Ohio Connections Academy Achieves 'Excellent' Rating on 2009-2010 Report Card From Ohio Department of Education

CINCINNATI, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio Connections Academy (OCA), a leading virtual public school, or e-school, has been designated "Excellent" by the Ohio Department of Education for achieving a value-added measure of "above expected growth" for the second consecutive year.  The rating and value-added result demonstrate that students are making significant gains in academic achievement and the school is exceeding state standards for quality.  OCA serves students in grades K-12 from across the state and expects to serve more than 3,000 students in the 2010-2011 school year.  Enrollment for the upcoming school year is going on now.

"Our report card reflects the dedication and hard work of our teachers and staff and acknowledges our commitment to raising student achievement and providing an exceptional learning environment," said Ray Lambert, superintendent of OCA.  "Our 'Excellent' rating also illustrates that our personalized instruction, innovative use of technology, and flexibility produce academic success for our students.  I am proud of our teachers and staff and the excellent education we provide for students throughout Ohio."

The value-added measure is calculated for grades four through eight in reading and mathematics.  A composite result also is available for each school.  The measure shows whether a school meets, exceeds, or is below one year of growth for its students.  OCA exceeded the value-added measure for the second consecutive year.

In addition to exceeding the value-added measure, OCA's performance index score continues to increase.  The performance index score measures the achievement of every student on tested subjects.

At OCA, each student receives a personalized learning plan that addresses his or her strengths and weaknesses.  Students also can work ahead or spend extra time on a subject, according to their abilities and interests.  Because of OCA's personalized learning approach, students have made significant gains in academic achievement.

"Ohio Connections Academy's report card is a testament to the school's high-quality educators and rigorous curriculum," said Gene Schuster, president of OCA's board of directors.  "While we are pleased with the results, we are committed to improving our program each year and are intensifying our efforts to assure student success again in 2010-2011."

Along with achieving an "Excellent" rating from the state, OCA also recently earned continuing accreditation from the North Central Association, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED.  NCA CASI accreditation is a distinctive mark of quality that recognizes a school's commitment to excellence in education.  OCA has been accredited since August 2005.  

About Ohio Connections Academy

Ohio Connections Academy delivers a personalized public education that combines state-certified teachers, a print-rich curriculum, technology tools and community experiences.  Teachers develop a personalized learning plan for each student, deliver instruction, evaluate assignments and work directly with students via the phone and Internet.  An adult Learning Coach assists the student in the home with day-to-day activities.  Because it is a public school, there are no costs for tuition, fees or supplies.  The school loans each family a computer, reimburses them for an Internet connection and provides all curriculum materials – including textbooks, workbooks and hands-on materials.  For more information, visit www.connectionsacademy.com/ohio-school or call 800-382-6010.

SOURCE Ohio Connections Academy