[CharterSchools] Virtual Schooling for K-5? Yes, says University View Academy

Thu Jun 1 13:35:42 EDT 2017

Success starts here:Kindergarten at Louisiana’s top academic performing online K-12 charter schoolUniversity View Academy. The2017 Kindergarten graduates of University View Academy; there were also 213UView High School Graduates this year!

Making apublic school decision 
for Louisiana’s littlest learners: 
Whyparents are increasingly looking to Louisiana’s top performing online schoolfor Kindergarten through 5th grade

Parents want to makesure, right from the start, that their little learners are on the right path asthey enter Kindergarten or a public school’s earliest grades. In Louisiana,more and more parents find that path begins at a free public completely online school…UniversityView Academy.
University ViewAcademy serves approximately 2000 families with students enrolled in gradesK-12 every year, from parishes throughout the state. The school opened six yearsago as Louisiana Connections Academy and recently changed its name to emphasizeits educational mission. 
Superintendent LonnieLuce recently announced that every 8th grader is allowed to enter anassociate’s degree track and actually graduate with two years of college creditor an associates degree from a Louisiana community college under their belt—FORFREE! It’s the first such program in the state and all of Louisiana’s 13community colleges are participating.
“As the state’s topacademically performing online school, we have proven that even students at theearliest ages thrive in a tech-world setting,” said Superintendent Dr. LonnieLuce. “To watch how amazing we’ve been with helping parents find a safelearning environment that encourages their direct involvement through anin-home, certified Louisiana education that meets state and national standardsis truly gratifying.”
Said Caprice Abed, whohas two children attending, “Knowing I’m a part of my child’s education is justphenomenal…absolutely phenomenal. You are a key part of your child’s earliestlearning experiences!”
At University ViewAcademy, the at-home parent serves as the early learner’s Learning Coach. Theparent or another designated adult guardian works closely with the UViewelementary teacher to create a supportive learning environment. Teachers areresponsible for the instruction —facilitating lessons, working through thecurriculum and grading assignments—but Learning Coaches help the youngstergrasp the material and develop necessary study skills.
“UView makes it suchan absolutely positive and fulfilling experience,” says Abed. “The curriculumis so clear that it helps make the role of being a Learning Coach for yourchildren very manageable.”
An online Elementarygrade teacher at UView is specially trained in the nuances of teaching a early-gradestudent in an online setting. In a recent parent survey, 97 percent of parentsreported satisfaction with the helpfulness of their online teachers and 93percent of parents rate the teacher response time as excellent or good. 
In the virtual classroom,teachers are able to create the same real-time, lively interactions of atraditional classroom, said Dr. Luce. 
Tammy Morgan is a 4th and 5thgrade Social Studies teacher who says her favorite part about teaching atUniversity View is the ability to collaborate with other teachers as a team.“It allows us to provide our students with a unique opportunity to developacross all content areas." She said, nothing that for some students she’sworked as a team with their English Language Arts and Science/Mathinstructors.  
“In fact, any of our parents and coaches actually get to seeour love of teaching, watching our interacting with their student live andhearing during our live online lessons. It’s an experience you don’tnecessarily get from a brick-and-mortar school."

UniversityView Academy Teacher Tammy Morgan

“While online learningis not for everyone, it is open to ANYone who explores this option andfinds it the right fit for their family and child,” said Dr. Luce. “Enrollmentis open now for all grades, K-12, at UView and we encourage parents of anychild in Louisiana to attend an information session, speak with an enrolledfamily or one of our great teachers, and ask questions. We think you’ll likewhat you find.”
A current schedule ofsuch events can be found online at: www.UniversityView.Academy
            Shelly Centanni, who coordinatesenrollment information sessions, said sometimes parents consider an onlinepublic school because it allows them to better address a child’s healthconcerns, or maybe the flexibility of online school access allows the family topursue arts, sports or travel schedules without interrupting schoolwork. 
“The computer is atool for parent and teacher to manage and track assignments, communicate anddeliver interactive curricular materials. The young student will do most of theactual school work ‘unplugged,’ with textbooks and hands-on experiments UViewprovides—just like a traditional school would,” she said. UView actuallyprovides each student a laptop and a stipend for their internet or satelliteconnection.
And much like theirbrick-and-mortar counterparts, UView school students of all ages have the sameopportunities to interact with teachers and classmates. Aside from the onlineclassroom, statewide field trips, school-sponsored events, clubs and activitiesoffer an opportunity for students to forge friendships and connect face-to-facewith their virtual school community. 
“Our program isintentionally designed to embrace the life outside the classroom, and theflexibility of online learning allows families more time to pursue other socialevents and extra-curricular activities,” said Ms. Centanni. And for the highschoolers, there are the traditional proms and graduation exercise. This year’swas at the Baton Rouge Cane’s River Center.
But the school leadersstress that space is limited.
“We are reallyencouraging the parents of K-5 students in particular to start the enrollmentprocess right now, either meeting us at a face-to-face information session,joining our ‘Ask a Parent’ club or calling us,” Ms. Centanni said.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY VIEWACADEMY (formerly LOUISIANA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY) 
UniversityView Academy, formerly operating as Louisiana Connections Academy, is thestate’s leading provider of high-quality, free public online charter schoolingfor grades K through 12. University View allows students to learn and excel attheir own pace, with individualized instruction by Louisiana certifiedteachers, while offering families the support and flexibility they seek to fittheir lifestyles. At University View Academy, students embrace technology,flourish through innovation, and seek empowerment to become their best self. Asan online charter school, students access their lessons anytime, anywhere witha computer offered by the school. Accountability for meeting high academicstudent performance is monitored by University View Academy’s non-profitcharter board, Wade Henderson, President. The school is headquartered at theRussell J. Henderson Building, 4664 Jamestown Avenue, but accepts students fromany parish in the State of Louisiana.

Cheron Brylski
The Brylski Company
3418 Coliseum Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
www.brylskicompany.com
(504) 897-6110
Cell (504) 460-1468

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