By Meg Peters
Review Staff Writer
After a year of being back in the Community Education Resource Building (C.E.R.C.), the Lake Orion Learning Options Program is seeing some exciting changes.
Through a district wide grant titled 31A, Learning Options staff is expanding for 2015.
The alternative education program, which began in the mid-1980s, has been steadily growing, from at one time 50 students to now about 70. With the increasing demand for teachers and support staff, the district can now provide two additional teachers with funding for the next several years.
Learning Options had been based out of the high school for the previous seven years and moved to their own location at the C.E.R.C. building at the beginning of the year. The program uses a unique approach to education, blending traditional classroom instruction with online learning, for the students who thrive in an out-of-the box teaching atmosphere. Although the program is open to all high school students, only sophomores, juniors and seniors are currently enrolled. The curriculum is the same curriculum follows at the high school, adhering to the Michigan Merit curriculum
Like many high school students across the state, statewide assessments like the A.C.T. have indicated that Learning Options students need extra help in math and reading, Drew Towlerton, the coordinator for educational opportunities, said.
‘The goal of the additional staff is to work with the teachers and work with administration to figure out more individualized instruction where the kids need extra help, especially for math and reading,? he said. ‘Being back we are really trying to expand and not just say hey, it’s great you are getting your diploma, but we’re getting you ready for what comes next.?
The grant will allow the alternative education staff to hire two additional support members for both math and reading for classroom instruction and possibly after school programs.
Currently four on-site teachers instruct about 70 students. Class size varies between 15 and 20 students, however, because many of the students attend Oakland Schools Technical Campus, an outside vocational school available to students.
‘The district has been very supportive of us,? Towlerton said who is in his ninth year with the Learning Options Program. ‘With our numbers we are really able to focus on an individual plan for each of the kids and tweak and go on the fly as needed to help them succeed.?
In the past year the Learning Options curriculum has introduced more college preparation activities, including on site field trips to Baker College and Oakland Community College, has incorporated guest speakers into classroom work, and has focused on financial aid practices.
The additional staff should time perfectly with the next enrollment period for Learning Options, at the start of the second semester.
Typically between 10 and 15 spaces open up at the new semester after students graduate or move on to other educational opportunities.
Learning Options invites any interested students and families to attend an open house on January 7 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to learn about the program. The open house will be held at the C.E.R.C. building, with an informational meeting both at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and all staff on hand to answer any questions. Applications will also be available to fill out on spot for the open positions.
‘Especially in the last couple years the focus has really been put on this program and our kids to really help us grow and increase student success and achievement,? Towlerton said. ‘It’s an exciting time for us.?