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Beyond School Choice: Competing for Learner Choice
A MiCSS26 Breakout Theme
December 9–10, 2026 · Detroit Marriott Troy
About This Theme
Families today think like consumers — comparing options, seeking transparency, and expecting schools to deliver measurable value. Sessions in this theme share bold strategies for thriving in a learner-choice environment: elevating parent voice, strengthening enrollment strategy, and redefining what makes your school stand out.
Sessions in This Theme
AP for All: How Michigan Charters Are Building Programs at Every Scale
Cassy Tefft de Munoz, College Board (panel moderator) · with Hassan Abbiss, Frontier Academy · Mike Irwin, Grand River Prep · Jaclyn Iacco, West MI Aviation Academy · Mary Busse, Arbor Prep
What happens when schools give students real voice and choice in their most challenging coursework? In this structured Q&A panel, Michigan charter leaders share how they have opened the door to AP for all students in their diverse communities — including schools small in enrollment, those serving predominantly immigrant families and English language learners, and those where the majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. You'll hear practical examples of how these schools overcame hurdles to expand student access and opportunity, and leave with strategies to identify students with untapped readiness for advanced coursework as a first step toward opening the door to rigor in your own building.
Session outcomes: identify students ready for more rigorous coursework, apply replicable strategies from peer charters for expanding AP access, and articulate the value of challenging coursework to students and families.
More sessions announcing soon.
