New Online High School from Wisconsin Connections Academy Available for 2011-2012 School Year

Appelton, WI (Vocus/PRWEB) February 17, 2011

Wisconsin families looking to switch schools have a new option for virtual high school -- Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA), the states high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school, is now offering online learning for grades K-12 starting in the 2011-2012 school year. This years public school open enrollment period started February 7th and will run through February 25th, 2011.

We have received numerous requests from satisfied parents who want their children to continue with the Connections Academy program beyond eighth grade, said Michelle Mueller, principal of WCA. I encourage families to learn about WCAs new online high school and our well-established K-8 program at one of the upcoming parent information sessions planned throughout the state. This next year is going to be very exciting for all of us.

In addition to providing a seamless K-12 school experience, WCAs comprehensive new high school program will be a challenging, standards-based curriculum offering high-schoolers a wide variety of rigorous courses that provide a solid foundation for whatever path they choose upon graduation attending college or starting a career. Each high school student will be loaned a laptop for the year. Core courses cover subjects in math, science, language arts and social studies; electives range from foreign languages to digital technology, journalism and art history. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses will also available, along with comprehensive, academic, college and career-planning guidance services.

WCA, Wisconsins first virtual school, meets the needs of students who, for a variety of reasons, learn better outside of the traditional classroom, but who can still benefit from the resources a public school provides like a high-quality curriculum, textbooks and lesson plans. Students learn at home under the direction of state-certified teachers from the Appleton Area School District. Learning Coaches, typically a parent or guardian, assist the students by monitoring their progress in the home.

Mueller added that virtual schooling continues to grow in popularity in the state of Wisconsin. In fact, according to a new study by iNACOL, Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning, Wisconsin had 3,927 students enrolled in full-time online charter schools in the 2009-2010 school year, and that number is expected to grow in future years.

Wisconsin Connections Academy continues to be a popular choice for families not only because of the flexibility it provides, but also because of its commitment to meeting rigorous state, regional and national standards for academic excellence, said Mueller.

WCAs successful and proven track record is widely known and a driver of parent and student interest in the online school. WCA consistently meets Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, a measurement defined by the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and district is performing academically according to results on standardized tests. Once again, in the 2009-2010 school year, WCA received successful AYP marks across all objectives. Also in a 2009 Connections Academy survey of parents with students enrolled in WCA, 95 percent of families in WCA gave the program an A or B when it came to grading the school. More than 96 percent of families said theyd recommend WCA to families with children attending other schools.

These favorable results help demonstrate our commitment to student success and serve as useful measures for parents comparing the public school options available in our state, especially during this open enrollment season, Mueller added.

WCA is a public school chartered through the Appleton Area School District, and there is no tuition or fee to enroll. Through Wisconsins open enrollment law, students who live outside of the district can apply for admission to WCA during Wisconsins open enrollment period. To learn more about WCA visit our website, Facebook page, or call 1.800.382-6010.

VIDEO: A Day-in-the-Life of a Connections Academy Family

About Connections Academy

Connections Academy is a leading, fully accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, full-time and part-time private school programs, and turnkey online programs for bricks and mortar schools, Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience our online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. In the 201011 school year, Connections Academy will serve students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming through its public school programs. It serves students worldwide through the online private school, National Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com

###

Find More Textbooks College Press Releases

Pepperdine University Graziadio School Study Shows Confidence of Privately-held Business Owners Up 53% Over Past Year

Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) June 06, 2011

According to the results from the recent Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project (PPCMP), business owner confidence has increased 53% from Spring 2010 to Spring 2011. Similarly, business owners outlook on growth opportunities has increased 20% over the past year.

While business owners are enthusiastic about growing, many of them lack the financial resources to do so. Nearly 95% of the 1,221 privately-held businesses that responded to the survey report having the enthusiasm to execute growth strategies, yet just 53% said that they have the necessary financial resources to successfully execute their expansion plans.

Approximately 54% of those businesses attempting to raise capital in the last six months were unsuccessful and of those that were successful, approximately 59% of them secured bank loans followed by 20% who secured financing from friends and family. Just 13% of privately-held businesses that responded to the survey reported securing funding from Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists and Private Equity combined.

Businesses need capital to grow and build value, but unfortunately the supply is not meeting the demand, said Dr. John Paglia, lead researcher of the Pepperdine Private Capital Markets Project and associate professor of finance at Pepperdine Universitys Graziadio School of Business and Management. Increasing availability to all sources of capital, especially bank loans, will give businesses the resources they need to hire more employees and expand their operations both of which will improve our economy.

Findings from Summer 2011 PPCMP report revealed that access to capital is very competitive: banks denied approximately 60% of loan applications over the last six months; Angel Investors funded just one business plan of 25 reviewed; Venture Capitalists funded just one business plan of 80 reviewed; and Private Equity funds invested in just one business plan out of approximately 150 reviewed.

Other key findings:

The 2nd Annual American Pole Fitness Championships (A Pole Dancing Sport Event), Special Guest Stars, 6-13 Year Old Kids In Aerial & Pole Performance

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 13, 2011

The American Pole Fitness Championships (APFC) will be held on October 14, 2011 at the Manhattan Center, located at 311 West 34th Street, New York City. The star-studded gala will be heralded by TV personality Jenna Morasca of CBS TV hit series, sole winner, Survivor and the newly launched Everyday Health TV show. The actress, an avid pole fitness practitioner herself, will be joined by New Yorks very own Comedian Mona Cooper who will be returning for the 2nd time to MC the event.

Among the guest performers are 7 kids, 6-13 year old pole and aerial artists accompanied by their parents and teacher. They will dazzle the audience with their pole and acrobatic skills. It will be a first in the history of the sport normally reserved for adults. The affair is being billed as a family friendly event, welcoming kids of all ages. Kids under 13 years of age are allowed free admittance to the event.

American Pole Fitness Association (APFA) is working towards achieving broad demographic & national recognition for pole fitness as a mainstream sport, focusing attentions on the physical skills, gravity-defying technical abilities, poise, grace and elegance of performers. APFA is an association established to educate and promote the art and sport of pole fitness in the United States and abroad and a prominent part of the International Pole Fitness Federation.

APFA is the brainchild of fashion model turned singer-songwriter/entrepreneur Tinu. Tinu holds a degree in Finance and Marketing from the NYU, Stern School of Business. She is the publisher of the highly successful glossy magazine, Pole Spin, dedicated to the sport worldwide and the first and only to gain national and international retail distribution for the publication, available at such prominent retail outlets such as Barnes & Nobles bookstores. She is working on releasing her first book (Nov 1, 2011) and a shoe themed magazine for Shoeholics Club, a shoe admirers social network website. Pole Spin magazine will be celebrating its one-year anniversary at the championships after party and using the opportunity give back through its charity initiative drive, Pole For A Cause. A portion of the sales of the magazine at the event will be donated to the HIV infected kids at Toto Love Foundation and American Cancer Societys Making Strides in honor or Breast Cancer Awareness.

For any press related inquiries and for Press passes to attend the event please contact Jasmine Dale, Executive Assistant or Tinu the founder and organizer at 917-749-2732 admin(at)americanpolefitness(dot)com

###

More Barnes & Press Releases