After being one of the first two cyber charter schools allowed in Michigan in 2010,
Connections Education noticed that for all the added benefits of online learning, some of their students were looking for a little something more.
“It’s known as blended learning,” says Mickey Revenaugh, executive vice president at Connections Education. “It’s where you’re combining online education, with all its personalization and flexibility, and in person education, with all the guidance that brings.”
Connections Education is now using the blended learning format to create two new high schools in Michigan, one in Grand Rapids and the other in Okemos. Revenaugh is providing technical assistance to the board of the
Nexus Academy of Lansing.
“Michigan is known nationally as having a really robust charter school landscape,” says Revenaugh. “We found that there are quite a few really high quality charter schools in the area, but not a lot of high school options.”
The new, 15,000 square foot school will be located on University Park Drive in a building previously utilized for offices and is currently undergoing $300,000 in renovations. The school will have an open floor plan without traditional walls and will include such features as a fitness center and lounge with couches for students to use during their online courses.
Nexus Academy of Lansing will be rolling up to 250 high school students this fall. Twelve instructors will be employed to work on-site, and students will benefit from an online community of more than 50 virtual instructors.
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