Bringing “School-Back-to-Students”: Online Classes Start Sept 4th

For most students, “Back-to-School” season means leaving home, getting on the school bus and traveling to a school building. For thousands across Oregon who attend the state’s leading online public charter school, Oregon Connections Academy, (ORCA) is bringing school to life and classes back to students over the internet. The first day of the new school year for Oregon Connections Academy students is Tuesday September 4th.

Now entering its 14th school year, Oregon Connections Academy is kicking off the year with hearty demand and highly satisfied parents. The school is expected to serve more than 4,100 students in grades K-12 across the state during the 2018-19 school year.

Ninety one percent of parents with students enrolled in Oregon Connections Academy gave the virtual school an “A” or “B” grade and 94% recommend the program to new families according to the school’s 2018 Parent Satisfaction Survey.

“One of the most important reasons we love Oregon Connections Academy is because of its flexibility,” said Paula Thompson from Bandon. “We are still able to travel based on our schedule and either do homework while on the road or catch up later.” Thompson is a Learning Coach and mother to two Oregon Connections Academy students, Olivia in 7th grade, and Hayden in 5th grade

Nearly half of the parents surveyed said having a flexible schedule was one of their most important reasons for considering Oregon Connections Academy for their children. Dissatisfaction with their local public school was cited by 46% of respondents, and almost 40% listed the desire for a safe learning environment as among their top considerations for selecting Oregon Connections Academy’s online school setting for their students.

Oregon Connections Academy offers a flexible learning environment for children who are ahead or behind in the classroom, learn at a different pace from their peers or want a more individualized approach to learning. State licensed high quality teachers work with students to develop customized learning plans tailored to each student’s education needs while maintaining rigorous standards-aligned curriculum.

Marci O’Sullivan from Salem is a mother and Learning Coach for a sophomore at Oregon Connections Academy: “In fifth grade, educators said my son wasn’t meeting ‘grade level requirements’. His intellect wasn’t the problem, he just didn’t fit into a regular brick-and-mortar school. Placing my student in an online environment has allowed him to work through his courses at his own pace without the anxiety of certain social interactions. He’s taking honors classes, he’s thriving in his chosen social communities, and his future is much brighter than before.”

A significant number of parents said they wanted to be more involved in their child’s education, while others were seeking that personalized education for their students, according to the survey.

Paula Thompson noted, another important reason the family appreciates Oregon Connections Academy, “is the extra time to put emphasis for our children on things we find important. They can work at their own pace each day which allows them to finish their work in a shorter day often. This allows our children to be able to do chores, work, practice sports, and play with their extra time.”

Other highlights from this year’s survey include:

• 96% of parents are happy with the academic growth of their child
• 96% of parents are satisfied with teachers’ helpfulness
• 96% parents say their child/children are satisfied with the school’s program
• 95% of parents agree that the curriculum is high quality
• 94% of parents are satisfied with the variety of learning activities
• 94% of parents agree that the teachers improve the learning experience
• 93% of parents feel use of technology enhances the learning experience

In addition to a comprehensive curriculum, Oregon Connections Academy offers, innovative and diverse courses at all grade levels, and cutting-edge technology resources. At the high school level there are honors level classes, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the "College Now" dual credit program, and the school’s new Career Technical Education curriculum called Ascend.

Enrollment for the 2018-19 school year continues at Oregon Connections Academy. For more information on upcoming events or how to enroll, please visit: www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com/Events or call (800) 382–6010.

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About Oregon Connections Academy

Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA) is a tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable statewide online charter school that serves students in grades K–12. The school is authorized by the Santiam Canyon School District. All Oregon Connections Academy students participate in the award-winning national Connections Academy program that combines high-quality resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge yet easy-to-use technology and hands-on materials. Oregon Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere there is an Internet connection and with an innovative online school curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of Oregon-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, unique electives, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. Oregon Connections Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), an accrediting division of AdvancED. For more information, call 800-382-6010, or visit http://www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com.

Laura Dillon, Outreach Manager

Oregon Connections Academy

(503) 779-3150 ldillon@orca.connectionsacademy.org