Minnesota families invited to learn more about full-time online school

(ST PAUL, MN) – Faculty and staff at Minnesota Connections Academy, a K-12 statewide, tuition-free, online public school, welcomed new and returning students back to school this week. As many parents continue to consider different academic options for their children, Minnesota Connections Academy is offering opportunities for families to get more information about learning in a virtual classroom.

Families are invited to attend an upcoming online information session, Thursday, September 14th at Noon. Families who are interested in learning if a full-time online school is the right fit for their child are encouraged to attend. They will have the opportunity to speak to staff members, learn how the online classroom works and how teachers engage and support the students.

“Finding the school environment that meets your student’s needs is an important decision, so I invite families to join us and see how learning in a true virtual classroom setting might make a difference,” said Minnesota Connections Academy Executive Director Brad Swanson. “We are here to show families how our online environment can help students reach their highest academic potential so families can make an informed decision for their student this fall.”

Virtual school is a great fit for a variety of students and each student is unique. Those who attend Minnesota Connections Academy come from different backgrounds and choose full-time online school for various reasons. Some students prefer to take ownership of their education and benefit from the flexibility that virtual school offers, while others are looking for a consistent, safe learning environment.

When the 2021 academic year was about to begin, Grant Meachum and Renata Steve made the decision to enroll their daughter Nataša in Minnesota Connections Academy. During the pandemic, when students were forced to learn remotely, Nataša did very well in the online classroom. As COVID numbers continued to be a concern, they decided to give a more robust online program a try.

According to Grant they realized how the online school provided a flexibility to do the coursework when it worked for their family’s schedule. They also discovered that a lot of time in a brick-and-mortar school was spent waiting, whereas at Minnesota Connections Academy, the student can work and finish assignments at their own speed. So, in the fall of 2022, they enrolled their son Leoš in Minnesota Connections Academy as he entered Kindergarten.

“It’s extremely satisfying to see both of our kids succeeding academically, especially when there are so many news articles about students falling behind academically following the pandemic,” Grant said. “What I like most about Connections Academy is that it gives our kids a chance to learn and achieve academically in their own way.”

Minnesota Connections Academy recently received very high marks and is considered a high-quality academic option according to its 2022-2023 Parent Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey that provides families with the opportunity to review their experience with the full-time online public school.

Ninety-three percent of the parents who responded said they would recommend Minnesota Connections Academy and 95 percent of families also agree their children are satisfied with the program. In addition, 96 percent of parents agree the program gives them greater opportunity to be more involved with their child’s education.

Ninety-six percent of the parents agreed the Minnesota Connections Academy curriculum is high quality while 97 percent of parents are satisfied with the helpfulness of their child’s teachers. Ninety-five percent of parents also agree Minnesota Connections Academy’s use of computers and the learning platform improve the overall learning experience.

Enrollment for Minnesota Connections Academy for the 2023-2024 remains to be open. For more information about Minnesota Connections Academy visit www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com or call 1-800-382-6010.

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 2021 survey was conducted from January 17 to March 3, 2023, by Shapiro + Raj, an independent market research company that created the questionnaire, collected the data and tabulated the results. Parents of all students enrolled at the time of the survey were invited to complete the survey online. A WebMail invitation was sent to each parent, and one response per household was submitted.

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About Minnesota Connections Academy

Minnesota Connections Academy (MNCA) is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for K-12 students. Every day, we 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. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com.