Sequoia Choice Helps Homeless Students Stay in School

Mesa, AZ – Today, Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning, a public charter school, reported a 50% increase in homeless junior high and high school student enrollment. Sequoia Choice administrators contribute the increase to their unique attendance flexibility, which allows students to enroll anytime, attend classes anywhere online, or use one of their 12 teacher-supervised satellite labs, and credit-recovery programs.

“Currently we serve 160 homeless students, which is a 50% increase from last year,” explained Sequoia Choice Superintendent, Ron Neil. “Many students choose Sequoia Choice because they can start anytime, work at their own pace, take classes online and also receive teacher guidance and instruction when they attend one of our 12 learning labs.”

Sequoia Choice students attend full-time, part-time, or use credit-recovery integration in a traditional classroom environment, online, or at one of Sequoia’s 12 learning labs located throughout the state. Students that attend learning labs are supervised by highly qualified teachers, participate in individual and small-group tutoring, hands-on activities, science labs and power lessons.

For some homeless students, getting to school can be a challenge. Sequoia Choice provides free metro transit passes for students who want to attend a lab but are unable to use their school buses.

For high school students who need to pick up one or more classes but don’t want to leave their current school, Sequoia Choice offers free credit-recovery programs.

“Sequoia Choice partners with many different organizations that want to expand their  K-12 educational resources but lack the funds to do so. Our Partners in Education Program provides  them with online curriculum, technical support, highly qualified teachers and advisors, and any needed equipment to implement our Credit Recovery Program at their location,” shared Richard Harris, Sequoia Choice Partners in Education Co-Manager.

Students can choose from over 400 accredited classes and college-level advanced placement courses from leading educational institutions including: University of Nebraska, Brigham Young University, University of Missouri, Mesa Community College, Chandler/Gilbert Community College, Rio Salado College, Central Arizona College, Northern Pioneer College, and the University of Phoenix.  Students are supervised by highly qualified Sequoia Choice teachers who specialize in distance learning. Each student also has a Sequoia Choice advisor who designs programs of study based on the student’s strengths and needs. Home school staff also provides additional instructional support and one-on-one communication.

In 1999, Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning became one of the first Technology Assisted Project-Based Instruction (TAPBI) distance learning schools approved by the State of Arizona. In 2007-2008, the State of Arizona ranked Sequoia Choice as a Highly Performing school. Sequoia Choice is accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA) and by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and currently educates over 1400 students.  To enroll or learn more about Sequoia Choice, please visit http://www.sequoiachoice.org/ or call (480) 461-3200.

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