EdOptions Helps Students Recover Credits in Texas

Credit recovery are buzz words around the country as state education agencies struggle to increase graduation rates. Texas is no different and large and small school districts alike are employing educational technology to assist in this effort. There are several software and web-based programs used in schools for credit recovery, but not all of them cater to the needs of the type of student that would most likely need credit recovery. Stars Suite® by EdOptions is an online curriculum that meets the needs of these students.

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August 1, 2010

EdOptions Stars Suite® Saves Schools Money with Online Summer School, CNN Money Reports

“School has truly been out for the summer this year, as thanks to budget woes, many districts across the country have been forced to cut their summer school programs down to the bare minimum, or cancel them altogether”… “After an 80% summer-school budget cut, 320 Floyds Knobs summer school students will be clicking their way through subjects like algebra, history, and chemistry using an educational software program called the Stars Suite.”

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July 27, 2010

EdOptions Helps Rappahannock County High School Succeed in Summer School

Susan Fox, RCHS alternative education teacher, sees many advantages of EdOptions summer school program. “It was designed as a recovery summer school for students who failed the SOL or failed a class. This program can keep them on track for graduation. But some students simply take advantage of the opportunity to improve a grade or enrich their transcripts. There are various reasons for attending. There are social benefits for the students, too. This isn’t the normal social dynamic of regular school. There aren’t as many distractions. They can focus and do their work. It gives them another venue to be successful academically.”

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July 22, 2010

Clinton Students Get a Boost from Online Technology

Summer vacation for most students includes rest and a whole lot of fun. But a growing number of Mississippi students are back in the classroom in hopes of improving their performances in math, English, science and social studies. Clinton High School Assistant Principal Kelly Heath says what makes these classes so appealing is the nontraditional setting. The program has become so popular that the district has extended it to all students beginning with 6th grade. Director Angel Olinger says the summer online program is especially beneficial to students at high risk of dropping out.

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July 13, 2010

EdOptions™ and Orchard Learning™ honored with 2010 AEP Awards

EdOptions and its elementary division, Orchard Learning, have received three 2010 Distinguished Achievement Awards from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP). EdOptions won best World Language Curriculum for grades 9-12 for its Spanish II course. Orchard Learning’s Orchard Software won best Administrative Tools for grades K-5 and best Mathematics Curriculum for grades 6-8. The Distinguished Achievement Awards recognize the year’s top educational products.

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June 10, 2010

EdOptions™ and Orchard Learning™ honored with 2010 BESSIE Awards

EdOptions and its elementary division, Orchard Learning, have been honored with six 2010 Best Educational Software (BESSIE) Awards. The BESSIE Awards target innovative and content-rich programs and websites that provide parents and teachers with the technology to foster educational excellence.

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April 20, 2010

EdOptions™ CEO Dr. Tom Sawner Selected for 2010 Smart100

Washington SmartCEO magazine announced today its 2010 Smart100 CEOs, an exclusive group of the region's top executives, as selected by an independent selection committee. Dr. Thomas Sawner, CEO of Educational Options, Inc. is among those selected.

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Febuary 2, 2010

EdOptions™ Receives Tempe Chamber 2010 Business Excellence Award

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce presented EdOptions with the 2010 Business Excellence Award at the 13th annual Breakfast for Chamber Champions at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. Recipients must demonstrate a record of business success and growth, community involvement, dedication to employees, leadership, reliability and commitment to customer service.

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February 10, 2010

EdOptions™ Salutes African American History Month with Release of New Course

EdOptions is very pleased to announce the release of its newest course offering to coincide with African American History Month. African American Studies (2010) is a semester-long course that traces the experiences of Africans in the Americas from 1500 to the present day.

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February 1, 2010

EdOptions™ Introduces New Course: Spanish II

EdOptions is launching a new Spanish II course today for middle and high school students that will build upon the introductory language and culture material covered in Spanish I and expand students' knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

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January 12, 2010

Stars Suite© Algebra 1 Wins EDDIE Award

EdOptions announced today that it has been awarded an Education Software Review (EDDIE) award by the ComputED Learning Center for its Math Course, Algebra 1. EdOptions is extremely proud to be recognized for its Algebra 1 course, given its importance in today's education. National Mathematics Advisory Panel research shows that students who do well in algebra are more likely to succeed in college and to be ready for better career opportunities in the global economy.

