San Francisco Flex Academy to Open Downtown This Fall

New Public Charter School Now Accepting Enrollments for Students in Grades 9-12

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- San Francisco Flex Academy  (SF FLEX),  an exciting new public charter high school and one of the state's first full-time "hybrid" schools, will open this fall in downtown San Francisco.  SF Flex is currently accepting enrollments for students in grades 9-12 and is expecting to start classes on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.  

The school is conveniently located in downtown San Francisco at 555 Post Street, easily accessible by MUNI and BART.

The school will offer both onsite classroom instruction with highly qualified, credentialed teachers and state-of-the-art online learning provided by K12 Inc., America's largest provider of online school programs for students in kindergarten through high school. There is no tuition to attend this public charter school.

SF FLEX will incorporate an innovative hybrid learning model that uses a combination of traditional classroom instruction and online learning.  Every student is given a customized learning plan.  Students will have greater freedom to progress through their individual learning plan at their own pace and receive quality instruction, support, and individual attention from highly skilled teachers. SF Flex provides engaging and personalized learning that is designed to maximize each student's full potential—an education that fits the individual student, not the masses—so kids of all backgrounds and aptitudes can thrive in high school and beyond.

Students that enroll in SF FLEX will be able to take advantage of a robust catalog of high school courses, many of which are not offered in other schools, along with high quality academic programs, one-on-one tutoring, college and career counseling, and student activities.  

Teachers and students will have access to K12's award-winning curriculum, textbooks, onsite labs, assessment systems, and digital tools. K12 offers more than 130 core, elective, and AP® courses, plus its world language program with courses in Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Chinese.  Each student will be provided a laptop on loan from the school.  

Mark Kushner, vice president of K12 Inc., said: "This is an exciting and innovative approach to school design and learning that will allow teachers to provide what each student individually needs. Teachers will spend more personalized time with the students, and allow students a greater degree of flexibility, course options and college and career counseling."

Kushner, also a state charter commissioner and instructor on charter schools at Stanford University, added, "SF Flex, located in the vibrant downtown area near Union Square, will develop independent learners. It is the right option for children who are not succeeding in a traditional school and are looking for an exciting new public school with more electives, high quality academic programs, and student support services."

Michael W. Kirst, Stanford University Emeritus Professor of Education, former state board president and advisor to K12, said San Francisco FLEX Academy will mix a traditional school community with the most effective digital education programs available.  "The K12 curriculum is outstanding and this concept of a hybrid school using an onsite model is long overdue," Kirst said.

Andrew Gordon, President of the SF Flex Board of Trustees and a partner at Duane Morris LLP, said, "This innovative school is capable of serving the needs of Bay Area students with diverse learning styles and is specifically designed to serve as a research and development school for districts and other interested educators. "

SF Flex will have the same hours as traditional schools and is planning to offer after school tutoring, clubs and sports teams. Students are required to attend five days a week.

The California State Board of Education unanimously approved the school on May 7, 2010 to be opened by Flex Public Schools, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, in partnership with K12.

More on SF FLEX, including student enrollment information, can be found at www.K12.com/sfflex.

ABOUT FLEX PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SF FLEX

Flex Public Schools is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation whose mission is to create outstanding schools where each child's full potential is developed with engaging, individualized online learning, and to help school districts and others replicate this innovative educational model. Flex Public Schools holds the SF FLEX charter and is contracting with K12 Inc. for curriculum and services. SF FLEX is the first school to be opened by Flex Public Schools and the nonprofit has several charters approved in Santa Clara County to open in the future.

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 innovative, award-winning curriculum and academic services to online public and private schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families.  

K12 has provided over 1.5 million courses to more than 200,000 students worldwide, and has received numerous awards and honors for academic achievement and innovation.  Over 95 percent of parents surveyed are satisfied with the K12 program and agree that their children have benefited academically with K12.  

K12 is accredited through AdvancED, the world's largest education community.  K12 is an approved University of California provider, and graduates of K12 schools have been accepted into many University of California campuses, along with other prestigious colleges and universities. Additional information on K12 can be found at www.K12.com.  

SOURCE San Francisco Flex Academy