South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA) is an AdvancED accredited, public virtual charter school that opened during the 2008-2009 school year and is authorized by the SC Public Charter School District. Our school is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through exposure to rigorous academic standards, technology integration, and a sustained focus on college and career readiness.
SCCA offers a premier online education to students in grades K-12 regardless of where they reside in the state. Our curriculum is aligned to the South Carolina College and Career Readiness standards for ELA and Math and meets national and state standards.
SCCA students develop world class skills including communication, collaboration, and media and technology proficiency by participating in both synchronous and asynchronous learning. SCCA students progress through the program under the guidance of their Learning Coach (typically a parent or guardian) in conjunction with their highly qualified SC certified teachers. Regular interaction occurs via phone, e-mail, in person meetings and via LiveLesson sessions. Student work is regularly submitted online for teacher review and regular and timely feedback is provided to students on that work via a user-friendly Education Management System, Connexus. The system includes coursework, a daily planner, a grade book, attendance recorder, communication tools, a virtual library, message boards and supplemental learning programs. Connexus provides all the information needed to successfully learn anywhere with an internet connection.This inclusive learning management system sets SCCA apart from all other virtual charter schools.
Additionally, SCCA helps students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by offering additional options for students with varied learning needs. An accelerated curriculum is available for Gifted and Talented students in grades 3 through 8 in Science, Math, and Language Arts and a Literature Study course is also offered. Teachers in our Special Education department serve students according to Individualized Education Plans. Additionally, students with 504 plans receive accommodations in the general education setting. Students requiring speech services participate in virtual speech therapy, while occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech services are also offered in person, provided through contracted, certified providers.
Another way students are exposed to world class knowledge is through our high school program which includes a variety of foreign language courses, Honors and Advanced Placement courses and electives in several career clusters. Students have the option to be dual enrolled in local colleges or universities. SCCA graduation requirements are more rigorous than the state mandates. Notable college acceptances for SCCA students include: Wellesley College, Duke University, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt University, UCLA, Furman University, Princeton University, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of South Carolina and Clemson University.
Another important component of the Profile of the South Carolina graduate is building life and career characteristics. In order to build students' interpersonal skills, as well as to create a sense of school community, field trips and face-to-face learning experiences are held statewide throughout the school year. During the 2018-19 school year, SCCA held over 100 field trips, learning experiences, and school events. Even though SCCA is a virtual school, we recognize the value of in-person collaboration and relationship building. SCCA also held its largest ever graduation ceremonies, with over 80 kindergarteners and nearly 400 seniors participating in this year's ceremonies.
The heart of our school's mission is individualizing learning to meet students where they are, both academically and emotionally, and to address each student's unique needs. Our dedicated faculty and staff continue to provide a personalized education to all students, helping them to master the knowledge and problem solving skills needed to achieve their college and career goals. Our staff strives to serve so that we can ensure every student that attends SCCA is learning at his or her highest potential.
Josh Kitchens, Executive Director
