classes 'Anywhere'

A new initiative at the alternative education center in Southfield – of which the Berkley School District is a member – will offer online courses starting this fall.

The in Southfield – which serves 15 districts in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties, including the – is hoping its newest program will help more students succeed.

TCEC Anywhere will provide high school courses online with excellent coaching and support available to students, TCEC Dean Mindy Nathan said. The program, which allows students to work off-site, will be offered this fall in addition to the teacher-led high school completion program, online credit recovery offerings and project-based arts program the alternative high school already offers.

“We are going to be able to help kids that, for a variety of reasons, will be unable to come to school and learn on site,” Nathan said. “Attendance issues are the No. 1 reason kids attend alternative education.”

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The TCEC Anywhere program is designed to accommodate students who may have a challenging job, work at night or for whatever reason need to work outside of the school building.

“The key to be able to do this well is there must be support around the online learner,” Nathan said.

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To provide student support within the TCEC Anywhere program, a teacher is assigned to monitor students' progress online daily, a subject specialist will determine if students need extra help and students are invited to attend school for additional instruction.

Additionally, the school will interview students and family members to establish relationships and determine which approach will work best for each individual. It may take a hybrid approach, Nathan said, in which the student comes to school for some online or classroom courses and takes some courses online at home.

School hours run from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays.

“We will be staffed the whole time if they need help,” Nathan said, adding that the extended hours and flexible course times allow teachers more access to each student.

“In a way,” she said, “(the TCEC Anywhere program) really frees up teachers to help each individual student.”

Another big advantage to the program is that it's self-paced, Nathan said. Some kids may take on a huge course load to catch up, and other kids may need to take one class at a time.

“What's nice about it is that it allows kids to work at their own level,” she said.

On April 27, Gov. Rick Snyder called on the Michigan Legislature to put in place an Any Time, Any Place, Any Way, Any Pace education program that would replace seat-time as a primary measure of school effectiveness. In anticipation of the changing rule, Superintendent Michael Flanagan has streamlined the seat-time waiver process and opened it to every local school district and public school academy in Michigan for the 2011-2012 school year.

“I think this is where education is heading,” Nathan said. “We're trying to meet a lot of different needs and help kids find success.”

Students can call the school's office at 248-423-5071 for more information. TCEC will send out information packets about the TCEC Anywhere program and is setting up appointments now for all programs. TCEC will be enrolling students for fall 2011 starting in August. Sign up now for an enrollment packet.

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