DENVER, CO – July 15, 2024 – HOPE Online Learning Academy Co-Op today announced that a new learning site, BETA Online, is now open and currently enrolling students for fall. BETA Online serves as the drop-in sister site to Alpha Learning Academy, with locations at 1045 West 6th Street (Midtown) and 2804 E. 12th Street (La Gente) in Pueblo. HOPE curriculum is online, allowing students to learn anywhere with an internet connection, and BETA Online is where students can drop in to the La Gente location for extra assistance, meet with mentors, or engage with peers.

"Opening BETA Online is a perfect extension to our current offerings to the Pueblo community," said Celina Apodaca, Site Director of Alpha Learning Academy and BETA Online. "Some students need or desire more in-person time, while others want to attend school primarily online and only come in when necessary. BETA Online is a perfect option for those students who have a busy schedule, often balancing school and work, and we are flexible around their needs."

At HOPE, personalization is key. Each site director, mentor, and teacher work with students to build a plan that allows them to take online classes but also access in-person educational support, professional mentors, and experiential opportunities. HOPE provides two pathways to graduation, CORE24 and Workforce Readiness, allowing each student to prepare for the future in the best way possible.

Louis Rodriguez, Pueblo native and beloved HOPE employee, has been named BETA Online’s Site Manager. He adds, “Everyone is excited to continue HOPE’s message to nontraditional students that you belong here. We are focused on making this site a community center where youth feel welcome.” 

Students or guardians can enroll online (www.hopeonline.org) or call (719) 924-8922 for more information. HOPE has learning sites around Colorado, providing blended education for kids in 6th through 12th grade.

For more than 20 years, HOPE has been a pioneer in online and hybrid education, long before the pandemic shifted the education landscape. HOPE provides a safe, caring space for students in 6^th-12^th grade that don't fit into a traditional school model. For example, it often serves kids who may be over-age and under-credit (not at grade level), need to work to support their families, or help their parents with childcare.

“We are extremely proud of the strong community that our team in Pueblo has built over the years and this drop-in site is in high demand,” added Heather O’Mara, founder and CEO of HOPE Online Learning Academy Co-Op. “With BETA Online complementing Alpha Learning Academy, we hope to help more students succeed.”

Alpha Learning Academy and BETA Online at HOPE also support students who have faced school or legal issues, are bilingual or new to the country and haven’t settled in yet, or simply didn’t thrive in their local school. HOPE balances the need for quality education with flexibility and solid guidance to see struggling or nontraditional students through to graduation.

“Our growth is indicative that we’re effectively meeting the needs of our community,” concluded Apodaca. “Collectively, with parents, teachers, mentors, local businesses and others, we are committed to the growth of our students to grow into happy, successful adults.”