Net gain? Out-of-state companies bring all-online education to Iowa

Iowa families typically have three education options: public school, private school or home school.

Two public school districts are adding a fourth option.

Clayton Ridge School District in Guttenberg and CAM School District in Anita recently announced plans to open virtual academies in the fall that are operated by for-profit, out-of-state education management companies.

Virtual schools, where students are taught entirely online, are on the rise around the nation, with the International Association for K12 Online Learning listing schools in more than 38 states.

CAM has contracted with Baltimore-based Connections Academy, which operates schools in 20 states, to open the K-12 Iowa Connections Academy. Connections recently was purchased by international education company Pearson, which has offices in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

CAM Superintendent Steve Pelzer would not speculate as to how many students his program would attract.

“This is brand new, but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a need out there,” he said. “I’ve had calls myself from quite a few parents asking about it that currently home-school.”

http://thegazette.com/2012/02/09/net-gain/