Southeast Wisconsin families invited to learn about virtual schooling at Wisconsin Connections Academy Information Sessions
Parents of students who are looking for an alternative to their current school or just want to learn more about their education options are invited to Information Sessions hosted by Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA), the state’s original K-8 tuition-free, highly accountable virtual public school that enrolls approximately 400 students across the state.
The free Information Sessions will be held at the following times:
• Milwaukee – Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., Best Western Airport & Conference Center (5105 S. Howell Ave.)
• Racine – Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m., Racine Marriott (7111 Washington Ave.)
• Glendale – Thursday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m., Radisson North Shore (7065 N. Port Washington Rd.)
• Pewaukee – Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., Country Springs Hotel (2810 Golf Rd.)
The sessions will include one-on-one time with WCA teachers, plus the opportunity to look at the curriculum, sample lessons, view the school’s Learning Management System, learn about Wisconsin’s February Open Enrollment period (Feb. 1 through Feb. 19) and more. Online sessions will also be available if families cannot attend info sessions in person. Registration is required for online sessions.
WCA will also be hosting a party for current families, as well as families looking into the WCA program, on Friday, Feb. 12, at the Discovery Center in Milwaukee. People can meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Compass Room for an orientation and scavenger hunt throughout the museum, and lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Lunch and museum entry is free of charge.
“The information sessions and the party are two great ways for parents to learn about the growing trend in education and to meet – face to face – with the people who would be responsible for their child’s virtual schooling,” said Michelle Mueller, principal of WCA. “The most important thing for parents is to research the multiple educational options available for today’s students. There is a lot of information out there, and we encourage people to ask questions.”
WCA is a public school chartered through the Appleton Area School District, and there is no tuition or fee to enroll. Through Wisconsin’s open enrollment law, students who live outside of the district can apply for admission to WCA during Wisconsin’s open enrollment period.
WCA meets the needs of students who, for a variety of reasons, learn better outside of the traditional classroom, but who can still benefit from the resources a public school provides, such as textbooks, course guides, and a loaned computer. Students learn at home under the direction of certified teachers from the Appleton Area School District. Learning Coaches, typically a parent or guardian, assist the students by monitoring their progress in the home.
Mueller said WCA’s state-certified teachers and their relationships with the students and families, coupled with a rigorous, high-quality curriculum, really define the WCA school experience and contribute to students’ academic success. The school also provides opportunities for peer interaction through regular field trips. All WCA students participate in a nationally accredited program that includes a curriculum combining high-quality textbooks from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology resources and hands-on materials.
“Students and teachers must meet the same levels of accountability. Students complete the same state standardized tests as their peers who attend traditional public schools,” said Mueller. “In fact, WCA has annually met national standards established by the federal “No Child Left Behind” statute, based on standardized test participation and performance by all categories of students in WCA, from low-income students to gifted and talented students to children with disabilities.”
Mueller added that WCA also continues to get high marks from parents, who praise its teacher-student interaction, flexible but challenging schoolwork and extracurricular opportunities in its annual Parent Satisfaction Survey. Last year, 96 percent of WCA parents gave the virtual school an “A” or “B” grade, and nearly all parents said they would recommend the WCA to parents whose children are not enrolled in the program.
More information can be found at www.connectionsacademy.com.
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