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October 6, 2009

U.S. Rep. James Moran (D-VA) Highlights Importance of Providing Education to Inmates

Rep. Moran visited Offender Aid and Restoration's headquarters in Arlington, VA on Sept. 21st to thank Sheriff Beth Arthur for implementing OAR's education program at the county jail. Sheriff Arthur views inmates' time spent in jail as an opportunity to access education and learn life skills. "That's the thing we ought to be doing all over the country," Moran said. Tom Sawner, CEO of EdOptions, explains that Arthur pioneered a first-in-the-nation program that allows access to a Web-delivered education system in a strict, Internet-prohibited, secure environment.

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October 3, 2009

EdOptions™ Offers Schools Affordable Solution to Ensure Continuity of Learning

EdOptions (www.edoptions.com), an award-winning educational technology company, announced today that it will offer schools a built-in disaster recovery plan to provide an affordable, accessible strategy for educators to help ensure the continuity of learning. In case of a disaster, natural or otherwise (e.g. H1N1), all students in a school could quickly be added to the Web-delivered system and continue classes from home or another secure location with an Internet connection.

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September 17, 2009

Educational Options Foundation and MCSO Graduation

Six students received their high school diploma along with others who were recognized for earning their General Education Development (GED) diploma at a very special graduation ceremony at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Tempe, Arizona. These achievements are as a result of a partnership between Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and The Educational Options Foundation. As a result of the partnership, MCSO began offering incarcerated juveniles the opportunity to use secure Internet-delivered content to prepare for a GED diploma, the state standardized test (AIMS), or earn high school credits for a diploma. The Educational Options Foundation grant addresses the unique needs of jail students through the use of EdOptions™ Stars Suite™ content delivery system.

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September 15, 2009

Alachua County's Online CROP Helps Cultivate Learning, Grow Student Success

Gainesville, Fla. - Alachua County Public Schools Curriculum Supervisor Charles Wise is in the business of saving students - his program does it several hundred times a year.

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September 9, 2009

EdOptions™ Approved Provider for Florida Virtual Instruction Program

Arlington, VA, Sept. 1, 2009 – Educational Options, Inc. announced today that it has been chosen as an approved provider for the new full-time grade 9-12 component to the Florida School District Virtual Instruction Program. This new component will be implemented in the 2009-10 school year through EdOptions’ virtual school division – Blue Ridge International Academy. EdOptions is also an approved provider for the dropout prevention, Department of Juvenile Justice and career education components of the Florida VIP.

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September 1, 2009

EdOptions High School Brings New Learning Model to the Valley

Prescott Valley, AZ, July 13, 2009 – The Educational Options Foundation, a Tempe, Ariz. nonprofit corporation, will open their first independent public high school this fall at a location in Tempe, Ariz., it was announced today. EdOptions High School (EOHS)—a Next Generation independent public school—will provide high school students with a 21st-century approach to learning by merging highly qualified classroom teachers and an award-winning Web-based educational curriculum in a school setting. In addition to the classroom and learning labs, students can also access coursework 24/7 from any computer with an Internet connection.

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July 13, 2009

EdOptions Foundation Provides Virtual Education Solution for Maricopa County Jail System

Phoenix, AZ, July 6, 2009 – The Educational Options Foundation and Arizona’s Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Education Program have partnered to begin offering incarcerated juveniles the opportunity to use Web-based content delivery to prepare for a GED, standardized test or earn high school credits. Supported by a grant provided by the EdOptions Foundation, the project is headed up by Dr. David Reed, Director of Educational Research for the Foundation and Ms. Debra Miller, Principal of the MCSO Education Program.

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July 6, 2009

Orchard Software™ and PracticePlanet™ Win 2009 AEP Awards

St. Louis, MO., June 15, 2009 – EdOptions partner company Orchard Learning, Inc. announced today that Orchard Software and PracticePlanet have won in five 2009 Association of Educational Publishers’ (AEP) Awards program categories, the most wins by any submitting educational company this year.

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June 15, 2009

EdOptions™ CEO Tom Sawner Keynote Speaker At Venture Capital in Education Summit 2009

Stanford, CA, May 29, 2009 – Tom Sawner, CEO and President of EdOptions™, was the featured keynote speaker at the inaugural Venture Capital in Education Summit 2009 sponsored by investment bank Berkery Noyes and Stanford University. The Summit brought together an elite group of leaders,innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to learn more about the K-12 and postsecondary education sectors and to build stronger bridges between the early-stage investment community and the dynamic businesses transforming the education landscape.

