Media Contact: Dee Ann Deaton, in behalf of Sequoia Choice Distance Learning

Mobile: (602) 402-6306

Email: deeaz@cox.net

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release, 4/24/2008 10:28:05 AM

Students and Parents Rally at the Capital to Save Their Schools from 25% School Funding Cut Proposal

On Tuesday April 29, 2008 from 10am until 2pm students, faculty and parents from 14 distant learning schools will rally at the Arizona State Capitol to urge Governor Janet Napolitano and members of the state legislature to oppose a proposed $30 million (25%) school funding cut. The proposed cut would take effect on July 1, 2008, with the potential of putting many schools out of business and curtailing the ability of the remaining schools to meet the needs of over 20,000 distance learning students currently being served by; Arizona Connections Academy, Arizona Distance Learning/Sequoia Choice School, Arizona Virtual Academy, Humanities and Sciences Academy, Kids at Hope Academy, Pinnacle Virtual School, Primavera Technical Learning Center and the Deer Valley Unified, Lake Havasu Unified, Marana Unified , Mesa Unified, Peoria Unified, Tempe Union and Tucson Unified School Districts.

These distance learning programs are already threatened with funding cuts of up to 50% due to a change in the business rules recently announced by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). These rules will eliminate the flexibility inherent with distance learning by reducing the number of days a student can receive credit for studying to just five days a week. If a student studies more than the requisite time on one of the five days they will not be able to bank their hours, thus eliminating the benefit currently enjoyed by many working, chronically ill or highly motivated students.

In addition, instead of funding the education of students based on actual learning time throughout the whole year, ADE's new rules dictate that schools will be funded only for students who attend within the first 100 days of school. Most distance learning schools enroll students year round and this would eliminate school funding for students who enroll after the first 100 days. If a student determined in February that they needed to take an additional class to graduate in May, the option of distance learning to take that class would, in most cases, no longer exist. This change will also eliminate credit recovery for thousands of students who have used distance learning courses to graduate on time, get ahead or keep up with their class.

According to Ron Neil, Superintendent of Sequoia Choice, the flexibility created by distance learning programs enables many former drop-outs, delinquents, pregnant, adjudicated or chronically ill students to graduate, and secure a greater education without the undesirable elements attached to their neighborhood schools. Many other students have been able to complete challenging and stimulating courses at their own pace and on a timetable that allows them to graduate early or with their peers. ADE's new rules would pigeonhole Arizona's children into a one-size-fits-all mode and adversely affect thousands of working students whose shifts change from week to week; students with chronic physical, emotional or mental illness that prevents consistent and consecutive study days; students with a desire to get ahead, caught up or graduate early; and students who otherwise need more flexibility to obtain a quality education.

The distance learning programs employ technology assisted learning methodologies, such as computer assisted learning systems, virtual classrooms, virtual tutoring, electronic field trips, online help desks, group chat sessions and non-computer based activities to address the unique needs and learning styles of students who choose not to attend traditional classrooms. Currently, seven school districts and seven charter schools are authorized to offer distance learning programs.

 While the distance learning programs differ from school to school, most pupils either access coursework online “off-site” or physically attend computer equipped classrooms “on-site” at the school. “Off-site” students can take online courses at their home or at community-based sites with access to online instruction. Student communication generally occurs through email, phone or personal contact. Attendance is recorded through self-reported daily logs (with parental or site advisor's verification) or automated databases that track the various activities, assignments and communications of the students. The courses are generally self-paced, require graded assessments and must be completed within a certain period of time to qualify for credit. Throughout the US, annual enrollment at distance learning schools continues to grow by nearly 40%..

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To schedule on site and/or day of the rally interviews contact Dee Ann Deaton at (602) 402-6306.