GVSU Division of K-12 Education Innovation and Scholar Success

09/08/2026

Congratulations to our Vanderbilt Charter Academy scholars and staff on this well-earned recognition from The 74!

Named a national reading Bright Spot, Vanderbilt Charter Academy proves that poverty doesn't have to predict literacy outcomes in Michigan.

09/01/2026

Fall 2026 is in full swing at Grand Valley State University. This weekend, we welcomed more than 350 Thompson & Charter Scholars to campus for orientation. Can't wait to see all they accomplish this year! ⚓💙

08/21/2026

Through Ignite the Classroom, made possible by our partnership with Huntington National Bank, teachers from across our charter school network spent time learning, connecting, and finding new inspiration to bring back to their classrooms.

Read more about their experience at the Ron Clark Academy and the ideas they’re bringing back to their schools and students.

K-12 educators from Grand Valley-authorized charter public schools spent two days at the Ron Clark Academy, exploring new approaches to student engagement, leadership and school culture.

08/12/2026

More than 100 school leaders and members of their leadership teams from across the Grand Valley State University authorized charter school network came together in Detroit for the launch of our 2026–27 Leadership Forum.

Together, leaders explored ways to build trust, strengthen team capacity, communicate with purpose, create sustainable systems, and use emerging tools like generative AI while keeping people and relationships at the center of the work.

From meaningful conversations to practical ideas leaders can take back to their schools, the day was filled with connection, collaboration, and a shared commitment to leading stronger schools.

We are grateful to the leaders and teams who joined us and continue to invest in their own growth and in the students, staff, families, and communities they serve. ⚓

08/07/2026

This week, we were proud to welcome and host members of the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA) and their teams from across the state for the MCCSA Membership Meeting at Grand Valley State University.

The gathering brought together leaders and teams for a day of learning, collaboration, and conversation around the work that supports strong authorizing and successful charter schools across Michigan.

Thank you to MCCSA for bringing this group together and to all of the presenters, facilitators, and participants who contributed to a meaningful day of connection and collaboration.

07/31/2026

There's still time to apply for the Fall 2026 Continuing Education Scholarship, but the deadline is just one week away.

Learn more and apply: gvsu.edu/deiss/continue

07/28/2026

Detroit Prep 8th graders gave their school a graduation gift that will outlast their time there: a brand-new logo, designed by them.

Congratulations to the Detroit Prep team on this Impact 30 grant-funded project. 💙

07/28/2026

This week, educators from several of our authorized charter schools had the opportunity to attend the Ron Clark Academy Experience in Atlanta through Ignite the Classroom, made possible by our partnership with Huntington Bank.

We were proud to partner with Huntington Bank to bring this incredible professional learning opportunity to our teachers. Throughout the experience, they discovered innovative teaching strategies, built new connections, and gathered fresh ideas to create even more engaging and impactful learning experiences for their students.

Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing more highlights and reflections from our teachers’ experience! 💙⚓

07/24/2026

Welcome to the family, Greater Heights Academy

We had the pleasure of onboarding the school’s leadership team this week as they prep for their 1st year as a GVSU-authorized charter public school ⚓️🤝

07/22/2026

A blank greenspace, transformed into a classroom ready to serve more than 500 students all sparked by one eighth grader's idea, carried forward by his classmates.

We are proud to have helped fund Brandon's Courtyard through Impact 30, our initiative marking 30 years of partnership with charter public schools by investing in student-centered ideas like this one.

Congratulations to this graduating class on a gift the whole community will enjoy for years to come. 💙