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May 29, 2009

EdOptions High School Principal Jim Taylor Dyes Hair Blue for Commencement Address

Stanford, CA, May 21, 2009 – Prescott Valley, AZ, May 21, 2009 – Mr. Jim Taylor, Principal of EdOptions High School in Tempe, Arizona, has a reputation for going above and beyond for his students. While principal of Yavapai County High School, Mr. Taylor showed his commitment by making a promise to a student that if she graduated, he would dye his hair blue for the graduation ceremony. The student graduated; Mr. Taylor showed up with blue hair. Not only did Mr. Taylor attend graduation, but his students invited him to be their commencement speaker.

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May 21, 2009

Blue Ridge International Academy and Dr. Tom Sawner Featured on Designing Spaces

Arlington, VA, April 24, 2009 – Tom Sawner, CEO of EdOptions, and Yetanda Massey, Blue Ridge International Academy Science Department Head, are featured guests on a special-interest edition of Designing Spaces which begins airing Friday April 24th. Designing Spaces, currently in its sixth season, aims to inform and inspire viewers to enhance the spaces that surround them. In this episode, Designing Spaces correspondent Jamie Jacobs explains that online curriculum is one of the solutions that educators are using to curb alarming dropout statistics.

“Blue Ridge harnesses technology to bring parent, teacher, and student together to enhance student success,” said Dr. Sawner, CEO of parent company EdOptions. Blue Ridge’s approach enables students to learn at their own pace in a traditional or non-traditional environment. “Curriculum is available to our students 24/7 which means they can truly work at their own pace and have the flexibility that they need” explains Yetanda Massey, Science Department Head at Blue Ridge.

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April 24, 2009

CEO Tom Sawner Celebrates Sixth Anniversary With EdOptions™

Arlington, VA – On April 23rd, 2009, Dr. Tom Sawner was proud to commemorate the six-year anniversary of his purchase of the company. EdOptions™ has grown from modest beginnings into an award-winning educational technology firm with an international presence.

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April 23, 2009

EdOptions™ Stars Suite? Wins 2009 Best Educational Software Award

Arlington, VA, April 20, 2009 – EdOptions™, an education technology firm, announced today that its Stars Suite? software was awarded a 2009 Best Educational Software Award (BESSIE) by ComputED Learning Center (http://www.computedgazette.com/), San Diego’s leading computer education resource.

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April 20, 2009

CEO Tom Sawner Featured Guest on The Leaders Spot with Rebecca Blacksmith

Arlington, VA, April 8, 2009 – Tom Sawner, CEO of EdOptions, was a featured guest on The Leaders Spot with Rebecca Blacksmith which airs on Washington Business Talk Radio. Dr. Sawner's interview aired during the program on April 8, 2009 from 11am-noon on www.TheLeadersSpot.com and WDMV am 700. The interview is available on-demand 24/7 as a podcast on http://theleadersspot.com/archives/1152.

The Leaders Spot with Rebecca Blacksmith features top business leaders discussing their respective leadership styles, philosophies, challenges, successes and industry trends.

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April 8, 2009

Dr. Tom Sawner, CEO of EdOptions Participates in President Obama’s “Open for Questions” Town Hall

On Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. EST, Tom Sawner of EdOptions was delighted to attend President Obama’s “Open For Questions” special online town hall. Dr. Sawner was invited to attend the administration’s first virtual town hall as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. As one of the select attendees invited to participate, Dr. Sawner posed a question to the President about small business owners and their associated tax implications. “I was happy to represent business leaders and share the concerns that many small business owners are faced with during this difficult economic climate,” said Dr. Sawner.

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March 26, 2009

Educational Options™ and Orchard Learning Partner for Complete Pre- K-12 to Adult Education Solution

ARLINGTON, VA, March 30, 2009 – Siboney Learning Group announced today its acquisition under a new company name, Orchard Learning, Inc., by an affiliate of Educational Options Inc., an Arlington, Va. middle and high school online education technology firm. The new partnership will create a comprehensive pre-K – Adult curriculum solution.

"The synergy between Educational Options and Orchard Learning delivers a powerful single-source solution for educators of pre-K through adult students nationwide," said Tom Sawner, Ed.D., president and CEO of Educational Options and the new president of Orchard Learning, Inc. "By combining the strengths of both companies, the partnership of Orchard Learning and Educational Options under one ownership positions us to deliver a full range of leading curriculum products using advanced technologies that meet the ever-changing needs of today’s schools for the entire K-12 and basic adult education markets."

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March 30, 2009

Dr. Tom Sawner, CEO of EdOptions to Present in Webinar Sponsored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. EST, Tom Sawner of EdOptions will present at a special webinar. As 2006 Small Business of the Year Award winner, Dr. Sawner will discuss key areas critical to organizational performance specific to small and medium-sized businesses.

