January 30, 2025

Dear Parents and Community Members:

We are pleased to present you with the Annual Education Report (AER), which provides key information on the 2023-24 educational progress for Brandywine Innovation Academy. The AER addresses the complex reporting information required by federal and state laws. The school’s report contains information about student assessment, accountability, and teacher quality. If you have any questions about the AER, please contact Elise Sorensen for assistance.

The AER is available for you to review electronically by visiting the following website https://www.mischooldata.org/annual-education-report-2/ or you may review a copy in the main office at your child’s school.

For the 2024-25 school year, schools were identified based on previous years’ performance using definitions and labels as required in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). A Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) school is one that had at least one underperforming student subgroup in 2023-24. An Additional Targeted Support (ATS) school is one that had a student subgroup performing at the same level as the lowest 5% of all schools in the state in 2021-22. A Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) school is one whose performance was in the lowest 5% of all schools in the state, had a graduation rate at or below 67%, or failed to exit ATS status in 2021-22. Some schools are not identified with any of these labels. In these cases, no label is given.

Brandywine Innovation Academy was not identified as needing any additional support; therefore, it was not given one of these labels.

Brandywine Innovation Academy provides education to students who have not been successful in the traditional school setting. It provides one-on-one assistance, using certified staff and curriculum that matches the needs of the students. We utilize online coursework through Edmentum to provide curriculum that matches state requirements. Students in our program complete all state-required testing, as well as pre-and post-testing that is administered using Edmentum. Students have the option to either work on their coursework in the classroom during school hours or at home, but must participate in at least one 2-way communication with a certified teacher for attendance as well as complete work on a weekly basis.

State law requires that we also report additional information:

Process for Assigning Pupils to the School:

Parents/guardians can voluntarily enroll their students, students who are behind on credits at our high school can be assigned to our program, or students who are the age of majority can enroll themselves. Students must meet with the principal and then participate in an orientation before starting instruction.

The status of the 3-5 Year School Improvement Plan:

The school and district are in year three of a five-year strategic plan. Our MICIP plan, formerly known as a school or district improvement plan, centers around the goal of implementing comprehensive DK-12 multi-tiered systems of support (M.T.S.S.) for behavior and academics. Over the course of the last 2 to 3 years, we have added behavior interventionists, a school social worker, implemented a behavioral universal screener, and intensified academic intervention with the use of IXL for targeted intervention lessons, while collecting benchmarking and progress monitoring data.

In all areas where the Michigan Department of Education has developed state standards, our core instruction aligns with those standards. Core materials can be requested for review by contacting the building principal who will work in conjunction with the classroom teacher and Assistant Superintendent of Instruction.

Description of Specialized Schools:

Specialized schools throughout the county provide educational alternatives and opportunities for handicapped students as well as meeting their needs. These programs are an integral part of the continuum of educational services available to special students in Berrien County. Following is a brief description of the specialized schools that serve Brandywine Community School District students:

Blossomland Learning Center

Berrien Regional Educational Service Agency

Berrien Springs, Michigan

The purpose of Blossomland Learning Center is to provide services to students who have been diagnosed as moderate to severe cognitive impairment up to age 26 who reside within the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency. The school assists students in preparing for entry into their respective communities.

Lighthouse Education Center

Berrien Regional Educational Service Agency

St. Joseph, Michigan

Lighthouse Education Center program is operated as a therapeutic and educational program for students diagnosed with severe emotional impairment up to age 26 who reside within the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency. These students exhibit a severity of emotional difficulties which prohibit them from regular attendance within the resident district. The program’s goal is eventual re-integration into the resident district's educational system.

Hearing Impaired Program

Berrien Springs Public Schools

Berrien Springs, Michigan

The Berrien County Hearing Impaired Program provides educational services for hearing-impaired students from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, which includes children from preschool age through 26 years. This program is operated by the Berrien Springs Public Schools and is funded by the Berrien Regional Education Service Agency. In addition to classroom and teacher consultant services, the program also serves as a diagnostic center and employs an audiologist to assess the severity and type of hearing loss. Some students, when determined educationally appropriate by an Individualized

Educational Planning Committee, are educated in their resident district with the support of a teacher consultant provided by the Hearing Impaired Program.

Southside School

Niles Community Schools

Niles, Michigan

Niles Community Schools operates center-based programs for low-incidence special education students needing a full-time placement. The program for the Severely Emotionally Impaired (SEI) includes students with severe emotional or behavioral problems. These students receive a very strict, highly structured program designed to change inappropriate behavior patterns and allow learning

to take place. Expectations for performance are high with the goal of successful readmission to their former school. Classroom programs serve students ages 10 through 26.

Students in the PreVocational program have below-average ability levels, making success in their local high schools extremely difficult. Often their low ability is compounded by a weak self-concept and inadequate social skills. Once at Southside a few may pursue a Certificate of Completion, but most will follow a curriculum designed to promote independent living. Classrooms are available to serve ages 16 through 26.

Identify how to Access a Copy of the Core Curriculum, a Description of its Implementation, and an Explanation of the Variances from the State’s Model: Brandywine Community Schools follows a curriculum based on state and national standards that defines educational outcomes to be achieved by all students. This is reflected in the district’s educational mission and consists of power standards selected with input and expertise of instructional staff. As mandated by the State of Michigan, Brandywine Community Schools has developed a core curriculum at all school levels. Copies of the core curriculum are available upon request at the district office.

Aggregate Student Achievement Results for any Local Competency Tests or Nationally Normed Achievement Tests: