Parent survey reveals top reasons families enroll in online school
In our first year, we were pleased to serve students across Washington who chose online school for a variety of reasons—from the need for flexibility in their schedule to medical reasons that prevented them from succeeding in a traditional classroom
Tumwater, WA (PRWEB) July 27, 2017
Washington Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public school serving students in grades K-10 across Washington for the upcoming 2017-18 school year, recently announced the results of the school’s first-ever parent satisfaction survey. Conducted January-March 2017, the survey found that 90 percent of parents with currently enrolled students would recommend Washington Connections Academy to parents whose children are not enrolled in the program. Washington Connections Academy will begin serving students for its second year on Aug. 28, adding grades nine and ten.
In addition to asking parents about their satisfaction with Washington Connections Academy, the survey asked families their reasons for choosing an online school for their children. Parents cited wanting a change from their local school as the primary reason they enrolled (48 percent), while 44 percent required or wanted greater flexibility in their child’s education. Other top reasons included parents wanting more involvement with their child’s education (33 percent) and 30 percent said they wanted a safe learning environment. Health concerns (17 percent), bullying in a previous school (9 percent) and participation in the arts or sports (7 percent) also contributed to parents’ decisions to enroll in online school.
“In our first year, we were pleased to serve students from across Washington who chose online school for a variety of reasons—from the need for flexibility in their schedule for extracurricular activities to medical reasons that prevented them from succeeding in a traditional classroom,” said Michael Lunde, principal at Washington Connections Academy. “It’s encouraging to see that our families have appreciated and embraced the school, as indicated by the results of this survey, and we look forward to welcoming even more students this fall.”
The 2017 survey results also revealed high satisfaction with the school’s teachers and curriculum. Other results included:
- 98 percent of parents are satisfied with the helpfulness of their teachers
- 93 percent agree that the teachers improve the learning experience
- 94 percent of parents agree that the curriculum is high quality
- 93 percent of parents are satisfied with the variety of learning activities provided by the program
Washington Connections Academy operates in partnership with the Mary M. Knight school district to provide high-quality, personalized online education to students statewide. The school combines Washington-certified teachers with a curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. Teachers work closely with students to create an individualized learning plan that leverages their personal strengths to ensure success.
For families interested in learning about the program, the school is hosting online and in-person information sessions. These events offer parents an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the school’s curriculum. The full schedule of information sessions can be found online: http://www.WashingtonConnectionsAcademy.com/events. To learn more about the school, visit http://www.WashingtonConnectionsAcademy.com.
About Washington Connections Academy
Washington Connections Academy is a tuition-free, high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 throughout Washington. Washington Connections Academy (WACA) is operated in partnership with the Mary M. Knight school district. All WACA services are offered by the Mary M. Knight school district under contract with Connections Academy. Opening in fall 2016, Washington Connections Academy currently serves students in grades K-10. Grades eleven and twelve will be added in subsequent years. Washington Connections Academy provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere with a high-quality curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of state-credentialed 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. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.WashingtonConnectionsAcademy.com.