TUSD Partners with Kaplan Virtual Education to Launch Agave Distance Learning

Newly improved virtual high school will serve students throughout Pima County

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Chyrl Lander, (520) 225-6437, Chyrl.Lander@tusd1.org
Posted on: August 18, 2008

Kaplan Virtual Education and the Tucson Unified School District today announced that they have partnered to launch AGAVE Distance Learning, a virtual public school that will serve high school students throughout Pima County starting this fall. AGAVE, a tuition-free public school, will offer students a variety of courses supported by flexible scheduling, individualized instruction and relevant, engaging curriculum.

"Kaplan Virtual Education is excited to partner with the Tucson Unified School District to offer high school students the flexibility and convenience of attending an online school," said Charles Thornburgh, the President of Kaplan Virtual Education. "Kaplan Virtual Education has an impressive track record of providing rigorous, high-quality online programs to students across the country and we look forward to doing the same for students in Arizona."

Students who work, travel, have scheduling conflicts at their traditional high schools or those who would just prefer the flexibility of studying online may attend AGAVE part or fulltime. AGAVE students will have access to 80 core, Advanced Placement and honors courses. They will be able to participate in class discussions from virtually anywhere at any time as long as there is an Internet connection. The courses, designed to cater to different skill levels and keep students motivated, will be embedded with audio, video and other engaging teaching tools.

This new and improved online high school boasts increased teacher interaction with students, providing an even more welcoming and nurturing environment for AGAVE students. Teachers from the Tucson Unified School District will teach all of the courses and will be available to answer student questions via telephone, instant message and email. White boards--the equivalent of a real-time online blackboard--will be used to demonstrate course work.

"This partnership brings a number of new courses to AGAVE along with increased teacher-student engagement to greatly enhance the student experience," said Stu Baker, Principal of AGAVE Distance Learning. "We are bringing a greatly improved product to Pima County and look forward to showing students and their parents all of the program's great new features."

The tuition-free public school is open to all qualified county students. To learn more about AGAVE Distance Learning, call Baker at 225-2677.