Virtual Public School in Minnesota is Accepting Enrollment for the 2009-2010 School Year

March 30, 2009 - PRLog -- MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com, a free online public school for K-12 students, is opening enrollment for the 2009-2010 year by hosting information sessions across the state of Minnesota.

Now more than ever, families have considerable options when it comes to education. Virtual public schooling continues to be a growing trend, as more than one million American K-12 students receive some or all of their public school education online, a figure that’s growing nearly 25% per year. For example, MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, a free online school that provides personalized K-12 education, began with seven students three years ago, and currently enrolls more than 800 students.

Minnesota Connections Academy, with its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn., offers an alternative public school experience – public school from the comfort of home. Students work with state-certified teachers via e-mail, live online lessons, text-based curriculum, webcasts, telephone conversations and more, while an adult “Learning Coach” monitors progress in the home. Connections Academy provides personalized K-12 education that combines a proven curriculum, unique technology tools, http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com/technology, and an extensive collection of electives, clubs and community experiences to create academic and emotional success for students.

In an effort to help families learn more about the benefits of virtual education, Connections Academy is hosting 27 information sessions across the state of Minnesota. The information sessions are being held at the following locations:

•   Wednesday, April 1, from 3-4:30 p.m., at MTS Minnesota Connections Academy, 3127 East Lake Street, in Minneapolis.

•   Thursday, April 2, from 6:30-8 p.m., at Hampton Inn, 310 Canal Park Drive, in Duluth.

•   Thursday, April 2, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Chanhassen Recreation Center in Chanhassen.

•   Tuesday, April 7, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, 75 37th Avenue South, in St. Cloud.

•   Tuesday, April 7, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, 5637 Highway 29 South, in Alexandria.

•   Wednesday, April 8, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Courtyard by Marriott, 1080 28th Avenue South, in Moorhead.

•   Thursday, April 9, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Country Inn, 1330 Highway 10 East, in Detroit Lakes.

•   Thursday, April 9, from 6:30-8 p.m., at Comfort Suites, 7376 Woida Road, in Baxter.

•   Monday, April 13, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Maplewood Community Center, 2100 White Bear Avenue North, in Maplewood.

•   Monday, April 13, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Hibbing Park Hotel, 1402 East Howard Street, in Hibbing.

•   Tuesday, April 28, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the City Hall Community Room, 106 1st Street Southeast, in Hinckley.

•   Wednesday, April 29, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Ramada, 2306 East Main Street, in Albert Lea.

•   Wednesday, April 29, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn South, 1630 South Broadway, in Rochester.

•   Thursday, April 30, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the AmericInn, 4675 White Bear Parkway, in White Bear Lake.

•   Monday, May 4, from 6:30-8 p.m., at Country Inn and Suites, 1900 Premiere Drive, in Mankato.

•   Tuesday, May 5, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Best Western Marshall Inn, 1500 East College Drive, in Marshall.

•   Thursday, May 7, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Courtyard by Marriott, 11871 Fountains Way, in Maple Grove.

•   Monday, May 11, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the City Hall, 220 Lake Street North, in Forest Lake.

•   Tuesday, May 12, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at East Grand Forks Campbell Library, 422 4th Street Northwest, in East Grand Forks.

•   Tuesday, May 12, from 6:30-8 p.m., at C’mon Inn, 1586 Highway 59 South, in Thief River Falls.

•   Wednesday, May 13, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 2422 Ridgeway Avenue Northwest, in Bemidji.

•   Thursday, May 14, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Sawmill Inn of Grand Rapids, 2301 South Highway 169, in Grand Rapids.

•   Thursday, May 14, from 6:30-8 p.m., at Buckham Memorial Library, 11 Division Street East, in Faribault.

•   Monday, May 18, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Select, 3 Appletree Square, in Bloomington.
•   Tuesday, May 19, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, 1500 Highway 71, in International Falls.

•   Wednesday, May 20, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Mountain Iron Community Center, 8586 Enterprise Drive South, in Mountain Iron.

•   Thursday, May 21, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the St. Louis Park Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, in St. Louis Park.

Session participants can speak one-on-one with MTS Minnesota Connections Academy teachers and will explore the school’s individualized learning approach, well-respected curriculum, the technology-enhanced learning environment and the enrollment process. Curriculum samples and opportunities for questions and answers will be made available.

In addition to the in-person information sessions listed above, Connections Academy also offers virtual information sessions, which utilize online conferencing technology to bring the school’s information sessions into an individual’s home. Each online session is run by a MTS Minnesota Connections Academy representative and includes a presentation describing how the program works, technology examples and demonstrations, and questions and answers. Those interested in attending an online information session must register in advance at http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

The online information sessions will take place on the following dates:
•   Tuesday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Monday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Monday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Monday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Thursday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m.

•   Monday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m.

MTS Minnesota Connections Academy is designed to meet the needs of students and their families who are looking for an alternative public school option – those who learn at a different pace from their peers, students who want more individualized instruction, individuals living in isolated rural settings, or those who want a more flexible learning schedule or need a learning environment outside of the traditional classroom.  

Kiri Baga and Kate Charbonneau, 2009 national champion figure skaters, are simply two examples of the many gifted and talented students that attend MTS Minnesota Connections Academy. With goals of the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, Baga and Charbonneau appreciate the online program’s flexibility and high-quality curriculum, allowing the two figure skaters to not only train, but also reach their full academic potential – all at the same time.

“You don’t have to sacrifice a superb education if you are also interested in pursuing advancement in sports, theater, etc.,” said Lorie Charbonneau, Kate’s mom and skating coach for the two figure skating champions. “You can have it all.” View this new clip to learn more about how Connections Academy helps Baga and Charbonneau achieve their dreams.

Homebound and previously home-schooled students can also thrive in the program. Connections Academy operates its full-time Internet school program in Minnesota through a partnership with Minnesota Transitions Charter School.

Families interested in free online school with some similarities to home schooling, but with the support of state-certified teachers and the accountability of public education are encouraged to learn more by calling 800-382-6010 or visiting http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

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Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual public schools in fourteen states, operated in partnership with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education. Connections Academy schools deliver top quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences to create a supportive and successful environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. In 2008-2009 Connections Academy will serve students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri (through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program), Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades.