BALTIMORE, June 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Connections
Academy, a leading provider of fully online K-12 schools, has
released results today from its annual parent survey; shedding
light on why parents enroll students in online public school and
how satisfied they are with the virtual school experience.
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Among the top reasons families choose Connections-supported
virtual public schools: 46% stated the family/student's need for
more flexibility than is possible in a traditional school; 43%
want a change from their local school; 34% desire a safe
learning environment (encompassing both physical and social
safety); 26% of parents want more involvement with their child's
education. Other parents specifically cited health concerns,
bullying, and their child's pursuit of sports or arts as a driver
for enrollment. The results are similar to last year's
findings, with some small shifts. In 2015, slightly more
families indicated "flexibility" as a reason for enrollment (46% in
2015 VS 44% in 2014); slightly fewer families "wanted a change from
their local school" (43% in 2015 VS 45% in 2014).
Quality and high levels of satisfaction are also key
themes among the results with 93% of parents stating that they
would recommend Connections Academy to other families, 95% agreeing
that the curriculum is high quality, and 96% expressing
satisfaction with the helpfulness of their child's teacher.
Survey data is from the 2015 Connections Academy Parent
Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey now in its 13th
year. All families with students enrolled at the time of the survey
were invited to participate; 38% of families responded to the
survey, totaling more than 18,000 respondents.
In terms of letter grades, 90% of parents gave their Connections
Academy online public school an "A" or "B" grade. This compares to
an overall public school rating (from the 46th Annual Phi Delta
Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public
Schools), in which 67% of public school parents gave the public
school their oldest child attends an "A" or a "B" grade.[1]
"Beyond satisfaction as evidenced in enrollment growth, the
parent survey provides vital information that helps shape the
online school programs we deliver. Being responsive to families is
central to our mission; we take the results very seriously,"
commented Dr. Steven Guttentag,
president and cofounder of Connections Academy. "Parents today have
choices when it comes to K12 education; they are forging individual
education pathways that best meet the needs of their children. It's
really gratifying to hear directly from these parents that they
love Connections schools, their teachers, the curriculum, and that
we're helping so many young people find success."
In the 2014-15 school year, 29 Connections Academy-supported
full-time online public schools served over 60,000 students in 25
states. The new North Carolina Connections Academy joins the list
of Connections-supported schools in the 2015-16 school year.
Additional highlights from the 2015 Connections Academy Parent
Satisfaction Survey:
- 91% of parentsagree that their child/children are making good
progress at Connections Academy
- 89% of parents agree that their child/children are enjoying the
program
- 93% of parents agree that they are satisfied with the variety
of learning activities provided by the program
- 92% of parents agree that the program is flexible
- 93%of parents agree that the use of technology is improving the
learning experience
- 84% of Connections Academy parents say they are more satisfied
with the virtual school than their child's previous school
- 92% of parents agree that the teachers improve the learning
experience
Overall, parents continue to give Connections Academy schools
high marks for academic rigor, program flexibility, quality
teachers, and for delivering high levels of student
achievement.
Although no individual survey responses were accessible to
Connections Academy, parents were invited to share their
thoughts. Selected parent quotes include:
"The teachers and support staff are wonderful. I feel like
they truly care about the students and their learning. They go
above and beyond to make sure the student is succeeding. This has
been the best educational experience I have ever had for my
children…" – Iowa Connections Academy parent
"My son is excited about learning again and his teacher is
attentive and kind to him. I feel like he gets all the help he
needs, I also like the flexibility of his schedule." – Arizona
Connections Academy parent
"My child enjoys the live lessons and working at his own
pace. He also likes that he does not have to stop working on a
lesson because the clock says it is time for another class to
start." – Oregon Connections Academy parent
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 2015 survey was
conducted from January 13 to February 28,
2015 by Shapiro and Raj, an independent market research
company which created the questionnaire, collected the data, and
tabulated the results. No individual responses were accessible to
Connections Academy. 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. Thirty-eight percent of the 47,000 households with
students enrolled in a Connections Academy school at the time of
the survey responded to the survey.
Enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year is going on
now and information sessions are taking place across the
country for families interested in learning more about Connections
Academy virtual public schools. Visit
http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com to learn more.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality,
highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K
through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, and full-time and
part-time private school programs, Connections delivers superior,
personalized education for students, with the freedom and
flexibility to experience our online learning community from
anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven
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. In
the 2015-16 school year, 30 Connections Academy-supported full-time
virtual public schools will serve students in 26 states. It serves
students worldwide through the online private school, International
Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through
12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For
more information, call 800–382–6010 or visit
www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy and its parent
company, Connections Education, are part of the global learning
company Pearson (NYSE:PSO).
[1] William J. Bushaw and
Shane J. Lopez, The 46th Annual Phi
Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public
Schools, "Betting on Teachers." Phi Delta Kappan, September 2014.
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SOURCE Connections Academy