COVID-19 RESPONSE: CONNECTIONS ACADEMY GIVES ACCESS TO K-12 ONLINE SCHOOL AND RESOURCES
Online schools re-open enrollment, districts offered free Connections Academy online school; online teaching hotline, teacher and parent webinars available
COLUMBIA, Md. (March 24, 2020) -- Connections Academy, which delivers full-time online school for grades K-12 and is supported by Pearson, is responding to the surge in demand for online learning amid the COVID-19 crisis with free access to online education and expertise in teaching and learning remotely.
The company has offered its online courseware, platform and associated training to district partners at the state-level; increasing current capacity to serve an additional 100,000 students at no charge for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. With this offering - developed specifically in response to this crisis - districts can use their own teachers and utilize core courses in Math, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies for grades K-12. All courseware includes lessons, assessments, tutorials and more; the platform delivers courseware and supports communication, scheduling, data collection and student progress monitoring.
Connections Academy full-time online schools for grades K-12 have served students for nearly two decades. This 2019-20 school year, 42 Connections Academy schools serve approximately 75,000 students in 28 states while an online private school serves students worldwide.
“Our goal during this incredibly difficult time is to support families, teachers and schools, who suddenly find themselves remote and online with a valuable solution. Our expertise is online schools for grades K-12 and with our response, we will train a district’s teaching staff to use our courseware and platform and get them set-up and going quickly,” said Tom ap Simon, managing director for Pearson Online & Blended Learning.
Pearson also worked with its virtual school partners in many states to re-open enrollment in existing Connections Academy public schools for the 2019-20 school year, while 2020-21 enrollment is underway. Like all public schools, there are no fees to attend. Families in states without Connections Academy public schools and those outside the U.S. may access sharply discounted enrollment in the International Connections Academy global online private school.
Beyond online school for districts and families, Pearson and Connections Academy online learning experts have stepped up to help fellow teachers and parents with best practices and advice. Online learning tip sheets, webinars, and podcasts are available at Pearson.com and ConnectionsAcademy.com/tips. A dedicated online teaching hotline email, staffed by Pearson and Connections Academy volunteers, is open for any teacher who may need support teaching online at OnlineTeachingHotline@pearson.com.
Connections Academy Co-founder, and Pearson’s Director for New School Models, Mickey Revenaugh, commented, “In the nearly 20 years we've been supporting full-time online schools, I can't remember a time when our organization has been so uniquely situated to be of help to families and teachers everywhere. We are in this together; it’s an honor to be a part of a solution.
”Schools and districts seeking solutions should contact our Client Services Team at pobl@pearson.com or 866-842-7428, option 2.
Families interested in Connections Academy online public schools can visit ConnectionsAcademy.com or call 1-800-382-6010.
Families interested in Pearson Online Academy online private school can visit PearsonOnlineAcademy.com or call 1-888-260-4159.
*Pearson’s Connections Academy courseware and platform offer is made possible in partnership with ExploreLearning and BrainPop, who have stepped up to help schools at a time of need.
Methodology
The Connections Academy survey was conducted in September 2020 by OnePoll. The survey was conducted online, to MRS and ESOMAR guidelines. All respondents were double opted in to respond to market research surveys. The sample was recruited from a panel of adults representing the U.S. population. The total sample of 2,000 respondents gives a topline Margin of Error of 2.2% at 95% confidence. OnePoll is a member of ESOMAR and employs staff who are members of the MRS and AAPOR.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience the Connections Academy online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, an award-winning 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. Connections Academy-supported schools offer grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy is part of the global learning company Pearson.
About Pearson
We are the world’s learning company with more than 22,500 employees operating in 70 countries. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. Visit www.pearson.com.