NEW ORLEANS – Melissa Bentley, University View student services director, is fielding all kinds of questions from parents and students at this time of year as the final seats in the 2,300-student, K-12 online charter school gets filled. One thing parents don’t need to ask – how to meet the rising costs of back-to-school supplies and uniforms.
According to the annual Backpack Index compiled by Communities in Schools, the average classroom and extracurricular costs during the coming school year will total between $850 and $1,900 for pencil boxes, study guides, sticky notes, binders and other back-to-school essentials.
“So many parents will remark that back-to-school shopping takes the fun out of going to the mall,” said Bentley. “An online school may restore that good feeling.”
According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of school supplies has grown faster than the rate of inflation.
Rather than shopping, Bentley said the average University View family is busy receiving their computer for the year, registering their online connection with the school and reviewing their curricula.
“Come join us,” she said. “We put the fun back in learning with a typical K-12 experience delivered in the comfort of your home!”
Parents and students looking for a quality, public K-12 school option can still enroll in all grades at University View Academy, formerly Louisiana Connections Academy, according to Superintendent Dr. Lonnie Luce. Registration is open to families in every parish of Louisiana.
“Our staff is here to underscore that every enrolled student will be educated,” said Dr. Luce. “Our team approach between students, staff, and parents is based on a shared responsibility to step up to the plate to succeed.”
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Louisiana's Top Performing Online Charter School Eliminates Back-To-School Shopping
