HANCOCK — With the new school year scheduled to begin in just over four weeks, local school districts are still uncertain as to what extent a new charter school will impact them.

The charter school, calling itself the Copper Island Academy, began forming in August 2020, when, it stated, “many families in the local community expressed interest in revisiting the frequently mentioned idea of opening a charter school in the local community. With a desire to improve education opportunities for their children and grandchildren, many community members met to discuss the viability of a charter school,” according to the school’s website.

Hancock schools Superintendent Steve Patchin said that while all school districts will be impacted by the new charter school, it is not yet known to what degree, which will be determined by the charter school’s final enrollment.

“They’re just sending out records requests now,” he said. “It would have helped if they’d started that a couple of weeks ago, so we could have a count now,” he said.

The state increased the amount per student in the classroom to $8,700 in July, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on a $17.1 billion K-12 budget on July 13, which raised per-student funding by $589 in most school districts across the state.

Patchin said the numbers provided by the local rumor mill estimate the charter school has accepted approximately 300 students.

“If that number is accurate,” he said, “well, $8,700 times 300 students equals — a lot of money.”

It amounts to approximately $2,610,000 to be precise, which is, as Patchin said, a very significant amount of revenue removed from school budgets of the other area schools.

According to its website, the Copper Island Academy’s educational services adopt many highly effective components of the Finnish model, adding: “We will also emphasize and embrace our American roots, heritage, and values.”

The official name of the educational model, according to the Council for Creative Education, Finland, is the Finland Education Model. Among its hallmarks are:

– Classrooms are typically described as learner-centred. – As the emphasis on student self-assessment.

– Students are expected to take an active role in designing their own learning activities.

– Students are expected to work collaboratively in teams on projects, and there is a substantial focus on projects that cut across the traditional subject or disciplinary lines.

The main objective of Finland Education Model is to offer all students equal opportunities to receive an education.

The focus in education is on learning rather than testing. There are no national tests for pupils in basic education in Finland. Instead, teachers are responsible for assessment in their respective subjects on the basis of the objectives included in the curriculum.

The focus in education is on learning rather than testing, states. There are no national tests for pupils in basic education in Finland. Instead, teachers are responsible for assessment in their respective subjects on the basis of the objectives included in the curriculum.

Charter schools must be authorized by a state university, local community college, intermediate school district, or local school district. They must undergo a rigorous application and review process before they can become authorized. Application details include an assessment of community need, the proposed educational program, facilities and transportation, and more. The Copper Island Academy is authorized by Michigan State University.