HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As demand for online educational models skyrockets, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), one of the fastest growing universities in the country, and K12 Inc., a leader in online and blended learning in elementary and secondary education, have forged a partnership to advance excellence in K through 12 online teaching. The program is one of the first-of-its-kind in the nation.
“Highly-effective teachers are a critical component of student success,” said K12 CEO Stuart Udell. “Our partnership with SNHU to develop a Master’s of Education in Online Teaching reinforces K12’s mission to put students first.”
K12 Inc., a leader in personalized digital education over the past two decades, is making a significant investment toward the development of an innovative new center of excellence in online instruction, which reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting educators through ongoing teacher training and professional development. The customized, competency-based graduate degree program will initially be available to K12 educators and the company’s partner school employees. Over time, SNHU will offer the program directly to teachers around the country.
"SNHU works with companies and community organizations in a variety of fields to provide pathways to education for employees,” said Paul LeBlanc, president, SNHU. “We look forward to working with K12 to better study the best practices of their teachers to meet the needs of today’s students and educators in the online learning environment."
The program will consist of both training modules and a series of three to six graduate-level micro-credential programs which can stack into a full master’s degree in education focused on excellence in online instruction at the elementary and secondary levels. Teachers will progress through the program at their own pace as they complete competencies and projects set in real-world contexts.
The partnership will begin with an in-depth research component to identify best practices in online education and inform program development.
“This alliance will be rooted in research,” adds Udell. “The program brings to bear the best-in-class resources of both organizations to create performance benchmarks, deliver teacher training, and map out career pathways for current and future generations of online educators.”
About Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with an 85-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 85,000 students worldwide, SNHU offers over 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as the "Most Innovative" regional university by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each student. Learn more at https://www.snhu.edu/.
About K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is driving innovation and advancing the quality of education by delivering state-of-the-art, digital learning platforms and technology to students and school districts across the globe. K12’s curriculum serves over 2,000 schools and school districts and has delivered millions of courses over the past decade. K12 is a company of educators providing online and blended education solutions to charter schools, public school districts, private schools, and directly to families. The K12 program is offered through more than 70 partner public schools, and through school districts and public and private schools serving students in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. More information can be found at K12.com.
