2021 - 2022 ECA Enrollment Packet

Early College Alliance ^(sm)

The Early College Alliance (ECA) is a unique educational program designed to fully immerse high school-aged students into the post-secondary learning environment. The ECA expects high achievement and realistic planning from all students. ECA students finish high school with a combination of their prior high school classes (if applicable), ECA high school classes, and Eastern Michigan University coursework. Beginning in their 10th or 11th grade year, and upon successfully demonstrating the academic and “soft skills” necessary to succeed in college, ECA students have the opportunity to earn up to 60 EMU credits—the tuition and books paid for by the program.

Successful ECA students must be willing to take responsibility for their own effort, education, and behavior. There are no bells, hall monitors, or daily announcements to keep them on track. At both the Early College Alliance and Eastern Michigan University there are many requirements and deadlines for students to meet and for which to be responsible for. Students are expected to learn how to make smart, sound choices that benefit their learning and success in life. Students learn how to monitor their own educational progress, advocate for their own learning needs, and successfully negotiate their way through the post-secondary environment.

Early College Alliance Academy

The Early College Alliance Academy (ECA2 or Academy) is a 9th grade program designed to prepare students for the rigors of the Early College Alliance (ECA). The Academy expects developmentally appropriate, high achievement of both academic and soft skills from all students. ECA Academy students will generally be restricted from enrolling in university courses during their 9th grade year and will move as a single cohort through the 9th grade experience. ECA Academy students will begin the process of developing the skills needed to successfully transition into the standard ECA program in their 10th grade year, where they will continue as indicated in their individualized Educational Development Plans.

Successful Academy students will learn to take responsibility for their own effort, education, and behavior. There are no bells, hall monitors, or daily intercom announcements to keep them on track. Students are expected to learn how to make smart, sound choices that benefit their learning and success in life, and are taught the tools and skills needed to succeed in self-monitoring.

The ECA Way: Mission, Vision, Values

At the ECA, we emphasize access to college for all, recognizing the special role of the early college reform movement in facilitating this access for all students—particularly those traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

Our program is built on the principles of innovation, critical and reflective practice, & high expectations for students and staff alike.

Key features of the ECA include the direct teaching and learning of soft skills, mastery learning, flexible programming, choice theory, and strong partnerships with our districts and Eastern Michigan University.

VISION: The vision of the ECA is to bridge the gap between high school and college, enhancing life outcomes while fostering a democratic society.

MISSION: The mission of the ECA is to empower high school students from diverse backgrounds to earn up to 60 university credits towards a Bachelor's Degree.

VALUES: The values of the ECA are Social Justice, Strong & Supportive Relationships, Diversity, Growth Mindset, & Individualized Pathways.

ECA Admission & Lottery

If the number of eligible enrollees for any district during the Enrollment window exceeds the number of available openings, a lottery will be conducted to determine the 2021 Fall cohort for that district. The lottery will be conducted in accordance with the enrollment policies and procedures as developed and approved by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium Joint Steering Committee (WEOC JSC). Letters will be sent to all applicants notifying them of their status.

Students who submit an Enrollment Packet after the initial lottery will be processed according to their identified ECA District’s availability.

Please note: All students/applicants selected in the initial lottery are provisionally accepted into the ECA program. Final acceptance/approval is granted by Eastern Michigan University and the student’s ECA District’s Administration upon receipt of all required registration documents.

Students who are not initially accepted into the ECA District of their choice have the option to participate in the ECA School of Choice Pool. Participation in the ECA School of Choice Pool can potentially maximize the probability of acceptance. By completing this form you acknowledge that the student is willing to enroll through a district that participates in the School of Choice Pool (Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Whitmore Lake, and Ypsilanti) that has available openings.

Students who apply to the ECA through the School of Choice option as a new student into one of the ECA districts are subject to final approval from the district’s superintendent. All required registration documents must be submitted directly to the ECA during the district’s School of Choice window.

The number of available slots for each ECA district is determined by the policies set forth by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium Joint Steering Committee. For purposes of the initial lottery, 30% of a district’s initial available slot allocations are reserved for applicants who receive or are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Eligibility verification will be required.

The number of slots listed below for each district is an approximation and is subject to change by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium Joint Steering Committee (WEOC JSC) without notice.

If a district does not use all of its available slots the remaining slots can be re-apportioned to the other districts.

Eighth and Ninth grade applicants on the waitlist for the 20-21 enrollment cycle will be given first preference for the 2021 Fall cohort.

Who is Eligible to Apply to the ECA?

To be eligible to enroll in the ECA in the 2021-2022 academic year you must meet the following criteria:
- Students who, as of November 2020, are 8th, 9th, or 10th grade high school students – Home School, Parochial, Private or Charter School students are also eligible.
- Students must be residents of the State of Michigan.
- Students must be at least thirteen (13) years of age by August 31, 2021.
- You cannot be in the United States under a J-1 Visa.
If you have questions regarding your student’s eligibility please contact the ECA at (734) 487-4290.

Early College Alliance

Application for the 2021-2022 school year

Thank you for your interest in our program!

Our application involves several steps:

Step 1 - Complete this online application, which includes the EMU Application for ECA Enrollment. The EMU Application for ECA Enrollment requires that the form is signed and the signed copy must be uploaded.

Step 2 - Complete and submit the Enrollment Essay (detailed instructions are included in the link).

Step 3 - Submit all student support documents. You must include the student's completed Enrollment Essay, a copy of the student's current 2020-2021 grades, a completed Affirmation of Prior Discipline form from the student's current school, and a copy of the student's IEP/504 (if applicable).

Required Documents for this Online Application:
- Completed student Enrollment Essay
- A PDF or JPEG of the student's current 2020-2021 progress report, report card, or PowerSchool print off. Do not attach website links, as we are not able to view them.
- A PDF or JPEG of the student's completed Affirmation of Prior Discipline Form
- A PDF or JPEG of the student's current IEP/504 (if applicable).
Any application received/completed after February 12th, will be added to our waitlist.

Part I: EMU Application for ECA Enrollment

Eastern Michigan University requires a separate application so that future ECA students can become officially dual-enrolled at EMU.

Navigate to this PDF document: EMU Application for ECA Enrollment. You can type in the print boxes, but BOTH student and parent/guardian must also provide an actual signature. Do this by:
- Printing and signing by hand OR
- Use an online pdf editor such as Adobe Acrobat or Xodo.com to provide your signature
Upload the SIGNED COPY of the EMU Application for ECA Enrollment here. *

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Part II: Early College Alliance Enrollment Information
Student Information
Student's Name *

First Name Middle Name Last Name
2020-2021 Grade Level: *
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy): *
mm/dd/yyyy
Gender *

Female Male Non-Binary
Home Address *

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State / Province

Postal / Zip Code Country

Sibling Information:

Siblings are given priority when applying to the ECA (per State Law). Please make sure to list your information accurately, as siblings will be verified.
Do you have a sibling(s) who currently attend the ECA or ECA Academy? *

Yes No
Please enter the first & last name of sibling(s) & grade level. *
This information will be verified using our PowerSchool system.
Did you have a sibling(s) who graduated from ECA? (Please note: Sibling priority is not granted for graduates; however, this information may be used to assign CORE Advisors). *

Yes No
Please enter the first & last name of sibling(s) & year the student graduated: *
Do you have a sibling(s) that is applying for the 2021-2022 school year as well? *

Yes No
If yes, please list first & last name of sibling(s) & grade level they are applying for: *

Parent/Legal Guardian Information:
Parent/Guardian 1 Name *

First Name Last Name
Relation to Student *
Parent/Guardian 1 Phone *

Area Code Phone Number
Parent/Guardian 1 Email *
example@example.com - This email will be used for all communication. Please make sure it's accurate before submitting.
Optional: Parent/Guardian 2 Name

First Name Last Name
Optional: Relation to Student
Optional: Parent/Guardian 2 Number

Area Code Phone Number
Optional: Parent/Guardian 2 Email
example@example.com - This email will be used for all communication. Please make sure it's accurate before submitting.

Current School Information:
1. Name of School Currently Enrolled in: *
a. If Other, Name of School: *
Please list full name, not initials of School
Is this school one of the ECA's partner school district's schools? (Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Van Buren, Whitmore Lake, Ypsilanti) *

Yes No
2. What school district does the student live in? *
The school district in which you (or your landlord) pay property taxes
a. If Other, please list the school district: *
Is the school district the student lives in (resides in) one of the ECA's partner school districts? (Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Van Buren, Whitmore Lake, Ypsilanti) *

Yes No
If your responses to question 1 and question 2 are not ECA Districts you will need to choose an ECA District to enroll in (Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Whitmore Lake, Van Buren, Ypsilanti Community Schools). NOTE: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, and Saline School Districts do not participate in the School of Choice Program. Your official ECA District is Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, or Saline ONLY if you currently attend or reside in the Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, and Saline Districts.
3. What is the ECA District the student will enroll through to attend the ECA? *
*This is the district that will issue your student's ECA diploma, and host any extracurricular activities.
ECA School of Choice Pool

Students who are not initially accepted into the ECA District of their choice have the option to participate in the ECA School of Choice Pool. Participation in the ECA School of Choice Pool can potentially maximize the probability of acceptance. By clicking "Yes" below you acknowledge that the student is willing to enroll through a district that participates in the School of Choice Pool (Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Whitmore Lake, and Ypsilanti) that has available openings and will remain a member of that district for the 2021-2022 school year.
Does the student and family elect to participate in the School of Choice Pool option? *

Yes No
NEW REQUIREMENT: If you currently attend a Private, Charter, Online, Homeschool or have previously School of Choice'd into a district and are going back to a local home district, you may be asked, after the lottery has been conducted, to also register your student with their local district high school.

Without the student being registered with their local high school, the student will be unable to attend the ECA and thus can be dropped and their spot offered to the next student on the waitlist.
I understand and agree to register my student with my local High School District or SOC District & complete the ECA enrollment and registration process by the published deadlines. Enter "N/A" if Not Applicable. *
Name or Initials

Student & Family Demographic Information:
The information requested below assists ECA in a variety of ways including but not limited to data analysis, marketing and funding. The information that you provide will be kept in confidence and considered part of your student’s record and therefore not subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
How did you hear about us? *
Are you applying to other high schools or programs as well? *

Yes No
If Yes, what other schools/programs have you applied to:
Technology Resources:

All ECA students are required to have a device, such as a Chromebook or laptop to use every day, both at school and at home. ECA students have the option of bringing their own personal device (not cell phones) or checking out a school Chromebook. Please select from the options below which you anticipate your student will be using, so that we can prepare accordingly.
Student will: *

Use Personal Device - not a cell phone Check out a School Chromebook

Part III: Documents Required

Please make sure you are submitting a copy of the student's completed enrollment essay, a copy of the student's most recent progress report, most recent report card, or transcript along with a school completed Affirmation of Prior Discipline form in the appropriate sections below.
Upload student's enrollment essay. (Link to the essay instructions is at the top of the application) *

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doc(x), PDF or JPEG Only. Cancel of
Upload a PDF or JPEG copy of the student's MOST RECENT 2020-2021 progress report, report card, PowerSchool print off (NOT website link) OR transcript. Home school students- please attach a document listing the subjects they are currently covering and the topics/units covered in each subject. An updated version will be required for credit tabulation purposes prior to the start of the school year. *

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PDF or JPEG only of the student's 2020-2021 progress report, report card, Powerschool print off or transcript. Cancel of
Upload COMPLETED Affirmation of Prior Discipline Form. (Link to form is at the top of the this application) *

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PDF or JPEG only. Cancel of
Upload a PDF or JPEG of the student's current IEP/504, (if applicable)

Browse Files
PDF or JPEG only. Document(s) must include the name, phone number and e-mail address of teacher consultant/support provider from your current district. Cancel of
Applications received by Friday, February 12, 2020, will be entered into the initial enrollment lottery. Applications will continue to be accepted for any remaining available enrollment slots, based on district slot availability.
Please click the SUBMIT button below to apply.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Jackson at jackson@earlycollegealliance.info.

Thank you for your application!
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Part I: EMU Application for ECA Enrollment

Part II: Early College Alliance Enrollment Information

Student Information

Sibling Information:

Parent/Legal Guardian Information:

Current School Information:

Other Student Information

Special Education Services

Home Language Information

Free or Reduced Lunch Information

Student & Family Demographic Information:

Technology Resources: