Steubenville City Schools now offering a virtual program to students

District partners with Lincoln Interactive to offer cutting-edge online program to area students

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Steubenville City Schools is proud to announce that it has partnered with the National Network of Digital Schools and Lincoln Interactive to create the new Steubenville Cyber Academy (SCA).

Dr. Charles Kokiko, Director of Curriculum for Steubenville City Schools, said the decision to develop a new virtual program was two-fold: to provide students with a more flexible learning environment and to win back students from the district who had open-enrolled into other statewide virtual learning programs.

"We have been losing students to online schools for some time," said Dr. Kokiko, "so we are hoping this new program will bring those students back."

Steubenville Cyber Academy features the Lincoln Interactive curriculum. Lincoln Interactive is the nation's premier online and blended learning curriculum, offering students more than 250 core and elective courses, including five languages and the intensive STEM-focused science program, Cutting Edge Science.

"Lincoln Interactive is a quality product, more sound than any of the others that we looked at, and we are proud to offer it to our students," said Kokiko. "The STEM offerings and the World Languages courses, in particular, are very high quality and engaging. I learned about the success that other programs had with the curriculum, as well as the technology and support Lincoln Interactive offers, so we knew it was the perfect fit for our program."

Steubenville Cyber Academy is a statewide program, open to all Ohio students in grades K-12, with the district providing each student with the technology needed to get a quality education from the comfort of their own home. However, local students who enroll in SVA will have access to some additional learning programs that require students to be on campus, including earning college credit through Steubenville City School's early college program with Franciscan University.

"SCA students will have the option to take classes online but also face-to-face, particularly at the high school level," said Kokiko. "High school students will also have the option to earn college credit by taking classes offered through Franciscan University, and for that they would be required to take their classes on site."

In addition to the strong curriculum offerings, flexible, student-centered educational opportunities, and support from the Steubenville City School District faculty and staff, a student who enrolls in Steubenville Cyber Academy will have access to the district's full extracurricular offerings.

"The difference between enrolling in Steubenville Cyber Academy and another online learning program offered in Ohio is that our students can do all the extras â€" the clubs, the sports, and all the activities offered by Steubenville schools," said Kokiko.

SCA students will have access to the district's 24 high school, 15 middle school, and 10 elementary extracurricular activities, everything from band and choir to participation in school plays and civic organizations. Students will be able to participate in the district's athletic programs, including 15 varsity sports, and have access to the athletic facilities, such as the wellness center, weight room, and batting cages.

Enrollment in the Steubenville Cyber Academy is now open to all Ohio students in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

For more information on enrollment and curriculum, contact SCA at 740-461-9511 or online at www.steubenvillecyber.org.

Contact: Toni Craig, 724-544-3744, [email protected]

SOURCE National Network of Digital Schools