At times, school can be a stressful and crowded environment for all students, but a few have trouble adjusting to the social atmosphere that normal high school life can bring. There are also students who have to miss a lot of school due to health complications. These students should not have to worry about making up work for circumstances they cannot control. Using this information and modern technology, the Kent Digital Academy gives students the chance to get their schoolwork done at their own pace and have contact with teachers on a personal basis via internet.

The district adopted this program for many reasons. “The federal government is behind the charter school movement. In Ohio they are called community schools and Roosevelt is a charter school. What happens is we receive money from federal and state funds. The state funds about $5400 per student and we wrote a federal grant and the start up money for the first three years is half a million dollars,” assistant superintendent Joe Giancola said.

Most of the money was spent on computers for the Digital Academy students. The Tri Rivers Educational Computer Association (TRECA) is the company that supplies the database for the program.

“It’s [TRECA] a lot like the NEOnet service we have here,” Giancola said.

“If students are on the verge of expulsion, they are enrolled into the Kent Digital Academy in order to keep their education going during the 80 day period, but most of the students are not ready for the traditional school atmosphere we offer at Roosevelt,” Giancola said.

Sylvia Milton, a parent of a child in the academy, finds this method of learning most conducive to her son’s (Raphael Milton) needs.

“I really like it. It helps him concentrate better because he has trouble with large groups of people,” Sylvia said. And Raphael feels that once the atmosphere of traditional school is taken away, he is able to concentrate.

“It makes it a lot easier to concentrate while I’m at home,” senior and academy student Raphael Milton said.

“Every year we get about 25-30 students enrolled in the academy and they range all the way from elementary school students to high school students,” Giancola said.

Each student is assigned to a tutor who helps him or her work specifically through the program. Christine Randall, a licensed school psychologist, is employed by the board office and serves as a main contact for the students.

“Kent Digital Academy students may come to her or call her if they feel as though they need a personal tutor,” Giancola said. Students achieve all graduation requirements as sanctioned by the state of Ohio through his or her individual class work.

“[Raphael] can get on whenever he wants, but it’s still his responsibility to make sure he gets all of his work done, and it keeps the parents involved too. I have all access to his grades and everything,” Sylvia said.

The change didn’t come easy for the Milton family. A two-hour orientation is required for all students and parents along with a general knowledge of computers.

“They [TRECA] provide the system and everything and they hook it up either through the phone or cable you know,” Sylvia said.

Even though the students work from home, they may still be involved in extra curricular activities and sports, but by law a person has to be enrolled in at least one class to take advantage of clubs and sports.

“I would recommend it to help out students who are in trouble and who aren’t comfortable around a lot of people. I think if people are thinking about joining the academy, they should keep an open mind and give it a try,” Raphael said.