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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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MEDIA:
Contact: Andrew Naugher
PR Contact
H2PR
918-249-9521
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INVESTOR:
Contact: Baxter Bring
President and CEO
Advanced Academics
405-239-1900 |
Advanced Academics Secures $7.5
Million Round of Financing
Investment focused on expansion
into additional
states and enhancements of course offerings
OKLAHOMA
CITY (June 6, 2002) - Baxter Brings, President and
CEO of Advanced Academics Inc., an online learning
company for students in grades seven through 12, announces
today the company has secured $7.5 million in a Series
B Preferred Stock financing. New investors were Council
Ventures, of Nashville, Chrysalis Ventures, of Louisville,
Ky.; and Prosperitas Investment Partners also of Louisville.
Previous investors who participated in the financing
were Chisholm Private Capital Partners and American
Fidelity Group, both of Oklahoma City.
"In a difficult environment for venture capital, I
believe securing this level of financing sends a strong
message about our achievements thus far, as well as
the future of our business model," says Brings, who
joined Advanced Academics after serving as President
and CEO of Instructional Fair Group, a division of
the Tribune Company. "We have solidified our executive
team with top talent in the education publishing industry,
correlated our course offerings to more state standards,
increased the number of states where we have certified
our teachers, and continue to deliver the best possible
online education experience for high school students."
Since January 2002, Advanced Academics has added eight
new states for operation: Alaska, Georgia, Michigan,
Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
Three recent new contracts include a pilot project
with the Detroit Public School District, the Seattle
Public School District, and the South Brunswick, NJ
Public School District. Brings says additional major
contract wins will be announced during the summer.
"We are extremely pleased to partner with Advanced
Academics and are excited by the tremendous momentum
generated by Baxter's leadership, the strong sales
and marketing force and, of course, a superior online
education product," says Gary Peat, Partner at Council
Ventures. "We're very confident that Advanced Academics
has quickly earned the trust of American educators
by offering a powerful, reliable technology that meets
the needs of at-risk students and accelerated learners
in grades seven through twelve."
The Advanced Academics model is designed so there
is minimal district management required. The Advanced
Academics staff of certified teachers handles all
aspects of the learning experience including course
development, assessment, grading and 24/7 availability
for interaction with the student via real-time chats,
e-mail and phone calls. According to Brings, the company
also provides custom reporting and time monitoring
of student activity that can be viewed online not
only by the district, teacher and student, but also
by parents and guardians. Advanced Academics also
provides all data necessary for accreditation and
funding, plus financial and audit records.
According to Ron Walker, Area Director, Oklahoma City
Public School District, the Advanced Academics model
will rapidly become the industry standard.
"Advanced Academics has created a solid technology
platform that can handle a large volume of students,
they have full-time, certified teachers available
24 hours a day, and their curriculum meets school
districts' rigid requirements," Walker says. "I'm
most impressed by their dedication to be a true partner
with American educators, to ensure we can reclaim
at-risk students as well as boost opportunities for
accelerated students and homeschoolers."
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