Nevada Connections Academy Adds Grades Kindergarten Through Third

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Nevada Connections Academy (NCA), a high-quality, highly accountable distance education public school announced that it has added kindergarten through third grade beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. NCA is a tuition-free public school program, and students from across the state who are entering grades kindergarten through twelve are eligible to apply.

Additionally, NCA has met the No Child Left Behind reading, math and overall Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measures for the 2007-2008 school year, the school’s first year of operation. The school achieved AYP for all grade levels served and was ranked with high achieving status.

AYP, a measure established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, allows states to develop and implement scales for determining whether its schools are making adequate progress each year. The goal of the AYP measure is to eventually have 100 percent of students at all schools achieving state academic standards in at least reading/language arts and math to prepare them for successful futures. It also is to assure that schools are accountable to students, their parents, teachers and the community.

"We are pleased to bring such a high-quality public school option to K-12 students in Nevada. Meeting AYP and expanding the grades we serve is a wonderful way to start the 2008-2009 school year," said Craig Butz, PhD, Nevada Connections Academy principal. "Online education is an innovative option that delivers the flexibility and personalized learning of distance education, while still offering a certified-teacher directed environment. This combination makes Nevada Connections Academy a good education solution for families that seek a quality education in a nontraditional setting."

Prior to this year, online schools were restricted to offering grades four through twelve. The Nevada State Board of Education voted on Saturday, August 9, 2008 to approve the expansion of virtual education to include kindergarten through third grade.

For more information about the Nevada Connections Academy or for the date and location of the next informational session, visit http://www.connectionsacademy.com/.

About Connections Academy

Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high quality, highly accountable virtual public schools in thirteen states operated in partnership with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education. 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 unique Personalized Performance Learning(R) 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. In 2008-2009 Connections Academy will serve students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri (through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program), Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin. In 2008-2009 Connections Academy will offer grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.connectionsacademy.com/

Nevada Connections Academy

CONTACT: Michele Voelkening, +1-702-222-2362, for Nevada ConnectionsAcademy

Web site: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/