<div class="Content"><p class="indent">The state Department of Education will allow University View Academy, a free, online K-12 charter school, to offer 500 more enrollment seats for the 2018-2019 school year.

<p class="indent">“It’s a great option for families who need something different,” said Shelly Centanni, University View Academy marketing and parent outreach manager. “It’s a rigorous program.”

<p class="indent">University View Academy, which bills itself as a K-14 school, makes it possible for students to graduate with two years of college or an associate degree.

<p class="indent">As early as sixth grade students can begin preparing to participate in the school’s early college program by earning a high school credit.

<p class="indent">In ninth and 10th grades, students can begin taking dual-enrollment courses. And in their junior and senior years students can choose to continue with their online college courses or travel to nearby campuses for direct instruction.

<p class="indent">“We have a wide range of students who come for various reasons,” Centanni said.

<p class="indent">“We have students that want to be able to move at a faster pace or need a little longer in other subjects. There’s flexibility, but there’s also accountability.”

<p class="indent">Online students are held accountable through mandatory attendance and course completion, she said.

<p class="indent">“A certain amount of work is expected in a certain amount of time,” Centanni said. “However, the way they do that is very flexible.”

<p class="indent">Students can complete coursework within a time frame that jibes with their schedule, health or other circumstances.

<p class="indent">“The only time we ask students to be online is for their live interactive sessions,” Centanni said. “That’s the direct instruction from the teacher via the internet.”

<p class="indent">Students have two sessions per core subject each week where they get to see, hear and chat with their teacher for direct instruction, she said.

<p class="indent">During these sessions students also get to collaborate with other online students on their assignments, Centanni said.

<p class="indent">Teachers “get really innovative in making it engaging for the students,” she said.

<p class="indent">Families also have telephone access to teachers.

<p class="indent">Centanni said University View Academy provides regular social engagements, including regional field trips, open houses, ring ceremonies, a prom and in-person graduations.

<p class="indent">Also, because University View Academy is a public school, students take their state tests with other local online students, proctored by a University View Academy instructor.

For more information, visit <span class="text_link link_wrap type_url" data-link-type="URL" data-link-target="http://www.universityviewacademy.com">www.universityviewacademy.com</span> or call 225-421-2900.

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In ninth and 10th grades, students can begin taking dual-enrollment courses. And in their junior and senior years students can choose to continue with their online college courses or travel to nearby campuses for direct instruction.

<p>(MGNonline)</p>