Charter public schools across the nation are encouraged to join the National School Choice Week 2025 celebration from January 26 - February 1.

It's the perfect time to put the spotlight on your school community and show off all the incredible ways you help kids and families thrive!

Chandler Woods Charter Academy was the top-ranked charter elementary school in Michigan in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Rankings. The K-8 school in Belmont also placed #24 overall in the ranking of all elementary schools in the state.

Four other GVSU-authorized charter schools also ranked in the top-10 for charter elementary schools.

The GVSU CSO is excited to once again sponsor up to 50 educators from GVSU charter schools to attend the 2025 Black Boys & Men National Symposium.

The Symposium will be held June 11-13 in Grand Rapids. It seeks to bring people together to understand, interrogate, deconstruct, and rebuild the systems that impact the lives of Black boys and men.

The sponsorship will cover conference registration fees only ($500 value). Interested educators must apply for sponsorship by 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2025. 

K-8 districts have until December 16 to apply for benchmark assessment funding from the state. Districts can apply for this funding if they administer Curriculum Associates i-Ready, NWEA Map, or Renaissance Star benchmark assessments to students in any grade K-8.

Details for funding criteria can be found on page 15 of the Benchmark Assessment FAQ sheet. Schools can also contact GVSU School Support Specialist Jeff Maxwell with additional questions. 

Pursue your graduate education degree or a variety of certifications with help from the GVSU CSO's Continuing Education Scholarship. Educators working in GVSU-authorized charter schools can earn a 50% or 80% tuition discount, depending on eligibility.

Apply by December 13 to use the scholarship toward courses in the Winter semester!

Looking for a new resource that can support the diverse learning needs of your students? Consider Carl the Collector, which premiered on PBS KIDS on November 14.

Carl the Collector is PBS KIDS' first show with lead characters on the autism spectrum. The show's target age range is 4-8 years old, and is offered in English and Spanish. 

GVSU submitted its annual report on charter school authorization to fulfill requirements contained within Michigan Public Act 120 of 2024, Section 275k. The report provides details on GVSU's charter authorizing practices as well as details on each GVSU charter public school, much of which is already publicly available.

A copy of the report is now available via GVSU's homepage as well as the GVSU CSO's publications page.

Kyle Smitley, the founder and executive director for Detroit Achievement Academy and Detroit Prep, writes about the financial benefits great schools have on their neighborhoods.

Harmony Henry of University Prep Art & Design Elementary was the grand prize winner of the 33rd annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest. Three other students from GVSU charter schools also received honorable mention. 

West Michigan Aviation Academy's Bryan Forney was featured as part of WOOD TV's Veteran Voices coverage for Veteran's Day. 

The Michigan Department of Education recently released memos on a number of topics, including: