• Early College Alliance

    Application for the 2023-2024 school year

    Thank you for your interest in our program!

     

    Our application involves a four step process:

    Step 1 - Complete ECA application

    • ECA Application Must Have:
      • Student's Birth Certificate
      • Student's Complete Immunization Records
      • Parent's Driver's License/State ID
      • Proof of Residency 
      • Student's Current Grades
      • Student's IEP/504 (if applicable)
      • Free/Reduce Certificate (if applicable)
      • Divorce Decree/Separation Agreement/Custody Agreement (if Applicable)
      • Adoption Paperwork (if applicable)
      • Court Documents -ex. Name Changes, PPO, etc. (if applicable)

    Step 2 - Complete & Submit Student Enrollment Essay - Instructions listed on application. 

    Step 3 - Complete & Attach the EMU Application for ECA Enrollment.

    Step 4 - Complete & Submit the Affirmation of Prior Discipline Form - linked in the confirmation email families will receive as soon as their application is submitted. 

    Click the "next" button below to navigate through all pages on the ECA application.

     

    Please contact Crystal Jackson at jackson@earlycollegealliance.info  if you have questions.

     

    Please note: Students will be accepted into the program based on open enrollment slots per district.

  • 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 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 unique 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. 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. 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 direct. 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, and 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 public school 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 of our districts during the Enrollment window exceeds the number of available openings, a lottery will be conducted to determine the 2023 Fall cohort for those districts. 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) with 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 22-23 enrollment cycle will be given first preference for the 2023 Fall cohort.

     

    Who is Eligible to Apply to the ECA?

    To be eligible to enroll in the ECA in the 2023-2024 academic year you must meet the following criteria:

    Students who, as of November 2022, 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, 2023.
    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 office at (734) 487-4290.

  • Enrollment Numbers by District

    The following chart indicates the number of available ECA slots for each participating district for the 2023-2024 school year.

     

  • Step 1: Early College Alliance Enrollment Information

  • Student Information

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  • Parent/Legal Guardian Information:

    In the state of Michigan, a step-parent or guardian is considered a “legal stranger", even when married to a biological parent.  This means that they have no legal claim to the child(ren). The situation changes if a legal adoption takes place or the court has granted guardianship over the student. For this reason, step -parents and non-court ordered guardians can not sign the application or any school forms. All school forms must be signed by the student's legal parent/guardian. Any questions about this, please contact Crystal Jackson at jackson@earlycollegealliance.info.
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  • 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.
  • Current School Information:

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  • As an FYI - Once the ECA application has been submitted, families will receive an email to complete the Affirmation of Prior Discipline Form.  This form is done completely electronically. 

    Please make sure the email address listed for the student's school registrar is correct and accurate.   You can also use a Counselor's or Principal's email address, if a School's Enrollment/Admissions/Registrar is not available. 

    Misinformation or falsified information can lead to a student's application being denied and/or being dropped from ECA. 

    Any questions about this and/or if you would like a paper copy of this form instead, please contact Crystal Jackson at jackson@earlycollegealliance.info

  • School of Choice Information:

  • If your responses to question 1 and question 2 are not ECA Districts, families will need to Complete the School of Choice application linked below and select an ECA School of Choice Approved District to enroll through in order to attend ECA. 

    Your SOC District choices are:

    • Lincoln
    • Manchester
    • Milan
    • Whitmore Lake
    • Ypsilanti
    • Van Buren

    Please be Aware: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter and Saline School Districts do not participate in the School of Choice Program.

  • 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, Van Buren and Ypsilanti) that has available openings and will remain a member of that district for the 2023-2024 school year.

  • 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.

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  • Other Student Information

  • Services for Students with Disabilities

    In order to support all students, including those with special needs, please let us know if your child has the following:
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  • Home Language Information

    In order to support all students, please let us know the following information.
  • Free or Reduced Lunch Information

    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.
  • If “Yes”, upload a copy of the current school year’s certification letter.

    If a certification letter is not available, you will be asked to complete a follow-up eligibility verification form. 

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  • 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.

  • Step 2: Student Essay

    Please make sure you are submitting:

    1. A copy of the student's completed Enrollment Essay. Click here to open the instructions for the Enrollment Essay.

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  • Step 3: EMU Application for ECA Enrollment

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

    All families will need to print this application, sign it and attach it below.  Families are welcome to attach it as a PDF or jpeg file. 

    If you are taking a picture of the application, please make sure the picture is clear and up close so all information is visable and readable. 

     

    Click HERE to complete the EMU Application now. 

     

    Please be aware that Eastern Michigan University requires the parent/guardian physical's signature on the ECA/EMU application and ECA requires this document to be attached to the application before it can be submitted for review. 

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  • REMINDER - Applications received by Friday, February 17, 2023 at midnight, will be entered into the initial enrollment lottery, as long as all required documents have been attached and all forms have been completed.

    Applications will continue to be accepted for any remaining available enrollment slots, based on district slot availability.  

    If you have any questions about any of the 3 steps in the application process, please feel free to contact Crystal Jackson, at jackson@earlycollegealliance.info

     

    Please click the SUBMIT button below to apply.

     

    Thank you for your interest in our program!

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