South Carolina Connections Academy to hold free information sessions

South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA), the State’s first statewide virtual charter school for grades K-12, will host a series of free Information Sessions around the state for parents who want to learn about the free, full-time, public charter school program.

According to a press release from SCCA, the academy can accept students from anywhere in the state, and students entering grades K-12 are eligible to apply starting April 1, 2009.

The Information Sessions will be held in the coming weeks in locations around the state.  At the events, parents will have an opportunity to meet with SCCA representatives, view the curriculum, learn about the online Learning Management System, and thoroughly explore the program. 

Authorized in 2007 by the South Carolina Public Charter School District, SCCA is currently serving 500 K-12 students from across the state, delivering an exceptional public school education from the comfort of home.  SCCA combines South Carolina-certified teachers, a standards-aligned curriculum, unique technology tools, an extensive selection of electives and clubs, and community experiences to create an individualized alternative to the bricks-and-mortar classroom. 

All SCCA students participate in the nationally certified Connections Academy program that includes a print-rich curriculum that combines high quality textbooks from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology resources and hands-on materials.  Learning from home, students work closely with their parents, or other “learning coaches” and a licensed South Carolina teacher using detailed daily lesson plans that can be personalized to meet individual student needs.

Interaction between teachers and students is frequent.  Accountability is central to the school’s mission, and students must meet the same levels of accountability and complete the same state standardized tests as traditional public schools.  SCCA’s administrative offices and teaching center is in Columbia, but the school serves families from across the state. 

SCCA serves a wide range of South Carolina students, including those who are significantly ahead or behind in the classroom; students who benefit from individualized instruction; and those who require a flexible school schedule. 

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.  For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

The South Carolina Connections Academy free parent information sessions in the News13 viewing area will be held on the following dates:

Wednesday, April 8 – 11:00 AM
Camden
Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Ctr.
607 S. Broad Street

Thursday, April 9 – 6:30 PM
Sumter
Sumter County Rec. Depart.
155 Haynsworth St.

Monday, April 20 - 6:00 PM
Florence
Florence County Library
509 S. Dargan Street

Wednesday, April 22 – 3:30 PM
Myrtle Beach
Canal St. Rec. Center
901 Canal Street