LANSING, Mich. (Map) - LANSING, Mich., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) today announced that they are accepting applications for a limited number of secondary public charter schools across Michigan. BMCC's focus includes targeting the needs of urban, minority, and/or economically disadvantaged secondary school aged children.

A recent study comparing high school graduation rates in urban and suburban school areas found that high school graduation rates were 15% lower in the urban areas and the graduation rates of racial and ethnic minorities and males were significantly lower among certain student populations.(1) In addition, dropout rates are dangerously high in urban areas in Michigan.(2) BMCC's goal is to provide students who are struggling with the current school system a thoughtful, caring, safe and nurturing environment.

"The dropout problem in urban areas of Michigan is a serious issue in need of a solution," said BMCC Charter School Director, Patrick Shannon. "The goal of Bay Mills Community College is to focus our efforts on providing opportunities for secondary public charter schools where they are needed the most."

BMCC is interested in applicants with management plans that incorporate a challenging secondary school curriculum while promoting retention and successful high school graduation. Consideration will be given to schools that document a successful history of public education delivery in a public charter school environment. The applicants must also demonstrate the ability to open the public school academy commencing no later than the 2009-10 school years.

To apply, applicants are asked to log on to the BMCC website at http://www.bmcc.edu and follow the given instructions. Applications will not be accepted via e-mail, but are accepted by the BMCC Charter School Office beginning Friday May 2, 2008 until 12:00 noon on Friday, May 23, 2008.

Chartered by the Bay Mills Indian Community in 1984 to serve the postsecondary educational needs of Native Americans throughout Michigan, BMCC is the only federally recognized Tribal College in the country to charter public schools.

Since 2000, BMCC has authorized 37 charter schools across the state of Michigan and serves more than 15,000 students. BMCC has targeted alternative type schooling in its most recent application process in an attempt to address the State's low graduate rate among minority students and court placed juveniles. The vision of BMCC is centered on providing a quality education for urban, minority and/or underprivileged children.

(1) Swanson, Christopher, B. (2008). Cities in Crisis: A special analytic report on high school graduation. Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. (2) Center for Educational Performance & Information: 2005-2006 Michigan Graduation/Dropout Rates. Retrieved on April 30, 2008 from www.michigan.gov/documents/cepi/GradDropLegReport_0506_219277_7.pdf - 2007-12-20.

SOURCE Bay Mills Community College