Distance Education Leaders in K-12 and Higher Ed Partner to Expand
Opportunities for Students
HERNDON, Va. & ADELPHI, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 26, 2009--
K12 Inc.(NYSE:LRN), the nation’s largest provider of proprietary
curriculum and K-12 online school programs, and University of Maryland
University College (UMUC), an accredited higher education institution
and leader in distance education, announced a partnership to offer dual
credit to eligible students enrolled in schools offering the K12®
high school program.
The partnership gives eligible K12 seniors in the U.S. and
across the world the opportunity to enroll in UMUC college level online
courses while pursuing their high school diploma through the K12 International
AcademyTM or other partner schools offering the K12
program. K12 students that successfully complete UMUC courses
will receive both high school and college credit for such courses, and
can apply those college credits to a higher education degree to give
them a head start on their post-secondary education.
The K12-UMUC dual credit program offers students more than 45
courses ranging from many core subjects such as math, science and
history to numerous electives, including psychology, computer science,
world languages, criminal justice, and law.
UMUC’s distance courses use technology to connect to faculty members,
fellow students, and advisors online, and give students the opportunity
to participate at times convenient to them. This enables students the
flexibility to achieve an appropriate balance of work, family,
community, and educational commitments.
UMUC’s distance education programs have won numerous awards, including
the prestigious Sloan-C Excellence in Faculty Development for Online
Teaching in 2006 and the 2004 Prize of Excellence from the International
Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).
“We’re thrilled to partner with the University of Maryland University
College to expand opportunities for our students,” said Ron Packard,
Founder and CEO of K12 Inc. “We’re proud to see so many of our K12
graduates moving on to higher education, including several who have been
accepted into top-ranked universities and colleges. Every year, K12
is working to provide the best education possible for our students so
they are equipped to succeed in whatever path they choose when they
graduate. Our new partnership with UMUC will further enable K12
to prepare our seniors for the next chapter in their lives.”
K12 provides its high quality, award-winning curriculum and
academic programs to online public schools across the country. K12
also operates the highly-acclaimed K12International Academy
– an online private school with students enrolled from over 35 countries
across the world. The K12International Academy is a fully
accredited, diploma-granting online school offering full-time or
part-time enrollment opportunities for students in kindergarten through
high school.
The K12 program allows students to receive a comprehensive,
highly-individualized education at home, on the road, or wherever an
Internet connection can be found. K12 combines exciting
web-based lessons, hands-on education materials shipped directly to the
student, state of the art interactive technology, a vibrant world-wide
school community, and an experienced network of professional teachers
and advisors who provide instruction, guidance and support.
“As a pioneer in online education, UMUC is proud to partner with K12
Inc. to help expand the educational opportunities available to qualified
high school seniors nationwide,” said Dr. Susan C. Aldridge, President
of UMUC. “In a troubled economy and an increasingly competitive job
market, education stands out as a central component of professional
success and security. We look forward to working with K12 to
help another generation broaden their horizons and realize their dreams.”
About University of Maryland
University College
University of Maryland University
College, headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland, is the largest public
university in the nation, serving 90,000 students and offering 130
undergraduate and graduate programs online and on-site. In addition,
UMUC is one of the largest public providers of online higher education
in the nation.
The university offers face-to-face instruction at 21 locations
throughout Maryland and educational services at more than 150 locations
worldwide, including the Middle East. UMUC is accredited by the
Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of
Colleges and Schools—one of the six regional accrediting agencies
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education—and is a constituent
institution of the University System of Maryland, an agency of the State
of Maryland.
About K12 Inc.
K12
Inc. (NYSE:LRN), a technology-based education company, is the
nation’s largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education
programs to students in kindergarten through high school (K-12). K12
provides its high quality, award-winning curriculum and academic
services to online schools, traditional classrooms, blended school
programs, and directly to families.
K12 has delivered over one million semester courses to
students worldwide. Last year in the U.S., more than 50,000 students in
21 states were enrolled in online public schools that use the K12
program. K12 Inc.also operates the K12 International
Academy, an accredited, diploma-granting online private school.
K12 Inc. is accredited through the Commission on International
Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), which recently joined AdvancED, the
world’s largest education community. K12 is the largest
national K-12 online school provider to be recognized by CITA. More
information can be found at www.K12.com.
Source: K12 Inc. and University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
K12 Inc.
Jeff Kwitowski
Vice President, Public Relations
703-483-7281
[email protected]
or
University
of Maryland University College (UMUC)
Chip Cassano
Director,
Public Relations
240-582-2509
[email protected]