Education board nixes virtual school expansion

LITTLE ROCK — The state Board of Education voted today to deny a request to expand the Arkansas Virtual Academy in Little Rock.

The school sought to raise its enrollment cap from 500 to 1,500. The state board voted 7-1 to deny the request after several members expressed reservations.

The academy, known as ARVA for short, is an open-enrollment charter school that offers instruction over the Internet to students in grades K-8. It is affiliated with Virginia-based company K12, which provides most of its software.

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Gila Prep will close its doors

The charter school has had a presence in the Gila Valley since 2000 — first as Pathways to College. Two years later the school’s name was changed to Gila Preparatory Academy.

Approximately 80 students in grades nine through 12 attended classes this year. Those who did not graduate this year will have to attend other area high schools. Those high schools are Safford, Mt. Graham, Thatcher, Pima and Fort Thomas.

“There has been an incredible amount of support from local school districts,” Wilson said.

He added that some students may want to consider accredited on-line high schools, such as Arizona Virtual Academy.

Wilson said his hope is Gila Prep students will use skills learned at the school to be successful at their new schools.

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Arizona Virtual Academy Celebrates the Graduation of Class of 2011

Arizona Virtual Academy is honored to celebrate the graduation of 95 students as the Class of 2011, the schools largest graduating class to date.

The traditional graduation ceremony took place on May 20 at 6 p.m. at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT).

This year’s keynote speaker was Arizona House of Representatives member Steve Court, who has served on the Education and Appropriations committees for 3 years, and was Chairman of the Higher Education, Innovation and Reform committee during this past legislative session. Representative Court was recently elected by the Republicans in the House of Representatives to serve as the Majority Leader.

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Chandler girl making name for herself in equestrian discipline

By attending the online high school Arizona Connections Academy, a tuition-free, fully accredited virtual public school, it frees her up to live her dream. She said she maintains a 4.14 grade-point average and is on pace to graduate in three years.

Her 18-year-old sister Elizabeth also went through the online schooling and is now an actress in Los Angeles.

Annie Chamberlain said both of her daughters found a passion at a young age and never backed off.

Catherine began riding at age 5 when she’d stay with her aunt, a horse trainer, in Payson. She began to take it seriously at 9 when she got her own pony.

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Gila Prep will close its doors

Approximately 80 students in grades nine through 12 attended classes this year. Those who did not graduate this year will have to attend other area high schools. Those high schools are Safford, Mt. Graham, Thatcher, Pima and Fort Thomas.

“There has been an incredible amount of support from local school districts,” Wilson said.

He added that some students may want to consider accredited on-line high schools, such as Arizona Virtual Academy.

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Virtual school hosts free information session in Glendale

On Thursday, teachers from Arizona Connections Academy will give a free information session for families interested in the virtual school.

The session runs 6:30-8 p.m. at the Glendale Adult Center, 5970 W. Brown Street.

Arizona Connections Academy is a tuition-free, fully accredited virtual public school for K-12 students who reside anywhere in the state. Students attend classes from home.

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AZ Connections Academy to host info session

Arizona Connections Academy, a tuition-free, fully accredited virtual public school, will host a free information session from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St. for families interested in learning about its online program and individualized approach to education.

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e2020, Inc. Selected as a 2011 CODiE Awards Finalist

“This recognition confirms our web-based model, unique teacher-led video delivery, and innovative instructional approach offer the most engaging and individualized eLearning solutions for public and private schools,” said Michael Humphrey, President of e2020, Inc. “We are honored the CODiE Awards recognize e2020, Inc., as a leading virtual school solution for students, whether used in traditional classrooms, blended or hybrid learning environments, or one hundred percent online virtual learning.”

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Grand Canyon University freezes tuition, hopes to attract students

But at Grand Canyon University, a private Christian institution, tuition, although higher at $16,500 a year, isn’t changing and hasn’t since 2009.

For Brian Mueller, the school’s CEO, freezing tuition isn’t so much an attempt to lure students away from state universities as a way to attract high-school graduates who would normally leave the state to attend a public or private school.

With the school’s unique business structure as a publicly traded company and with revenue from 40,000 online students, a virtual student body dwarfing the 3,000 students on campus, there was just no need to raise tuition, he said.

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High marks for online school

Connor Velasco’s school is at home.

But he’s not homeschooled. Like about 25 students in the Flagstaff area and 1,500 across the state, the sixth-grader is enrolled in Arizona Connections Academy, an online school that allows him to work at his own pace.

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