EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University’s Early College Alliance (ECA) has shown resilience despite an unexpected change to high school students’ learning environments. Data reveals that nearly every school district in Michigan experienced significantly lower Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores; however, the ECA is the only district program that significantly improved its SAT scores between the 2021 and 2022 academic years. 

“Our structural adjustments indicate that the ECA is doing something that has put an end to the loss of education during COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 restrictions,” said David Dugger, executive director of Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium (WEOC) and founder of ECA.  “Moreover, our adjustments have demonstrated remarkable stability and even improvement when nearly every other district did not,” he added.

The ECA is an educational program designed to bridge the gap between high school and college career readiness, emphasizing increasing college graduation rates. The program is located on Eastern’s campus. In its 15th year, ECA partners with all nine of Washtenaw County's public school districts and Van Buren Schools in Wayne County.

During the 2021-2022 school year, the ECA jumped from No. 47 in the state to No. 17 compared to 2018-2019, despite transitioning from in-person learning to virtual. While other high schools in Michigan showed a decline in SAT scores, Dugger believes the structural adjustment to the ECA during the pandemic helped students continue their studies without interruption to achieve a successful testing cycle. Dugger also helped implement a non-time based/skills-based school practice compared to a traditional school, where students can only advance based on their test scores.

“The SAT scores achieved by students in the ECA have shown remarkable results, which speaks a lot to what it means to be a self-sustaining learner,” said Dugger. “This student can manage impediments and disruptions by consistently applying self-sustaining academic and personal strategies.” 

For more information about the ECA, visit the ECA@EMU website.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.