When Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s NBA basketball career ended in 1996, he had scored 17,707 points, 10,141 assists and 6,559 rebounds. After this sports fame, Johnson continued to add credentials as a talk show host, motivational speaker, sports commentator, and business owner of the Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers and entrepreneur of the Magic Johnson Enterprises. With all of this success, the critical questions to be asked are: How did Magic Johnson score for education? What is the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center? How can students enroll in the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center?

As a native of Lansing, Mich., Johnson played professional basketball (point guard) for the Los Angeles Lakers after winning championships at Everett High School and Michigan State University. In 1979, Johnson, a native of Lansing, Mich., was the Lakers’ number one draft selection of the NBA. He won the NBA championship five times, became most valuable player of the NBA finals three times and received most valuable player of the NBA three times. As an ambassador for HIV, which he contracted and forced his retirement, Johnson was recognized as one of the 50 greatest players in the NBA history and enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Considering 1.2 million students drop out of school annually, Johnson scored again when he recently opened the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center in Metro Atlanta to help high school-age students who have left school or are at risk of leaving school earn a standard high school diploma. The Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center is a component of Provost Academy Georgia (PAGA), a statewide virtual charter high school in Atlanta. The center is a tuition free, online high school opened to students ages 14 to 20 for both morning and afternoon sessions. The PAGA’s curriculum is fully accredited by AdvanceED.

Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center begins with an individualized “game plan.” At the beginning of the program, advisors meet with the student to develop a personalized curriculum that bridges the gap between the student and graduation, and incorporates the student personal and academic goals. Each plan is aligned to individual state standards and graduation requirements.

The center is staffed with onsite education teams to assist students in their daily studies and includes teachers, counselors and other professionals who work together to provide academic support and post-graduation assistance for students, including those with learning disabilities. According to Magic Johnson, “Our goal is to ensure that no student falls through the cracks. All students should have the opportunity to receive their high school diplomas and be fully prepared for college or the workplace.”

Magic Johnson Bridgecape Center has a strategic alliance with EdisonLearning (EL), an education management company that operates schools nationwide. EL currently operates the programs in Ohio, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania with additional Georgia locations planned for Augusta, Macon and Savannah. Currently, 700 students are enrolled in the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center (PAGA’s) branch in Atlanta. Potential students interested in attending the center can enroll by calling 888-725-9501. For more information, visit ga.provostacademy.com.

We congratulate Earvin “Magic” Johnson for being a champion of sports, entertainment, business and education for the improvement and economic empowerment of urban communities throughout the nation. Johnson, without a doubt, scored again when he invested in the lives of students through the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Center.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of two books, “Education Questions to be Answered” and “Current Issues and Answers in Education.” He is president of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. Holmes is the national superintendent of education for the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc., a former teacher, school administrator and district superintendent. He can be reached at [email protected].