Connections Academy: Tuition-Free Online Public School
This post is sponsored. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
For many parents, the last 18 months have been a season of change as it relates to our children’s education.
My son’s 7th-grade year of school was completed entirely online, which was a first for him and me. There was so much that we didn’t know about virtual education and since I didn’t plan or prepare for it, I wasn’t aware of all of the options that were available.
It was a challenging year because virtual learning was a new system of learning, but I was very grateful for the option to do so. Now that my family has a bit of experience under our belts, I now know what works (and doesn’t work) for my son’s pace and style of learning, which is why I’m excited to share Connections Academy with you today.
Connections Academy schools are tuition-free, online public schools for students in grades kindergarten through 12th-grade. Classes are taught from home by caring and talented teachers who are certified for online instruction (this is so important). Every teacher has a bachelor’s degree, and many have a master’s or other advanced degrees to provide the best education for students.
Parents are considered “Learning Coaches”, which I love, and work with teachers to support their students. Connections Academy is a great option if you are a parent who wants to make the shift to at-home learning without the burden of teaching, which is something I really struggled with last year.
Unlike the online platforms provided by school districts last year, Connections Academy is an online public school with a proven and time-tested platform and curriculum that provides a comprehensive curriculum and the individualized support needed for successful virtual learning.
Their online model gives the flexibility to tailor individual learning plans to each student’s needs and strengths. Students who graduated from Connections Academy say that a full-time virtual school helped them become independent learners and skilled at time management, both of which are valuable in today’s workforce that is ever dependent on technology.
As long as students have an internet connection, Connections Academy students can learn anywhere. All required books and other materials are free, which is a huge relief for parents. Parents will only need to purchase regular school supplies.
Connections Academy recognizes that as students evolve, so will their needs, so one of the main benefits of the virtual learning model is its adaptability and flexibility. As a parent of a child who really needs regular breaks, this kind of flexibility helps him so much. Regular check-ins between teachers, students, and Learning Coaches mean they will be able to adjust the student’s learning plan to keep them growing.
Connections Academy is also accredited by Cognia, formerly AdvancED. Math, science, English, and social studies are the core of the curriculum. For older students, there are plenty of options through Advanced Placement courses to earn college credits.
If you are concerned about socialization, Connections Academy provides opportunities for students to meet with their fellow students in live online classroom sessions, collaborate on school projects, and meet like-minded students in virtual clubs! The clubs even offer opportunities for students to compete in contests at local, state, and national levels. This is something that I haven’t seen in online schools before, which is so important for our children.
Learn more about Connections Academy today!
For 16 years, I have been the creator & full-time blogger of Mom Spark. I’ve also created content for numerous outlets such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, & Huff Post.