ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BlueSky Online School today announced it has earned a five-year accreditation from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), recognized across the country as demonstrating a focus on developing lifelong learners and a culture of continuous improvement — significant as students move on to careers or higher education.
“Accreditation was part of our recent strategic planning process as we’ve continued to push for acceptance and third-party validation of the online learning model in Minnesota,” said Amy Larsen, interim director of BlueSky. “This accreditation is sought by schools and school districts across the state.”
Accreditation was earned through an intense review that began in 2010 by outside professionals. The process included interviews with students, parents, teachers and stakeholders, as well as evaluation of institutional goals, finances, learning environment, strategic planning and student achievement.
Some excerpts from the evaluation report include:
- “The school's leadership and staff commit to a culture that is based on shared values and beliefs about teaching and learning, and supports challenging, equitable educational programs and learning experiences for all students that include achievement of learning, thinking, and life skills.”
- “The courses are rich in multiple learning styles and have been very successful in engaging students in a variety of ways. These courses meet the Minnesota State Standards...”
New Strategies for Online Learning in Minnesota
One of the
most significant innovations includes Minnesota’s first Work-Based
Learning program at an online school, which was approved by the
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to launch this fall. The program
bridges school learning and job training, with an individualized model
for students to set goals, create career objectives, and work toward
them while in high school through current employers, internships, and
other resources.
Other innovations/developments in the past year include:
- Enrollment growth: fall enrollment and spring graduations expected to grow by 40 percent
- Increased individualized instruction and assessments tailored to student needs with new tools and data-driven practices
- Extensive elective, Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, such as criminal justice and culinary arts
- Diverse student activities, such as international field trips, an online science fair, and on-site Non-Traditional Career & College Fair
- Adding hybrid on-site/online program
- Successful MDE review of graduation requirements for recent graduates
About BlueSky Online School
BlueSky Online School is a
leading online public charter school that offers flexible online
learning options for a wide range of students throughout Minnesota.
BlueSky’s unique personal approach to online learning is unmatched by
other online high schools. Contact the school at 651-642-0888, or visit www.blueskyschool.org.
