HOW IT WORKS
When you enroll your child in Michigan's Great Lakes Learning Academy, we’ll expand the ways they can learn and help them go further in life.
PUBLIC SCHOOL
Offering Tuition-Free School Online
We’re bringing public school and online learning together in a way that works for students and their families. Great Lakes Learning Academy is a statewide cyber online public school in Michigan that is authorized by Central Michigan University. GLLA began serving students throughout Michigan in the fall of 2013 and provides students in grades 6–12 with the opportunity to take classes online. Great Lakes Learning Academy is a public school designed by experts in online education. It’s a great way to learn from home, or anywhere else, without paying tuition.

ONLINE SCHOOL BENEFITS
Why Online School Can Work for You
Your child is unique. They have their own passions, their own dreams, their own way of learning. And their individual needs may be best met through an online school vs. a traditional school setting. At Great Lakes Learning Academy, we give all kinds of students the chance to follow their hearts and prepare for the future they desire. Perhaps your child is a musical virtuoso. Or maybe they’re a sensitive thinker who prefers to work alone. A budding athlete? An entrepreneur? Whoever your child is—whoever they want to become—we can open new possibilities for them.
Great Lakes Learning Academy is a great fit for students who want to:
- Receive one-on-one support tailored to personal strengths and needs
- Follow a more flexible school day
- Find a welcoming, inclusive community that celebrates individuality
- Learn from home and concentrate more thoroughly
- Enhance or accelerate learning
- Develop independence, personal responsibility and other life skills
- Pursue a passion like youth athletics, the arts and more
- Focus on college prep
- Gain real-world career and technical skills
- Find a public school alternative to homeschooling
- Participate in family traditions and focus on family values
WHAT TO EXPECT
Giving Your Child a Learning Space They’ll Love
With online schooling, your child will have new opportunities to learn and grow. The better prepared your family is for online learning, the more your child can get out of it.
Your Child’s Responsibilities
As an online student, your child will spend part of their day logged into their online classroom. Younger children spend less time on a screen than older students, but all students engage with dynamic lessons and are expected to complete assignments, quizzes, tests and class projects by certain deadlines. If your child needs help at any point along the way, they can quickly connect with their teachers or turn to you for guidance and support.
Your Role as Caregiver
Parents and caregivers at Great Lakes Learning Academy are their child’s Learning Coach. Being a Learning Coach gives you the chance to be a part of your child’s learning, celebrating their victories and lending a hand when they need extra help. The younger your child, the more you’ll want to be by their side. But no matter your child’s age, their teachers will be readily available to work and collaborate with you. And you’ll have plenty of resources to make sure you—and your child—stay on track for success.
Video: Embrace the Role of the Learning Coach
Your Role as Caregiver
Empowering Parents in the Role of Learning Coach
Collaboration is at the heart of learning. At Connections Academy, parents work closely with teachers and other parents to form a powerful community of Learning Coaches that help keep students on track. Our online learning portal is full of tools and resources to make things easier from scheduling lessons for every subject to juggling a family calendar with school activities.
Sign Up for a Free eGuide
Explore useful resources, watch informative videos, see sample schedules and take an interactive quiz that can help you make the right decision for your child.
Explore a Day in a Student’s Life
Learn what a typical day is like for the different kinds of students who attend Great Lakes Learning Academy.