Pearson : Announces New Connections Academy Full-Time Online Public School in Colorado

09 Jun 2021published at 09:00 AM BST

Colorado Summit Connections Academy Opens Enrollment for 2021-22 School Year

Columbia, MD., 9th June 2021 - Pearson announces a new tuition-free, full-time online public school will deliver its Connections Academy virtual school programme in Colorado for the 2021-22 school year. Colorado Summit Connections Academy will be the third Connections Academy school in the state and will help meet the increasing demand by families for its high-quality programme, which has increased exponentially over the past year.

Recently authorised by Education reEnvisioned BOCES, the new school joins two other Connections Academy full-time online schools in the state: Colorado Connections Academy @ Mapleton, which opened in 2002, and Colorado Connections Academy @ Durango, which opened in 2016. All three schools use the award-winning Connections Academy curriculum and are open to students in grades K-12 statewide regardless of where they live in Colorado.

Pearson-supported virtual partner schools serve more than 100,000 students in 29 states and experienced a 43% growth in enrollment in the 2020-2021 school year. Through Pearson's expanded partnership in Colorado, more families will have access to Connections Academy's program that is designed specifically for learning in a virtual environment.

Connections Academy schools offer students access to flexible scheduling, advanced courses and opportunities to engage with classmates through both virtual and in-person field trips, events and extracurricular activities. While students across the country got a glimpse of what online learning entails following the start of the pandemic, Connections Academy students received mostly uninterrupted education despite a challenging year, thanks to the programme's 20-year history of providing virtual education. The need for quality programmes like these was echoed in Pearson's Global Learner Survey, which found that learners want more investment in online learning and better use of technology, following the shift spurred by the pandemic.

Tom ap Simon, President for Virtual Learning at Pearson, which delivers Pearson's K-12 online learning programmes, said: 'This past year put a spotlight on online education like never before, while programs like Connections Academy's being around for more than two decades and shaping thousands of creative and resilient individuals in a virtual classroom setting. The increased interest in our programmes shows that the pandemic was a turning point for modern learning and online learning leaving a lasting mark.'

Setting itself apart from short-term online education solutions, Connections Academy has ingrained flexibility and technology into its programmes to create a personalised approach to learning. This model enables students to take ownership of their own unique educational journeys, where they are supported along the way by specially trained teachers and administrators.

Connections Academy parents are consistently pleased with their students' academic performance and overall experience, as reinforced by the 2020 Parent Satisfaction Survey. Among its key findings, 96% of parents agree their child is receiving a quality education through Connections Academy, while 96%of parents agree their child is being prepared for future success.

To learn more about Connections Academy schools, visit www.connectionsacademy.com.

About Pearson

Learning is the most powerful force for change in the world. More than 20,000 Pearson employees deliver our products and services in nearly 200 countries, all working towards a common purpose - to help everyone achieve their potential through learning. We do that by providing high quality, digital content and learning experiences, as well as assessments and qualifications that help people build their skills and grow with the world around them. We are the world's leading learning company. Learn more at pearsonplc.com.

About Connections Academy

Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for K-12 students. With 20 years of expertise in online learning, we know how to create 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. 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 https://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com Connections Academy is part of the global learning company Pearson.