FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRIMLEY, December 21, 2025 – Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) proudly marks the 25th anniversary of authorizing schools, a milestone celebrating a quarter-century of expanding high-quality educational opportunities for Michigan students. Since issuing its first two charter contracts on December 21, 2000, to what are now State Street Academy and the Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac, BMCC has been a transformative force in public education, particularly for underserved communities.
The path to authorization began with tribal leadership’s advocacy, leading to a 2000 amendment of Michigan law to include tribally controlled community colleges as charter school authorizers. This unique status allowed BMCC - with a geographic boundary encompassing the entire state - to become a crucial authorizer, especially after the statutory cap was reached on university-authorized schools. Despite legal challenges that affirmed its authority in 2006, BMCC has remained steadfast in its mission.
Over the past 25 years, BMCC has authorized 55 public charter schools, with 43 schools currently serving 23,168 students across Michigan. The CSO’s focus has consistently been on areas with at-risk or educationally underserved populations. Today, over 84% of students in BMCC-authorized schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and over 48% are African American, with significant representation of Native American, Hispanic, and Asian American students.
A cornerstone achievement is the Ojibwe Charter School, which returned a K-12 school to the Bay Mills Indian Community for the first time since 1940 and restored the teaching of tribal language and traditions.
“As we celebrate 25 years of authorizing charter schools in Michigan, I am honored to reflect on the work that has transformed thousands of young lives,” said Mariah Wanic, Director of Charter Schools at BMCC. “Having served in the Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office since 2003, I have witnessed firsthand the power of educational opportunity, especially for students who have historically been underserved. Our commitment remains unwavering: to ensure that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to a meaningful education and the chance to succeed.”
The legacy is deeply rooted in the college’s founding principles. “Our community has always placed a high value on education, both to help future generations advance but also as a way for us to pass down our culture and heritage from one generation to the next,” said Mickey Parish, former President of BMCC, in a 2009 report. “Our college exists to serve a historically underserved population… Chartering K-12 schools is an extension of this mission.”
BMCC President Dr. Duane Bedell reflects on this enduring impact. “As we celebrate 25 years of authorizing charter schools, I am deeply proud of the transformative impact Bay Mills Community College has had on Michigan’s students and communities. Our mission is rooted in the belief that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves access to an excellent education and the opportunity to thrive. By championing equity and supporting schools that serve those with the greatest need, we are not only opening doors for thousands of young people but also strengthening the fabric of our communities. The legacy of BMCC is a testament to hope, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Together, we will continue to empower future generations and honor the trust placed in us by families across the state.”
BMCC’s charter school work emerged in the wake of Michigan’s historic 1994 Proposal A, which reformed school funding and opened the door to public school choice. BMCC stepped into that space to ensure that choice meant access to excellent, mission-driven schools for all.
As the CSO looks forward, its primary focus is on providing exceptional oversight and support to its current 43 schools. The application process remains open for potential new schools that demonstrate a strong alignment with BMCC’s standards and mission of serving students and communities with the greatest need.
About Bay Mills Community College Charter School Office:
The BMCC Charter School Office is a federally recognized tribally controlled community
college authorizer committed to ensuring high-quality public school options for Michigan
students, with a special focus on underserved urban and community-based populations.
It provides rigorous oversight, comprehensive support, and innovative programming
to the schools it authorizes.
A Note to Editors: The author of this press release, Chelsey Cameron, is a graduate of Ojibwe Charter School, a K-12 school chartered by Bay Mills Community College that returned educational sovereignty to the Bay Mills Indian Community. This milestone anniversary is a celebration of the cycle of education, leadership, and community that BMCC’s charter school mission fosters.