Connections Academy
{{Short description|Virtual online school}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Connections Academy
| logo = Connections Academy Logo.jpg
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| type = For-profit
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| industry = education management organization
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| founded = {{Start date and age|2001}}
| founder = Barbara Dreyer
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| hq_location = 10960 Grantchester Way
| hq_location_city = Columbia, Maryland
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| parent = Pearson Education
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| website = {{URL|https://www.connectionsacademy.com/}}
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Connections Academy is a for-profit corporate provider of online school products and services to virtual schools for grades K-12, including full-time online school. In the United States the company is noted as Connections Academy, and for students abroad it is known as International Connections Academy.{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/expat/2016/01/20/do-the-math-the-percentage-of-expat-homeschoolers-is-growing/|title=Do the Math: The Percentage of Expat Homeschoolers Is Growing|last=Mitic|first=Ginanne Brownell|newspaper=WSJ|access-date=2016-10-11}} Based in Columbia, Maryland,{{Cite news|url=https://patch.com/maryland/columbia/pearson-opens-new-office-downtown-columbia|title=Pearson Opens New Office in Downtown Columbia|date=2017-12-07|work=Columbia, MD Patch|access-date=2018-04-04|language=en-US}} Connections Academy is part of Pearson's Online and Blended Learning K-12 group. Online schools are an alternative to traditional public schools.{{Cite web|url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2011/07/26/competing-for-the-virtual-student.aspx|title=Competing for the Virtual Student -- THE Journal|website=THE Journal|access-date=2016-10-11}} Similar to charter schools, they are subsidized by the state. Although they contract with many non-profit schools, they are a for-profit corporation.{{cite web|title = Connections Academy- Homeschooling Resources|url = http://www.homeschool.com/resources/ConnectionsAcademy/|access-date = 15 September 2015|publisher = Homeschool.com|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151108093536/http://www.homeschool.com/resources/ConnectionsAcademy/|archive-date = 8 November 2015|url-status = dead}}
History
In the spring of 2001, Sylvan Ventures started a separate business unit to create a virtual school program with its first virtual schools in Wisconsin and Colorado.{{Cite news|url=http://www.wsfa.com/story/36719023/schools-of-the-future-inside-alabamas-virtual-public-school|title=Schools of the future: Inside Alabama's virtual public school|last=Henry|first=Bryan|access-date=2017-10-31|language=en}} The company first began providing online school services to two schools in the fall of 2002. In September 2004, Connections Academy was sold to an investor group led by Apollo Management, L.P. The company now operates public schools under management contracts from charter schools or school districts.
A new corporate entity called Connections Education was established in early 2011.{{Cite web|title = Multinational giant set to run first virtual school in Maine|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/03/16/real_giant_set_to_run_first_virtual_school_in_maine_/|website = The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|access-date = 2015-09-16|first=Tom|last=Bell |date=16 March 2014 }} In this same year, on September 15, 2011, Pearson, an international learning company, acquired Connections Education for more than $400 million.[http://www.connectionsacademy.com/news/pearson-acquisition.aspx Connections Academy], retrieved 2012-08-01
Connections Education is currently Pearson's Online & Blended Learning division, which delivers the Connections Academy online public school program and other online learning services called Pearson Connexus to educational institutions and other organizations nationwide. A private online school called International Connections Academy serves students across the globe. In 2019 it was announced that UK-based Harrow school would deliver an online education option leveraging Pearson Connexus.{{Cite news|date=2019-09-18|title=Harrow school sets up online sixth form for global pupils|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/education-49720716|access-date=2022-02-22}}
== Notable alumni ==
- Ashley Argota, actress and singer
- Kiri Baga, figure skater, Minnesota Connections Academy
- Karen Chen, figure skater
- Nathan Chen, figure skater, California Connections Academy
- Ria Cheruvu, child prodigy, Arizona Connections Academy
- Eugenia Cooney, internet personality
- Grace McCallum, artistic gymnast
- Mirai Nagasu, figure skater, Capistrano Connections Academy
- Eric Sjoberg, figure skater, Capistrano Connections Academy
- Vincent Zhou, figure skater, Capistrano Connections Academy
= Notable staff =
- Cheron Brylski, speechwriter, helped establish Louisiana Connections Academy
- Casey J, gospel singer, elementary school math teacher at Georgia Connections Academy
- Frank Riggs, politician, founding board president at Arizona Connections Academy
- Matt Wingard, politician, spokesman for Oregon Connections Academy
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.advanc-ed.org/ AdvancED Accreditation Commission]
{{Pearson}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Education companies established in 2001
Category:Companies based in Columbia, Maryland
Category:Education companies of the United States
Category:American educational websites
Category:2001 establishments in the United States