95 Percent of Parents Give Statewide K-12 Virtual School, Kansas Connections Academy, Top Marks

News provided by

Mar 31, 2014, 09:00 ET


Elkhart, KS (PRWEB) March 31, 2014 -- Kansas Connections Academy, a tuition-free virtual public school serving students statewide in grades K-12, continues to receive high marks from parents, a new study shows. In its 2013-2014 Parent Satisfaction Survey, 95 percent of parents gave the online school an “A” or “B” grade, and 95 percent would recommend Kansas Connections Academy to other parents.

Now in its fourth year, Kansas Connections Academy currently serves more than 500 students throughout the state. Kansas-certified teachers work with students and Learning Coaches (generally a parent or other caretaker) to develop customized learning programs that address each student’s personal education needs while maintaining a curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards.

Parents gave Kansas Connections Academy high marks for its academic rigor, program flexibility and the high quality of its teachers, among other attributes. Key findings included:

  • 97 percent of parents said they were pleased with the helpfulness of their children’s teachers, and specifically praised their responsiveness and accessibility
  • 94 percent of parents responded that the curriculum is “high-quality”
  • 92 percent of parents reported that their children are making good academic progress, arguably the keenest evaluation of a child’s education
  • 97 percent of parents said that their children were satisfied with Kansas Connections Academy and 92 percent reported that their children were enjoying the program
  • 81 percent of parents are “more satisfied” with Connections Academy than with their previous school

Kansas Connections Academy Principal Jerald Rash commented, “At Kansas Connections Academy, we are committed to accountability and serving the students and families that have chosen our online school. The results of this survey are taken very seriously and it is particularly gratifying to learn that we are delivering on our promise to Kansas families to provide an innovative and quality education and an alternative to the traditional classroom for those who want and need options. The fact that our educators received such high marks is also a point of pride – I can’t say enough about our teachers’ dedication to students and their success.”

Enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is going on now. For more information on Kansas Connections Academy, visit http://www.KansasConnectionsAcademy.com.

Survey methodology

Connections Academy conducts its annual Parent Satisfaction Survey to find out how parents, guardians and Learning Coaches grade the program in several key areas. The 2013-2014 survey was conducted from January 14, 2014 – February 28, 2014 by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, L.L.C, an independent market research company which helped to develop the questionnaire, collected the data, and tabulated the results. No individual responses were accessible to Connections Academy. Parents of all currently enrolled students were invited to complete the Survey online. A WebMail invitation was sent to each parent, and one response per household was submitted. Fifty percent of households with students enrolled in Kansas Connections Academy at the time of the survey responded to the survey.

About Kansas Connections Academy
Kansas Connections Academy is a tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 throughout Kansas. Kansas Connections Academy is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), an accrediting division of AdvancED. Kansas Connections Academy is operated in partnership with the Elkhart Unified School District 218. Kansas Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere with an innovative curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of state-certified teachers, a proven curriculum, unique electives such as the Juilliard eLearning program, technology tools and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. For more information, call 620-697-1166, visit http://www.KansasConnectionsAcademy.com or visit the teaching center at 150 Wildcat Ave., PO Box 999, Elkhart, KS 67950.

Allison Bazin, +1 609-247-0275, [email protected]