Lighthouse Connections Academy Enrollment Checklist for the 2021–22 School Year

Do you have everything you need? Because Connections Academy is a public school, parents must submit state-required information and documentation for each student. You will save time and enrollment will go more smoothly if you are prepared!

Use the Enrollment Checklist below to gather the documents you will need. The checklist lists your state's requirements, plus tips to help you find documents you may not have. Once you have your documents ready, it’s easy to create an account and complete the enrollment forms in Connexus^®, our online system.

Use the Enrollment Checklist below to gather the documents you will need. The checklist lists your state's requirements, plus tips to help you find documents you may not have. Once you have your documents ready, it’s easy to create an account and complete the enrollment forms in Connexus^®, our online system.

Eligibility Requirements

You must meet specific state and program requirements to attend Lighthouse Connections Academy. Student eligibility requirements in Michigan are determined by the Michigan Legislature and the Michigan Board of Education. Lighthouse Connections Academy is authorized by the Ferris State University Charter Schools Office.

Before enrolling, review the eligibility requirements carefully to determine whether your student(s) is eligible to participate in grades K–12.

Students who have been expelled from another school because their behavior reflected concerns for their personal safety, or for the safety of others, will be reviewed individually and enrollment decisions will be made in full compliance with Michigan law and with MDE regulations.

A copy of the official birth certificate for each child must be provided to verify age eligibility. To avoid unnecessary delays, provide a copy of this document along with your enrollment documents .

Not Sure Where to Get That?

• If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the Michigan Department of Community Health. Please visit the Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records webpage for more information.
• If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.

As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:

• Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling. If a student turns five (5) years old between September 1 and December 1, an exception may be made. Please contact the Academic Placement Services Team to discuss this possibility.
• First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
• Maximum Age: A general education student who turns twenty (20) years old on or before September 1 will not be eligible to enroll. A special education student who turns twenty-six (26) years old on or before September 1 will not be eligible to enroll in Lighthouse Connections Academy.

A copy of ONE of the following documents must be provided to verify your legal residence. If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the Enrollment Team to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?

• Utility bill
  Acceptable documents include: gas, electric, water, sewage, garbage/trash, propane oil, or Internet bill that is dated within 60 days of the enrollment date and that includes your name and service address. *Please note: disconnect, “final notice,” or shutoff notices are not acceptable.
• Mortgage statement from the last 60 days or current signed lease agreement
• Property tax bill
• Letter from a government agency dated within the last 60 days
• Driver’s License and Voters Registration card provided together

• If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team at 855-741-5126 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

All Lighthouse Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations on one of the following:

• Official Michigan state immunization form
• Immunization booklet
• Official school records
• Health care provider or Health Department printout
• Connections Academy Immunization Form, which is a part of your enrollment documents available in Connexus

These forms must be signed or stamped by your healthcare provider. Only a local health department, doctor's office, or the Michigan Department of Community Health may print an official immunization record for your child.

• You may request your own or your child's Official State of Michigan Immunization Record by contacting your physician's office or your local health department.
• Additionally, you can send a request by mail, by downloading and submitting the Official State of Michigan Immunization Record request form.

Children born in Michigan from 1994 to the present are in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). MCIR is a computerized shot record for Michiganders. For answers to many FAQs, please visit the MCIR website.

Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?

• For a complete list of immunizations required by the Michigan Department of Community Health, view the "Required Childhood Immunizations for Michigan School Settings" webpage.

Where Can I Get Immunizations for My Student?

Immunizations can be obtained from your local health department, doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots he or she needs to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.

What if I Need Assistance Paying for Vaccines?

If you need assistance paying for shots/vaccinations, you may be able to get free or reduced immunizations through the Michigan Vaccines for Children Program:

• Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive pediatric vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Immunization Exemptions

A student may be exempt from immunizations for the following reasons: medical exemption, religious beliefs, or personal beliefs. Parents seeking immunization waivers in Michigan must have the immunization waiver certified by their local health department.

• Medical Exemption: A valid medical contraindication exists precluding the child from receiving the vaccine. A state of Michigan "Medical Contraindication" form is required to be completed and signed by the child’s physician and shall state the contraindication(s), the vaccine(s) involved, and the time period during which the child is precluded from receiving the vaccine(s).
• Religious/Personal Exemption: The parents or guardians hold religious or philosophical beliefs which preclude receipt of a vaccination(s). A current certified state of Michigan "Immunization Waiver" must be signed by the parent or guardian, with all information completely supplied, including the vaccines being waived. An updated waiver must be presented each year the child’s immunization status is reported.

All students who have previously attended public school, private school, or homeschool are eligible to enroll and will be requested to submit academic records for placement.

• Report Card
  For students applying for grades K–9: Please submit a copy of the report card from the most recent school year.
  
  The following items should be included on the report card:
  • Student Name
  • Grade Level
  • School Year (example: 2020–21)
  • School Name
  • Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
• Unofficial Transcript
  For students applying for grades 10–12: Submit an unofficial transcript that includes the complete end-of-year grades from the prior school year(s) and any academic documentation (such as a progress report/interim report, class schedule, or marking period/semester report card) issued for the current school year. Additional documentation may be requested for placement.
  
  The following items should be included on the unofficial transcript:
  • Student Name
  • Grade Level
  • School Year (example: 2020–21)
  • School Name
  • Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
  • Credits Earned

Not Sure How to Get Your Child’s Report Card or Transcript?

• Contact your student's previous school and request the document, providing them with the information outlined above, OR contact your school's district office with the request.

If after attempting these steps you still cannot obtain your student's report card or transcript, please contact the Academic Placement Services Team at 855-741-5126 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Have Your Child(ren) Been Formerly Homeschooled?

If your children are currently homeschooled, please complete the Prior Academic History form. This documents will be available to you in Connexus.

• Prior Academic History Form
  For homeschooled students in grades K–12: Complete the Prior Academic History Form indicating what courses were completed through a homeschool curriculum.

You may need to provide additional documentation if any of the following circumstances apply:

• Custody order: If your legal guardianship is determined by a court order, please submit a copy of the order.

Ready to Enroll?

Once you have all of the required documentation (outlined above), you are ready to proceed with virtual school enrollment in Lighthouse Connections Academy.