K12 Inc. and Lawrence Public Schools Launch New Virtual High School Program in Kansas

K12 Inc. is expanding its partnership with the Lawrence Public Schools USD 497 to provide a virtual high school program for students in Kansas.

Lawrence Virtual High School (LVHS) will serve students in ninth and tenth grades using the award-winning K12® High School program along with K12’s comprehensive technology, academic, and administrative services. Since LVHS is a program of the Lawrence Public Schools, there is no tuition cost to enroll for residents of Kansas.

In 2004, K12 and Lawrence Public Schools partnered to create the Lawrence Virtual School – a program that has successfully served students in grades K-8 across the state. The Lawrence Virtual School quickly grew to become the largest public virtual school program in Kansas and continues to add new students every year. In 2009-2010, there were more than 1,000 students enrolled.

Both the Lawrence Virtual School (K-8) and Lawrence Virtual High School (9-10) are currently accepting enrollments. More information can be found at www.K12.com/KS.

"K12 is the premier online school provider in America, and Lawrence Public Schools is excited to expand its partnership with them to offer a high quality virtual high school for Kansas students,” said Dr. Rick Doll, Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools USD 497. "The Lawrence Virtual High School is an excellent option for students in Kansas and builds on our district’s ‘Learning For All’ commitment to meet every student’s personal academic needs.”

The Lawrence Virtual High School combines the K12 award-winning curriculum– using engaging online lessons and hands-on education materials – with state-certified, highly-qualified teachers, advisors, and state-of-the-art technology that connect students to a vibrant school community. The program is customized for every student. This gives students the opportunity to receive an individualized education regardless of their geographic location, socio-economic background, or educational need.

High school students in LVHS will take courses from the K12 High School program, which offers a catalog of more than 130 core, elective, and AP® courses. Students can also access K12 powerspeaK¹²® world language program with courses in Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Chinese. In addition to the online courses, students will also receive a computer, internet connection, books and materials at no cost.

Teachers provide instruction, guidance and support and regularly communicate with students via phone, email, web-based "e-classrooms,” and face-to-face meetings. Teachers also organize a variety of school field trips, activities, and events for students and families.

"K12 is excited about the opportunity to serve high school students in Kansas and increase education options for families,” said Ron Packard, founder and CEO of K12 Inc. "Lawrence Public Schools is a district that has shown tremendous leadership in the field of online education. We are proud of our successful partnership with Lawrence Public Schools and look forward to working with them to continue providing students and families the best online school experience in Kansas.”

In partnerships with school districts and charter schools, K12 operates online public schools in 25 states (and the District of Columbia) in the U.S.: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington state, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Since K12 was founded in 2000, it has provided over 1.5 million courses to more than 150,000 students worldwide. More than 95 percent of parents are satisfied with the K12 program and agree that their children have benefited academically with K12.

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 for students in kindergarten through high school. K12 provides its high quality, award-winning curriculum and academic services to online schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. K12 also operates the K12 International Academy^TM, an accredited, diploma-granting online private school serving students in over 40 countries.

K12 is accredited through AdvancED, the world’s largest education community. Additional information on K12 can be found at: www.K12.com

© 2010 K12 Inc. K¹² and powerspeaK¹² are registered trademarks, and the K¹² logo and K¹² International Academy are trademarks of K12 Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.