State Debuts Online Program To Help Boost Graduation Rates For Foster Children

EAST HARTFORD — The Department of Children and Families on Thursday publicly introduced an online education and tutoring program that it says will help students in foster care graduate from high school.

Virtual Academy, which the department started using in February, has helped 95 students in foster care earn credits toward high school graduation by offering classes, SAT prep and GED assistance online, DCF officials said.

Through Virtual Academy, students take classes online in subjects such as geometry and U.S. history. DCF has also assigned teachers to each student for one-on-one help. If they run into obstacles with the curriculum, students can email one of the seven teachers assigned to Virtual Academy or meet one on one. Each teacher is also tasked with making sure the students are learning a curriculum that is specifically tailored for their needs.

http://www.courant.com/community/east-hartford/hc-connecticut-virtual-academy-helps-foster-children-0624-20160623-story.html