INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.As talks continue in Daleville after the closure of two online charter schools, many parents are looking for different online options for their students.

There isnt a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to online learning. Its not a good fit for every family, but for the families thatit is,there are many options, especially in Indiana.

One of those options is Connections Academy, which has over 4,000 students enrolled right now. The students receive a strict curriculum, a teacher for each subject whos also online, and a learning coach whos typically someone they can talk to in-person.

Some people have misconceptions about what online students do in a day. Some think students sit around in their pajamas all day, only work when they have to, and are lazy. Students enrolled in Connections have different reasons for taking school online.

I got surrounded with a lot of bad people, and I wanted to get out of that, Abigail Taylor said. She is a 10th grader in Connections. She was enrolled in a traditional school, but she left to switch to online learning.

She says she just didnt feel safe at school.

I feel like Im in a much safer place with all that happened last year in 2018, said Abigail. I felt reallyuncomfortable going to a brick and mortar school thinking someone could go in there and just end it all, but here I feel safe because Im at the house.

Sophie Taylor has an autoimmune disease which requires her to go to multiple doctors appointments a week. If she were in a traditional school, shes be severely behind. But she says it isnt a walk in the park going to online school. Instead,she has to make sure she stays motivated.

I want to do all my schoolwork, and knowing that I can get all that done in just one day and getting it done as early as I possiblycan keeps me motivated, said Sophie. I know I can work ahead and get it done instead of having to sit in a classroom for eight hours a day. And so, just that standpoint of not having to be rushed all the time really motivates mejust knowing that I have my owntime to do it.

Abigail and four other students enrolled in Connections go to Sophies house every weekday morning to go to school. Sophies house is a classroomof sorts. They start their day around 8 or 9 and start their assignments for the day.

Alissa Pryor is a 6th grade science teacher with Connections. Shes taught many students, including Sophie. She says even though shes online, it doesnt mean she doesnt have a rapport with her students.

Its different from a classroom where you have 30 kids in a room and the craziness, chaos that ensues from that, said Pryor. Im reallyable to build connections with students that are individualized and personal and help them through their journey through school.

Students can reach their teachers in several wayswebmail, texting, calling, and they can even book a time to virtually meet with their teacher.

But the teacher isnt the only adult Connections students havethey also have in-person Learning Coaches.

Sophies mom, Stacy Taylor, is a learning coach. She says it has not only helped her family become closer, but it has helped her reallybecome involved in what her kids are learning in school.

I actuallysee what theyre learning so, you know when people say, Oh this wasnt in that book or theyve added this to the curriculum, I can look at the book and say, No, they havent or Yeah, its there, said Stacy. So, I at least feel I know what theyre doing. Theres a 7-year age gap between my kids. So, with where my boys are at and all the activities theyre in, they wouldnt really know Sophie very well if they had gone to a brick and mortar.

Learning Coach Jennifer Young said she had her own reasons for becoming a coach and enrolling her own kids into Connections.

My husband was going through cancer treatment, so for usI could be available to take him to appointments or my kids could when my son was old enough, he could drive but then not miss his school dayas well, and we have that family time, said Young. It prevented us from worrying about what he might need or when we might need to be available and it allowed us to be just have that family time.

Young says Connections gave her the time together her family needed.

That was reallyimportant when we found out something that drastic that we wanted to be together, said Young. We wanted to be able tospend as much time together as possible and be a part of our childrens lives.

But online learning isnt for everyone. Pryor says a good Learning Coach can make all the difference for a good online learning experience.

If theres not a parent or grandparent at home or aunt, uncle or some trusted adult at home to help that student, its probably not the right place for them, said Pryor. High school students can be prettyself-sufficient during the day, of course, with no parental help, but they still need a learning coach to guide them through everything, make sure theyre on task. So, definitely students that dont have that strong parental or learning coach support, dont succeedthey dont do well with us.

Even though theres a Learning Coach to helpout, they cant do all the work for the students. The students really learn skills to make them more independent; things like sending their teacher requests to meet when they dont understand something or when they need more help.

Its helping students learn time management skills but also learn a little bit of independence, especially at the middle school level, said Pryor. Thats what we talk about a lot in 6th grade is youre learning how to take charge of your own education and learning when to show up on time and be somewhere when you say youre going to be. A lot of that independence is fostered from being at home and being with your parents learning.

Some think thatenrolling in online learning means kids miss out on the social aspect of school, but for Connections students, thats not the case. Students go on field trips, prom, and they can even get involved in sports leagues just for online learning students.

Connections Academy is just one option for online learning in Indiana. There are many other options available for students.

If youd like to learn more about Connections, click here.

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Online learning options keep Indianapolis students on ...