Student finds herself without a school

CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP (WJRT) -- (08/21/08)--In less than two weeks, children across the state will be back in class. But one Saginaw County student might not be, because at this point, no district will take her.

That has her family worried, and even the school district that expelled her is concerned.

Katie Cooper, 15, had a 3.7 grade point average as a freshman at Carrollton High School, but then in April, she got into a fight.

"It was a mistake and I guess I can't take it back, but if I could, I would," she said.

Cooper did get into a fight. No one was hurt, and both girls were suspended for five days. But Cooper was a Schools of Choice student and she had a contract with the district.

"She was not supposed to get in trouble and get a good grade point average," said mother Kelly Cooper.

Because she got into trouble, she was expelled. And since then, Kelly Cooper has been trying to get her daughter into any school district in the state.

"I kept calling and everybody said no," she said. "She could either go to a Catholic or Lutheran school. That is $8,000 to $10,000 I don't have."

"Good student, excellent grades. From what I know, the student should be in school," said Carrollton Superintendent Craig Douglas.

Douglas signed Cooper to her contract because of a skirmish she had when she attended Zilwaukee Middle School, where she was sent home for a day.

"Most of the time, these things work out real well, and in this case, it worked out real well for the majority of the school year, and for whatever reason, the contract was broken," Douglas said.

Which led to the expulsion. The Coopers have moved to Saginaw Township, but that district said Cooper would not be admitted until April -- 180 school days after the expulsion.

"Most kids right now are freaking out about getting school clothes and school supplies, and I don't even have a school to go to," Katie said.

"I will take calls from whoever to try to help find an educational program for the youngster," Douglas said.

The Michigan Department of Education says school districts have the right to refuse a student who has been expelled, but they can make exceptions.

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