Learn what you can do to improve your long-term business strategies by following along with Dr. Sawner’s Lessons for Leaders and the Organizational Self Assessment.

November 3, 2008

EDOPTIONS™’ STARS SUITE™ WINS 2008 EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE REVIEW AWARD

ARLINGTON, Va. – EdOptions’, a premier educational software provider, announced today that its Stars Suite™ was awarded a 2008 Educational Software Review Award (EDDIE). A Web-based suite of learning and assessment tools, Stars Suite won for its innovative and user-friendly multi-subject Web site, novelstars.com.

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October 23, 2008

EDOPTIONS™ FURTHER EXPANDS ITS COURSE OFFERINGS

ARLINGTON, Va. – With already impressive Web-based course offerings, EdOptions has added two more courses to its list: Spanish I, the company’s first foreign language course, and Pre-Calculus. Both courses are available for the 2008-2009 school year;

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September 26, 2008

EDOPTIONS™ MAPS OUT THE WORLD

ARLINGTON, Va. – EdOptions just added another geography course to its social studies curriculum. Geography: A Comprehensive Study is a full-credit offering that builds upon Geography: An Introduction, which was released during the 2008 term.

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August 27, 2008

BLUE RIDGE RECOGNIZED AS DISTANCE EDUCATION SCHOOL

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Commission on Accreditation, created by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE), has recognized Blue Ridge International Academy as a private school in the state of Virginia. Blue Ridge is one of only three distance education schools recognized in Virginia by VCPE.

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August 19, 2008

EDOPTIONS™ SCIENCE COURSE GETS PHYSICAL

New Physical Science course engages students with real-world applications

ARLINGTON, Va. – EdOptions introduces another important addition to its Web-based Stars Suite™ courses: Middle School Physical Science. The new course will replace Middle School Physical Science version 1.

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August 15, 2008

BLUE RIDGE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY BRINGS ENGLISH EAST

The online school helps broaden student course options from 7,000 miles away

ARLINGTON, Virginia – Blue Ridge International Academy enrolled its first two South Korean students this July. Ninth-graders at Global Vision Christian School (GVCS) in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do will take freshman English classes through the American-based online school.

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August 8, 2008

BLUE RIDGE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY™ OPENS NEW LEARNING CENTER IN TEMPE

TEMPE, Arizona – Blue Ridge International Academy, the triple-accredited online school, announces the opening of the Blue Ridge Tempe Community Learning Center.

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May 6, 2008

EDOPTIONS™’ STARS SUITE™ WINS 2008 BEST EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE AWARD

ARLINGTON, Va. – EdOptions’, a premier educational software provider, announced today that its Stars Suite™ was awarded a 2008 Best Educational Software Award (BESSIE). A Web-based suite of learning and assessment tools, Stars Suite won for its innovative and user-friendly multi-subject Web site, novelstars.com.

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May 2, 2008

BRITISH LITERATURE TAKES THE STAGE

ARLINGTON, Va. –EdOptions  introduces another important addition to its Web-based Stars Suite courses: British Literature. The new course emphasizes the cultural and historical elements that shape literary movements.

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April 18, 2008

PRESIDENT BUSH ADDRESSES EDOPTIONS™ AT 2008 SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

ARLINGTON, Va. – President George W. Bush met with small business leaders Friday, April 18 to address what actions his Administration is taking to help America’s small businesses. As a representative from a small business that has benefited from Bush’s 2008 Economic Stimulus Act, EdOptions CEO Tom Sawner was in attendance, and included in the President’s remarks.
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April 18, 2008

EDOPTIONS™ WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE MOVES

TEMPE, Arizona – EdOptions announces the new location of its Western Regional Office. The office has relocated to 3280 South Country Club Way, Suite 100, Tempe, Arizona 85282. All phone and fax numbers will remain the same.
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April 14, 2008

EdOptions™ CEO Participates in Roundtable Discussion with President Bush

ARLINGTON, Va. – President George W. Bush met with EdOptions™ CEO Tom Sawner and eight other small business leaders Monday, April 7 at the White House to discuss the benefits of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.
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April 7, 2008

EdOptions' Geography Course Charts New Territory

ARLINGTON, Va. - In an effort to keep up with an ever-changing world environment, EdOptions has released a newly redesigned, cutting-edge geography course.
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January 25, 2008

Maryland Schools Go Online to Curb Dropout Rates

CENTERVILLE, Md. - The Eastern Shore of Maryland Education Consortium (ESMEC) plans to expand its dropout prevention program through a partnership with EdOptions, thanks to a $223,250 earmark from the 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) spending bill.
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January 22, 2008

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