Michigan Virtual connects private schools with public district partners through Michigan's Shared Time Services program, making it easy to offer state-supported online electives at no cost. We handle the coordination so your students can access high-quality courses that expand learning and meet state standards.
Shared Time Programs follow the MDE Pupil Accounting Manual requirements for non-public part-time pupils, who are subject to audit.
What is shared time?
Shared Time is a State of Michigan program that allows public schools to provide non-core, elective instruction to students from non-public (private) or homeschool settings. Instruction is funded through the public district's state aid and must include courses also offered to public-school pupils.
How our partnership works
District partners
School districts partner with Michigan Virtual to offer state-supported online elective courses to private and homeschool students through Michigan's Shared Time Services program, expanding access to high-quality, non-core subjects at no cost to the non-public school.
Instructional model
Students stay enrolled in their private school and complete Michigan Virtual online electives. The public district of record for those elective courses for state aid purposes.
No cost to nonpublic schools
Funding flows to the public district for the portion of the students' day spent in eligible non-core electives.
Benefits
- Students gain access to electives, world languages, and AP college credit options that may not be available locally.
- Private schools expand their offerings without adding staff or increasing their budget.
- Public districts receive a portion of state aid associated with the elective time.
- Private school teachers if hired as a Shared Time teacher by the public school, earn a competitive salary, state retirement, and professional development.
Through our shared time program, you can...
Expand your school's curriculum with a wide range of 7-12 grade electives, world languages, and AP courses, making your school's course offerings more marketable and competitive. Provide students with 21st-century learning opportunities, collaborate with highly experienced shared time program coordinators, and choose to keep your students in your school while they complete elective work through their enrollment in online courses.
Online electives for high school students
- Art, Film, & Music
- Business & Career
- Computers & Technology
- Physical Education & Health
- Cybersecurity & Networking
- Career Exploration
- 7+ World Languages
- 24 Advanced Placement Courses
- And Many More!
Online electives for middle school students
- French
- German
- Spanish
- Guitar
- Leadership Skills Development
- Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports
- Success Skills for the Real World
- Digital Literacy & Programming
- And Many More!
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The public district receives state aid for the eligible elective portion; there is no charge to the nonpublic school.
Yes. Our model allows students at your school to complete electives online via Michigan Virtual, with the public district serving as the provider of record.
Only non-core electives that are also offered to public-school students (e.g., arts, world languages, AP electives, tech, PE/health).
The public district (or its approved vendor). Nonpublic schools cannot receive aid for their own teachers providing instruction.
Some districts have faced scrutiny for relying on long-term substitutes in Shared Time programs. Our partners prioritize compliant staffing and quality instruction to avoid those issues.
Getting started
- Send your written request to your local public district (required by MDE's Pupil Accounting Manual).
- If your local district cannot support the request, contact our partners to initiate a Shared Time Agreement with online electives through Michigan Virtual.
Nonpublic School
Written Request
Public District Partner
Michigan Virtual Online Elective
State Aid Flows to District
Ready to get started with shared time services?
Please fill out the form below if you are interested and one of our partnerships team members will be in touch!