Pennsylvania Online High Schools

The Beaver-based National Network of Digital Schools intends to move in some unexpected orbits in the new school year, carrying online students into classrooms and inviting public school students to touch down in cyberworld.

Two initiatives to be launched in the fall:

* NNDS will lease the former Mount Gallitzin Academy building in Baden from the Sisters of St. Joseph during the 2010-11 school year to launch a pilot program that will provide classroom opportunities, at no additional cost, for Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes.

The program, labeled “Building Blocks” and described as an “education innovation center,” will offer educational sessions as well as playground and gymnasium time, and lunch. If successful, it will be followed by similar centers planted across the state.

For the rest of the article, go to Cyber school network plans changes this fall

There’s still some tweaking to do, but after three years of researching, cyber school in Red Lion is now in its infancy.

Red Lion Area School District students who attend cyber school will be able to receive a diploma from Red Lion, instead of through programs not affiliated with the district.

“It was like an albatross around the neck trying to find a solution for kids going elsewhere for cyber education,” said Jared Mader, district director of technology.

At a recent meeting, Mader presented key points such as goals and benefits about the new cyber education. One major benefit comes from Red Lion partnering with Bridgewater Online Academy, saving the district more than $4,000.

For the rest of the article, go to Red Lion to begin its own cyber schooling

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has won a five-year renewal of its charter from the state Department of Education, enabling one of the state’s pioneers in online schooling to stay open.

“Charter renewal is great news for the thousands of Pennsylvania families who depend on our school, and a much appreciated validation of the hard work, expertise and dedication of the hundreds of Pa. Cyber teachers and other employees,” said CEO Nick Trombetta in a news release issued today. “Unlike school districts, we charter schools must demonstrate our effectiveness every five years or we cease to operate.”

For the rest of the article, go to Pa. Cyber Charter School gets 5-year renewal

The number of our of work Americans continues to rise and it is getting harder and harder to get a job, especially if you do not have a high school diploma. Many Americans are trying to put themselves in a better position to get a job or even gain post high school education and the first step for many is to get a GED or or general high school equivalency diploma. It is easier than ever before and big news is that GED are accessible by U.S. mail or online. Online GED work is more popular than ever before and GED acquisition on line makes it convenient for millions that have internet access either at home or their local library. With a high school equivalency diploma being a minimum requirement for most jobs today; for branches of the military, many State university systems and many employers, it is essential to gain a minimum GED to move forward in today’s down economy.

For the rest of the article, go to GED Online High School Equivalency Diploma in California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania Increase; GED Funding Down; GED Leads to Higher Pay

MIDLAND, Pa., July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — High school students anywhere in Pennsylvania will be able to get an early start on a career in sports media and broadcasting in a new program being offered this year by the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.

The Ellis Cannon Academy of Sports Media and Broadcasting is a two-semester program to be taught by the veteran sports broadcaster himself in real time as a Virtual Classroom course. It is believed the only one of its type in the nation.

“The sports media and broadcasting curriculum represents what I believe will become a very successful program within our course of studies, one totally unique to PA Cyber and one which I am certain will capture the imagination of our students,” said Dr. Nick Trombetta, CEO.

For the rest of the article, go to Ellis Cannon to Teach Sports Broadcasting Through PA Cyber Charter School

Students in the Bethlehem Area School District possibly could take online classes in the future as an alternative to cyber charter schools.

The School Board Education Committee on Monday approved an administrative plan to examine whether the district should sign up for online courses offered by a consortium of three intermediate units in eastern Pennsylvania. The consortium, which began in Luzerne County and now includes Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, started the online courses as an effort to entice students — and win back state subsidies — that follow them to cyber charter schools.

“Financially it’s a good thing for our district,” acting Superintendent Thomas Persing said.

For the rest of the article, go to Bethlehem Area may offer online classes

BELLEFONTE — Last June, Bellefonte administrators told school board members that creating an online cyber school could save the district about $40,000, provided the program drew at least 10 students away from charter schools.

It didn’t. Instead, in the program’s first year, the district spent $57,578, mostly for tuition and hardware costs, according to a report presented Tuesday night by curriculum and instruction director Cathy Brachbill.

Bellefonte’s online program attracted 17 full-time and eight part-time students — but only two had previously been attending a cyber charter school.

“It was a learning process for us,” Brachbill told the school board, adding, “We had some real successes, and we have had some real challenges.”

Bellefonte’s struggles show the difficulty schools can face when they compete with established cyber charter schools — something districts have been working harder at in recent years. Bald Eagle Area, Philipsburg- Osceola and Penns Valley have all created their own cyber programs, and State College officials have discussed the idea.

For the rest of the article, go to Bellefonte examines online program

The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School announces 150 graduates from 43 counties in Pennsylvania. A graduation ceremony was recently held at the Four Points by Sheraton in Harrisburg. Local graduates are: Josephine Gorski, John Keegan, Kyle Smith, Allison Smith and Manasseh Mi-chai-ah Willis, all of Monroe County and Megan Baughman of Pike County.

For the rest of the article, go to Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School graduates

Dover Area School District students who thought “no more teachers, no more books” when school closed for summer sort of got their wish.

But probably not in the way they thought.

About 40 teachers went through training last week so they can teach in Dover Cyber Academy, an online classroom program that was in pilot mode last school year.

It’s part of Dover’s push to offer more scheduling options for students and to reclaim those who had enrolled in cyber charter schools elsewhere, said Dana Baker, assistant superintendent.

The training taught teachers how to use the software, how to teach without textbooks and how to overcome other hurdles to a cyber model.

For the rest of the article, go to Dover adds online classes with local teachers

The latest book on Stephen Catanzarite’s reading list is “Return to the Little Kingdom,” about the mad geniuses who launched Apple Computer 30 years ago.

“The irony is that I’m reading it on my iPad, so I know how the story ends,” Mr. Catanzarite said.

His own story, meanwhile, is following a similar arc, though the ending is not as clear.

Mr. Catanzarite is managing director of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, one of several spinoffs from the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, which was founded in Midland.

But somehow his name pops up in connection with every new idea to emerge from the Midland educational empire.

For the rest of the article, go to A newsmaker you should know: Catanzarite behind new ideas at PA Cyber school