New Virtual Public School for K-12 Students in Massachusetts: TEC Connections Academy (TECCA) Commonwealth Virtual School Approved to Open in the 2014-2015 School Year
Dedham, MA (PRWEB) February 28, 2014 -- Families with children in grades K-12 from across Massachusetts will have an exciting new, technology-enhanced, public school option in the 2014-2015 school year. TEC Connections Academy (TECCA) Commonwealth Virtual School has just been approved by the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to deliver full-time, tuition-free, public school online to students from across the state. The virtual school is sponsored by The Education Cooperative (TEC) and enrollment will begin soon. Information sessions for families are being planned across the state and online.
The Academy will combine Massachusetts-credentialed teachers, an award-winning curriculum, technology tools, engaging electives, and social experiences to create a supportive and successful online learning program for families and students who want an individualized approach to education. As a public school, all students will be required to take the same state assessments as traditional school students. TECCA’s first day of school is August 27th.
The school is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of Massachusetts residents, while its curriculum and other services are contracted through Connections Education, a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable online learning, which is accredited by AdvancED.
Elizabeth McGonagle, Executive Director of The Education Cooperative commented, “TECCA is another example of our state’s commitment to the advancement of education – Massachusetts students can now choose an approach to learning that best meets their needs. And thanks to technology, virtual schools are really expanding what is possible. TEC is proud to sponsor TECCA, and we look forward to watching students excel and thrive in its innovative school environment.”
A virtual school approach serves a wide range of students, including those who are significantly ahead or behind in the classroom, those who need a flexible schedule or learn at a different pace from their peers, and those who need more individualized attention or live in isolated rural settings. Homebound and previously home-schooled students can also thrive in TECCA’s program. Learn more about why families are choosing full-time online school: Infographic: The Growth of K-12 Online Learning.
All TECCA students will participate in the nationally accredited Connections Academy program that combines high-quality resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology tools and hands-on materials. Learning from home, students will work closely with licensed Massachusetts teachers using detailed daily lesson plans that can be personalized to meet individual student needs. A parent, or another adult “Learning Coach,” monitors progress in the home.
In addition to core academics the school offers a variety of exciting courses for students including:
• Foreign Languages (Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Sign Language and more)
• Advanced Placement
• Juilliard eLearning music courses
• Career technical education for high school students such as introductory courses in Law, Early Childhood Education, Finance, and more.
“This fully online school is broadening the horizon of the K-12 education landscape,” said Dr. Peter Sanchioni, Board Chair of TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School. “By combining technology and highly skilled teachers, we look forward to providing a flexible and creative learning environment for every student.”
TECCA can initially enroll up to 1,000 students from across the state and grow to 2,000 during the three-year term of its Commonwealth Virtual School (CMVS) certificate. In preparation for its inaugural academic year, the virtual school will be identifying a teaching and learning center, hiring a principal and its team of teachers and administrators who will be based in Massachusetts.
Enrollment for TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School will open soon for the 2014-2015 school year. Interested parents and students are encouraged to learn more online at http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com/MA or at one of the many upcoming in-person or online information sessions offered by the school.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, and full-time and part-time private school programs, Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience our online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. In the 2012–13 school year, Connections Academy will serve students in 23 states via 26 virtual public schools. It serves students worldwide through the online private school, International Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800–382–6010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy and its parent company, Connections Education, are part of the global learning company Pearson (NYSE:PSO).
LaWanda Stone, Connections Education, +1 (443) 873-1824, [email protected]
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