BlueSky Receives Innovation Award for Social-Emotional Approach

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with our BlueSky community—we’ve been honored with the Innovation Award from the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools for our unique approach to supporting student mental health. This recognition highlights something we’ve always believed: you can’t teach kids effectively unless their mental health needs are being addressed first.

What Makes Our Approach Different?

At BlueSky, we don’t just talk about well-rounded student support—we’ve built our entire model around it. Our licensed school social work team has developed social-emotional support group courses that help students develop coping skills, build friendships, and work through those challenging adolescent years we all remember (and maybe don’t miss too much).

These aren’t your typical health classes. We offer courses like “Mind Over Mood” for students struggling with depression or stress, “Attacking Anxiety” for those dealing with anxiety, and “Healing and Dealing,” which provides grief support for students who have experienced the loss of a loved one. We also offer “Who Am I” and “The Real You”—courses focused on building self-esteem, maintaining healthy relationships, defining future goals, and more.

The Three-Person Support Team

Here’s where things get really unique to BlueSky: every single student has a three-person support team assigned to them that includes an advisor, a social worker, and a counselor. Some students even have an additional case manager. This isn’t something we reserve for students who are struggling—it’s our approach for everyone.

This team-based approach means there’s always someone who knows your student, understands their challenges, and is actively working to support them. Whatever students might be facing, there’s someone there to help them overcome obstacles—academic and personal.

Real Impact on Real Students

Our results speak for themselves. We’ve seen significant improvements in both attendance and graduation rates since implementing these programs. But beyond the numbers, it’s the student stories that speak volumes.

One of our students shared: “The school is amazing and it’s really helped me a lot. It’s made me engage a lot more, and it made me like school a lot better—doing it online.” Another student told us, “I feel as though they’ve taught me things to support myself when I’m in mental crises or I just need a little boost. It just makes me feel a lot better knowing a lot more about myself.”

Why This Matters for Online Education

Many students come to BlueSky because they’re experiencing social anxiety at their traditional brick-and-mortar schools. The online environment naturally removes some of those stressors, but we’ve gone even further by teaching students the tools they need to manage anxiety, depression, and the other numerous challenges that come with being a teenager.

Students who might have struggled with attendance in a traditional setting often thrive in our online environment. When kids don’t feel stressed to socially “perform”, they show up—both literally and figuratively. They attend classes, engage with the material, and are able to focus on learning, rather than just trying to survive the school day.

Looking Forward

Receiving this Innovation Award is incredibly meaningful to our team, but it’s really just confirmation of what our students and families already know—BlueSky is different. We’ve created an environment where academics and mental health go hand in hand, where every student has a team of adults invested in their well-being, and where learning to understand and care for yourself is just as important as understanding algebra or writing essays.

As we continue to see more students struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, we’re proud to be leading the way in showing how schools can and should respond.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re considering online education for your child and want to learn more about BlueSky’s innovative approach, we’d love to talk with you!

Contact BlueSky today to get more information about our award-winning programs and see why families across Minnesota have been choosing BlueSky for 25 years.