Scripps National Spelling Bee and K12 Form Partnership to Greatly Enhance Local Spelling Bees

CINCINNATI, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Winning a school spelling bee has always been a great achievement. Now it is more rewarding than ever.

To further honor student achievement and promote academic excellence, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has formed a groundbreaking partnership with K12 Inc., America's largest provider of online school programs for students in kindergarten through high school.

Beginning this month, school spelling bee champions will be awarded the K12 Prize for School Champions – a foreign language course from K12's award-winning and innovative powerspeaK12 world language program. This prize gives students the opportunity to study a foreign language at the level of their choice.

Used by students around the world, K12's powerspeaK12 world language courses are revolutionizing the way students learn languages. PowerspeaK12 courses include highly interactive Web-based lessons that incorporate fun games and engaging visuals designed specifically for young minds. It is a proven and highly effective way for students of all ages to learn new languages. PowerspeaK12 offers multiple level courses in Latin, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.  

"K12 is proud to partner with the Scripps National Spelling Bee," said Celia Stokes, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for K12. "The Scripps National Spelling Bee is an event that celebrates academic excellence and inspires students to achieve. Celebrating academic excellence and student achievement is a shared goal of K12 and the Scripps National Spelling Bee, so we're pleased to offer powerspeaK12's foreign language courses to deserving students who work hard, and share a love of learning and passion for knowledge."

Tens of thousands of schools and millions of students are set to participate in the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee program. Local spelling bee championships take place in January, February and March. Bee Week 2011 will be May 29 through June 3 at the Gaylord National hotel near Washington, D.C.: Round One will be May 30 and Rounds Two and Three will be June 1. The Semifinals and Championship Finals will take place on June 2.

"For more than eight decades, the Scripps National Spelling Bee has been synonymous with the highest levels of academic achievement. Its brand stands for classroom excellence, which is why K12 is a natural partner for the Bee," said Paige Kimble, director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. "This partnership with K12 strengthens the Bee's relationships with schools and provides powerful incentives for students who understand the enduring value of learning languages."

About K12 Inc.

K12 Inc.  (NYSE: LRN; www.k12.com), a technology-based education company, is the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs for students in kindergarten through high school.  K12 provides its curriculum and academic services to public and private online schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families.  

Founded in 2000, K12 has provided over 2 million courses – core subjects, AP®, world languages, credit recovery, and electives – to more than 200,000 students worldwide.  Over 90 percent of parents surveyed are satisfied with the K12 program and agree that their children have benefited academically with K12.  Students graduating from K12 virtual schools have been accepted to hundreds of higher education institutions including many of the nation's top-ranked colleges and universities.

K12 is accredited through AdvancED, the world's largest education community.  More information on K12 can be found at:  www.K12.com.

About the Scripps National Spelling Bee

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's largest and longest-running educational program. The purpose of the Scripps National Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all of their lives. Visit www.spellingbee.com for more information about the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company. Scripps (NYSE: SSP; www.scripps.com) is a diverse, 132-year-old media enterprise with interests in television stations, newspapers, local news and information Web sites, and features syndication.

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company