Indiana Connections Academy students return to virtual classroom

More than 5,000 Indiana students recently started the new school year online with Indiana Connections Academy and Indiana Connections Career Academy, tuition-free full-time online public virtual schools serving students statewide in grades K-12 and 6-12, respectively. Both schools have expanded their College and Career Readiness opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year, offering students increased access to career-focused pathways and real-world learning experiences.

New this school year, Indiana Connections Academy students and Indiana Connections Career Academy students in grades 6-12 will now have access to an expanded College and Career Readiness offering designed to help them pursue their passions and prepare for the future. Combining traditional courses with industry-leading, career-focused options and real-world interactions to help build confidence, students develop the right skills, earn industry credentials coveted by employers and have access to virtual internships.

“The start of the new school year allows us to support students in pursuing their education in a manner that suits them best in a stable and consistent learning environment,” said Kelly Simone, executive director for Indiana Connections Academy and Indiana Connections Career Academy. “With our expanded college and career course offerings and personalized support from our dedicated teachers and staff, our students can grow and thrive through customized educational plans.”

Students can hone essential skills like critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and leadership and have access to partnerships like Coursera, Credly, The Home Depot, and the SEMI Foundation.

With Coursera, students can earn entry-level professional certificates from companies like Google, IBM, Meta, and Salesforce. High school students can enhance their career options with access to Credly, an industry-recognized company that awards verified, shareable digital credentials recognized by many employers. Students who complete qualifying courses with passing grades or participate in specific college- and career-related activities earn Credly digital badges.

Students are returning to school shortly after the release of the 2024 Parent Satisfaction Survey, an annual third-party survey that allows families to review their experience with the schools. According to the 2024 Parent Satisfaction Survey results:

  • 97 percent of parents agree the Connections Academy program gives them greater opportunity to be more involved with their child’s education.
  • 93 percent of parents agree that the Connections Academy teachers improve the learning experience.
  • 93 percent of parents agree their child is making good progress.
  • 92 percent of parents who take advantage of their Connections Academy school’s special education services feel their concerns are being addressed.

For more than a decade, Connections Academy schools in Indiana have served thousands of students with a variety of needs by offering a high-quality online program that provides increased flexibility for learning when it works best. Students receive support from highly skilled, state-certified teachers specially trained to bring those skills and their personalities to the virtual classroom. Students have regular opportunities to share ideas, compare experiences, and have fun learning with their peers through online classroom sessions.

Both schools offer a variety of activities throughout the year to help build community and foster relationships, including numerous in-person and virtual field trips, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, student government, and in-person prom and graduation ceremonies. In addition to core classes in math, science, language arts, and social studies, students can choose from various electives, honors courses, and dual credit opportunities. The schools also offer a broad assortment of online clubs, ranging from robotics and gaming to poetry and art.

Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is still underway for students in grades K-12 at Indiana Connections Academy and grades 6-12 at Indiana Connections Career Academy. For more information or to begin the enrollment process, visit IndianaConnectionsAcademy.com and IndianaConnectionsCareerAcademy.com or call 1-833-591-0251.

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 2024 survey was conducted from Jan. 15 to Feb. 26 by Shapiro + Raj, an independent market research company that created the questionnaire, collected the data, and tabulated the results. Parents and caretakers of all students enrolled at the time of the survey were invited to complete the survey online.

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