Story Published:
Aug 3, 2007 at 3:19 PM PST
Hundreds of Oregon kids are spending time online, but they're not playing the latest video game. They're going to school. So now the state's only accredited, virtual charter school is expanding. The Connections Academy is adding 11th grade to its offerings.
The tuition free program now teaches students K-11th the basics along with a wide range of electives, and other activities. The kids also interact with each other online, and take field trips together.
Jerry Wilks is the principal of Connections Academy in Oregon. He is holding meetings around the state to introduce families to the virtual public school program. He says the program allows kids to learn from home with the help of a computer, a room teacher, and a learning coach.
Laura Howard, a kindergarten through second grade teacher for the academy said, "It allows people the opportunity to work with their kids from home, but also have the structure and the accountability of a public school."
As a former sub in regular public schools, she believes this program is actually better at preparing kids for college. "We have an individualized learning program for each one of our students."
Howard says most of the students in the program so far are at risk kids, athletes, and children with medical needs. That's why Kelly McCoy enrolled three of her children who suffer from asthma and milk allergies in the academy last year. "My kids didn't show up to school everyday because they got sick a lot," she said.
McCoy likes the academy's flexibility and curriculum, but says being the learning coach gets a little challenging. "It's a little stressful, because sometimes they get a little frustrated with me."
But McCoy says playing the dual roles of being mom and learning coach is paying off; Her kids are getting all A's and B's, and learning more than ever. "My brother has stuff I didn't learn until the fifth grade," said Blair, McCoy's 11-year-old daughter.
Teresa Donovan, of Veneta also has her hands full. She and her husband are foster parents to kids who have been exposed to meth. They currently have ten kids, including their biological and adopted children. Donovan says the regular public school system isn't prepared to meet the needs of their kids who have been exposed to drugs, but the virtual program sounds perfect. "Being able to do the one on one with them will make a huge difference."
Academy Connections is also starting a gifted and talented program this year. They plan on adding 12th grade next year.
For more information about Academy Connections just call 1-800-382-6010 or log onto their website.
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