The Rhode Island Connections Academy — the latest cohort in a national program run by Pearson that provides individualized, virtual education for students who wish to learn online rather than in-person — has grown since its inception at the beginning of September.

According to Tracey McGee-Moreira, a former Barrington elementary school principal who has been chosen as the new school leader for Rhode Island Connections Academy, the program has grown from from just three participants last month to 75, spanning 10 school districts across the state, as of Monday afternoon.

“Parents are increasingly looking at the changing landscape of education,” McGee-Moreira said in a press release announcing her as the program’s leader, “and this online program is a new option for them to consider for their K-12 students. We’ve come to realize there are several ways students can learn and I’m very excited about launching Rhode Island Connections Academy for students who want a full-time online option.”

Districts that have already joined include Newport and Tiverton, but Bristol-Warren has not joined or publicly expressed interest in the program at recent school committee meetings.

McGee-Moreira said that she understands each district may have a unique situation making them more or less likely to engage with the program. It costs $9,900 per student for a full year of online enrollment, but unlike having a child pulled out to be home-schooled or sent out-of-district, the student stays a member of their home district and continues to count towards their enrollment numbers, which in turn keeps the money associated with state aid in the district as well. The program bills districts monthly and students can enroll mid-year, while districts only pay for the months that students are enrolled in the program.

“I hope to see more,” McGee-Moreira said on the enrollment numbers thus far. “I don’t know how each school district has presented it to their population. Everybody has done it in their own way.”

McGee-Moreira said that the program is still very new and so there is likely a lot of waiting and seeing going on regarding its efficacy, but that anybody from a district who has questions can contact her at any time.

“I say just give us a call, and ask,” she said.

For her, the benefits are clear. The program provides not only immunocompromised children a safe place to access a nationally-recognized curriculum with individualized support from state-certified educators, it provides an option to the student population that actually found virtual learning a favorable option for their own educational preferences.

“For some kids it’s a preferred alternative method of instruction,” she said. “Some kids flew under virtual learning. For some, it takes away the anxiety and the distractions.”

Info about RI Connections Academy

Rhode Island Connections Academy is a program available through the Warren-based East Bay Educational Collaborative (EBEC) and is available for the current 2021-2022 school year and beyond.

As an online education program, Rhode Island Connections Academy will provide students with the continuous support of state-certified teachers and curriculum that focuses on both academics and social emotional learning. Teachers are specially trained to bring their skills, strategies and personality to the virtual classroom and emphasize the importance of fostering meaningful connections with students and their families.

With Rhode Island Connections Academy, caretakers will be core members of their child’s learning team and are an integral part of how the online program works. As Learning Coaches, caretakers will help teachers provide the support and structure their students need by setting daily routines, ensuring attendance and that their student’s work is complete.

Families interested in Rhode Island Connections Academy are encouraged to call 800-382-6010 and collaborate with their local school district for approval to attend.