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Texas Connections Academy @ Houston Adds Grades 9 and 10

Parents Invited to Learn More at Free Information Sessions Slated in Communities Across the State

HOUSTON (May 10, 2010) —Texas Connections Academy @ Houston, a full-time statewide virtual public school currently serving students in grades 3-8 across Texas, has announced that the Houston ISD Board of Education has approved its expansion to serve students in grades 9 and 10 for the 2010-2011 school year*. The Board approved the school’s expansion to a total student enrollment of 3,000*—2,500 students in grades 3–8, and 500 in grades 9 and 10 —in response to growing demand among Texas families statewide for this high-quality, highly accountable public education delivered online. Enrollment for TCAH is going on now.

In the coming weeks, TCAH will host a series of free Information Sessions around the state for parents who want to learn more about the free, full-time, virtual public school. A complete schedule is also available at http://www.connectionsacademy.com/TCAH and by calling (800) 382-6010.

Texas Connections Academy @ Houston is operated by Connections Academy, LLC in partnership with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) under the terms of the Texas Electronic Course Program (eCP). Launched in December 2008, over 1,000 students have been served over the course of the 2009-2010 school year.

“We are extremely pleased to offer additional grades for students across Texas,” said Lea Ann Lockard, principal for TCAH. “Our growth not only reflects our successful inaugural year, but demonstrates that families in Texas want a virtual public school option. These families value our high-quality curriculum, our dedicated teachers, the flexibility and personalization of our program, and our technology. We have forged relationships with many wonderful families across our state and welcome the opportunity to share our school and the benefits of virtual education with more students.”
TCAH has its administrative offices and teaching center in Houston, but serves families statewide. HISD has contracted with Connections Academy, LLC for curriculum, technology, and school management services to operate the school.

TCAH combines Texas-certified teachers, a standards-aligned curriculum, unique technology tools, electives and clubs, and community experiences to create an individualized alternative to the bricks-and-mortar classroom. All TCAH students participate in the nationally-accredited Connections Academy program that includes a print-rich curriculum combining high quality textbooks from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology resources and hands-on materials.

TCAH’s new high school program for grades 9 and 10 will be a challenging, standards-based curriculum offering high schoolers rigorous courses which provide a solid foundation. Honors and AP courses will be available, along with comprehensive, academic, college and career-planning guidance services from a full-time, certified school counselor.
In addition, TCAH expects to offer a full high school program in subsequent years with the addition of grades 11 and 12.

VIDEO: Watch “A Day in the Life” of a Connections Academy family

Learning from home, TCAH students work closely with their parents, or other “Learning Coaches” and a licensed Texas 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.

Connections Academy opened its first school—serving 400 K-8 students—in 2002. Since then, strong parental demand for this innovative public school alternative has led Connections Academy to grow both its school network and student body by double-digits every year. Today TCAH is one of 15 schools in the national network of Connections Academy schools in 14 states that serve more than 20,000 students nationwide in grades K-12 in 2009-2010.
* pending final approval from TEA

About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual public and private schools in the U.S. for students in grades K–12. Connections Academy schools deliver top quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences to create a supportive and successful environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. In Connections Academy's Personalized Performance Learning® approach, students use daily lesson plans and curriculum materials provided by Connections Academy. Teachers develop a learning plan for each student, whose progress is tracked through a proprietary, web-based Learning Management System. During the 2009–2010 school year, Connections Academy served students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. New public school programs in Indiana, and Kansas will be added in the 2010–11 school year. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.