Editors Note: The Hillsboro Herald does not accept paid submissions. Having said that, we will run posts from organizations and providers with a history of doing a great job. We have family and friends who have found a great fit for their kid’s education with Oregon Connections Academy. This is a tuition free Online school. So many kids are unable to have a good experience with our traditional in-person public schools. We run this story today to support these sort of educational models and will feature more. This is a great option!
Oregon Connections Academy Students Return to The Virtual Classroom for 2023-2024 School Year
Leading online public charter school serving students in grades K-12 across Oregon begins new school year with high marks in annual Parent Satisfaction Survey
Prairie City, Ore (Aug. 31, 2023) – Oregon Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public charter school serving students statewide in grades K-12, began its 2023-24 school year, with students logging on to attend their first day of virtual learning. While the school embarks on its third year of providing students and families with a high-quality online curriculum, Oregon Connection Academy currently serves approximately 900 students, both new and returning.
Oregon Connections Academy students and families receive support from highly-skilled teachers specially trained to bring those skills and their personalities to the virtual classroom. Teachers work with students to foster meaningful connections while delivering a rigorous curriculum that meets or exceeds national and state standards. The program provides a unique and comprehensive school experience through opportunities to build fundamental life skills, in addition to a curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration.
“Our program structure allows students to exercise the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a changing world,” said Janel Scurlock, Oregon Connections Academy Principal. “We always look forward to welcoming new students and families while reconnecting with our returning students. Each school year offers a unique set of opportunities for all our students. Our goal each year is to build confidence and empower our students to take those opportunities, develop new goals and tackle them head-on.”
Students head back to school on the heels of the school’s recently released 2022-23 Parent Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey that provides families with the opportunity to review their experience with Oregon Connections Academy. According to the survey results:
- 96 percent of parents say the Connections Academy program gives them greater opportunity to be more involved with their child’s education
- 95 percent of parents are satisfied with the helpfulness of their child’s Oregon Connections Academy teachers
- 94 percent of parents say their child is satisfied learning at Connections Academy
- 93 percent of parents agree the curriculum is high quality
Students attending Oregon Connections Academy benefit from the ability to work at their own individual pace with learning plans tailored to match their needs and abilities or from the personal attention they receive from teachers to stay motivated and engaged. Oregon Connections Academy students also have access to several advanced courses and a flexible schedule to explore extracurricular activities.
Enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is still open and families interested in learning more about the Oregon Connections Academy’s flexible virtual learning approach are encouraged to attend an online information session to learn more, ask questions and discover if virtual school is the right fit for their student. For more information on Oregon Connections Academy schools, please visit www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com or call 800-382-6010.
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About Oregon Connections Academy
Oregon Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for K-12 students across Oregon. Authorized by the Prairie City School District but overseen by its own governing board and school leadership, Oregon Connections Academy offers a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on emotional well-being and social development, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com.
Survey methodology
Connections Academy conducts the annual Parent Satisfaction Survey to find out how parents, guardians and Learning Coaches grade the program in several key areas. The 2023 survey was conducted from January 17 to March 3 by Shapiro + Raj, an independent market research company that created the questionnaire, collected the data and tabulated the results. Parents and caretakers of all students enrolled at the time of the survey were invited to complete the survey online. An invitation was sent to each parent and caretaker, and one response per household was submitted.
CHELSEA HEATH PHILBRICK
Account Executive
