Districts may enroll Chinese students

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Chinese education group has approached at least five Kent and Ottawa county school districts and asked to enroll hundreds of Chinese students into local schools.

It could happen by this fall. Districts are currently determining if they should accept the offer.

Hundreds of Chinese students could eventually be a part of this program, though there will likely be only a handful to start. The benefit for the Chinese students is an American high school diploma that will help them get into an American college.

But there is still a lot of confusion as to what it would mean for local students.

Kent County Intermediate School District Assistant Superintendent Ron Koehler talked to 24 Hour News 8 to provide some clarity.

"This company wanted to set up an opportunity that our students could visit their schools our teachers could visit their schools," Koehler said.

Koehler explained that is the difference between the proposed program and an exchange program. It is more of an immersion into the culture than a few exchange students can provide.

Kent and Ottawa county school districts were approached by the Weiming Education Group a few months ago. The private, non-government-affiliated group asked if the local districts would accept more than a hundred Chinese students into their classrooms.

Read: Letter from Forest Hills Public Schools administration regarding the program (pdf)

Some parents are concerned districts decision-making process is fueled by money. But Koehler said it's not and that the districts won't make any money off the plan if it goes into effect.

"They wouldn't be counted for the purpose of receiving state dollars," said Koehler.

The proposed plan would require each Chinese student to pay the cost of a year's education -- around $10,000. Local students would stay with host families to start with. If the program is successful and more students come, dorm-type buildings would be built.

Nothing has been decided as all districts are still in talks.

The number of Chinese students would be determined by the district. Some are only thinking about enrolling 15 throughout the district.

"Our goal and the goal of all the superintendents who are exploring this is to create opportunities for our students that they might not have otherwise," said Koehler.

This same organization is running the program in Oxford Community Schools in Oakland County.  

There is an informational meeting for parents in the Forest Hills Public Schools district, which is among the districts considering the plan. That meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 in Meeting Room 5 at the Forest Hills administrative building.