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Pennsylvania’s rating on charter schools slips

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“In general, Pennsylvania law provides an environment that’s open to new startups, public school conversions and virtual schools,” he said.

More than 90,000 students are enrolled in 140 public charter schools, including 11 cyber charter schools, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. An estimated 30,000 students are on waiting lists.

Legislation pending in the state House would create an independent commission to authorize and oversee all charter and cyber charter schools statewide. Current law allows school boards to authorize or close brick-and-mortar charter schools. Since 1997, districts have closed just two charter schools, both in the Philadelphia area.

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Rising Enrollment and Governmental Support to Drive the US Charter School Market, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Although there has been a massive protest among the teachers’ unions, certain politicians and others towards the virtual charter school system, the sector is set to grow in the near future. Major growth drivers for the sector include public funding, positive results from studies that indicate high level of satisfaction among the parents, under-performance of public schools, and requirement of lesser capital costs. The virtual charters or the cyber charters are a part of the evolving home school segment, operating entirely through online curriculum. Nearly 220 thousand students enrolled into cyber charter schools in the US in the year 2010. Moreover, the enrollment into these schools is increasing at a rapid rate of over 40% per year.

The research report titled “Charter Schools: A US Market Outlook” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers an aerial view of the Charter Schools industry in the US, identifies major short to medium term market challenges, and growth drivers. The report also offers a recapitulation of recent mergers, acquisitions, and corporate developments in addition to an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies.

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Why Is Public Education Being Outsourced to Online Charter Schools?

January 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Virtual charter schools, which offer classes online instead of in a classroom, have become the fastest-growing segment of the charter school industry. And while data on their effectiveness is scarce, state legislators across the country are passing laws to expand cyber schools at the behest of privatization advocates and online education companies at an alarming rate, with little regulation.

The Associated Press reports that more than 200,000 kindergarten to 12th grade students are enrolled in full-time “virtual charter schools” in at least 40 states. That number soars to two million schoolchildren nationwide when one takes into account students who are enrolled in at least one course.

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Most speakers fighting for East End have ties to school

January 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

MEADVILLE — By a margin of more than two to one, speakers expressing opinions during Crawford Central School Board’s recent public hearing on the possibility of closing of East End Elementary School supported saving their school.

Many families chose the East End neighborhood because all three schools, East End, Meadville Area Middle School and Meadville Area Senior High School, are within walking distance, Maple Street resident Patience Laub observed.

“What’s to keep me from moving to Vernon Township now?,” Chestnut Street resident Marty Decker wanted to know. “How many East End families will move to cyber or private schools?”

“I wanted my kids to be in a small community school,” Julie Panchura agreed. “If East End closes, we’ll entertain the thought of moving or going to cyber school.”

“If property values decrease, will our property taxes decrease, too?” Jill Tucker wanted to know. “Has the school board considered the long-term effects on the community of closing East End?”

“I don’t want it to go,” East End first-grader Holden Brown said.

“If East End closes, we will refuse to stay,” his mother, Leslie, agreed, noting that the family is already investigating options such as Saegertown or Neason Hill if the closure takes place.

“Property values will plummet. Children will go to cyber schools,” said East End resident Jenny Basco. “It sounds like the decision has been made,” she continued. “Our little sweethearts who have grown up together will be going to some inner-city school where they don’t know anyone. More than $7 million was spent to renovate our school — we have the best school.”

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PM supports ‘open campus’ plan

January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last month, the superintendents of the three districts — Leichliter, Hempfield’s Brenda Becker and Manheim Township’s Gene Freeman — announced their intention to join forces and begin offering cyber classes as part of the initiative. The vision of the open campus is to break down the boundaries of time and space while maximizing resources and providing educational choice at a reduced cost.

The districts are all large, boast high academic standards and socioeconomic diversity and are “physically connected to each other,” Leichliter said.

Hempfield is scheduled to consider the matter Tuesday.

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Career Magnet School forum set for Chambersburg Area Senior High School

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

CMS students will also be able to take courses through the Franklin Virtual Academy and Blended Schools – a pair of online programs.

Long noted the first year of the school will be a “test and trial year” as administrators determine the best path for the future.

More details about the school, including technology components, could emerge after a school board workshop retreat on Jan. 11.

For the rest of the article, go to Career Magnet School forum set for Chambersburg Area Senior High School

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State gets more than $41 million in federal education funds

December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Pennsylvania has been given more than $41 million in education funding through the federal Race to the Top grant program.

The money will be used mainly for a new evaluation system for teachers, an effort to align academic standards and improve access to charter and online charter schools, according to state education officials.

The $41,326,299 grant will be paid over the next four years.

The Race to the Top program is a competitive grant program established by the U.S. Department of Education. Twelve states had been awarded funds a total of $4 billion in two previous rounds.

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Tough Times on virtual learning?

December 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A 50 percent “churn” rate is unacceptable, and that Pennsylvania is not insisting on answers suggests that they need to improve their public policy. And while Saul’s wrong on the kinds of students who may benefit from digital learning, we would be wise to listen to disgruntled K12 Inc. staff members when they

say problems begin with intense recruitment efforts that fail to filter out students who are not suited for the program[.]

As the Massachusetts legislature thinks through this issue, it has to pay special attention to the fee structure and timing. Here the public model in Florida may provide important lessons in as much as there is no payment made to the Florida Virtual School until the student completes the course with a satisfactory grade.

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Top 3 Accredited Online Providers For High School Diploma

December 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We have to accept a fact. The climate in the United States education was radically changed by the Internet. Today’s students, the programs of the high school diploma no longer aspire needed to attend courses in their universities. Fill out a study can be accessed via the Internet. Students can acquire the required knowledge in virtual schools. As a student, smart rapidly changing world of today, it is important to provide for you, you will receive quality education from genuine suppliers online. You need to know if the online high-school choice is legitimate and recognized by the regional accrediting body. If not, stay away from it immediately.

I would say that our younger generation is lucky. Many universities have established programs started with an online high school for working people and the unemployed. The courses are offered at these universities are accredited and recognized. Here are the top three schools would I like to share with you:

• Penn Foster High School

I would say Penn Foster High School is unique because its online degree programs are career-oriented. This school focuses heavily on fundamental scientific and practical study and professional development. It helps students to be competent in the workplace. It is accredited by the Commission of the States of the East High School and Distance Education and Training Council. His program consists of 16 standard classes and 5 with either the total of 21.5 credits. The deadline for students who completed the entire program is 3 years. If you have more time to learn, you can shorten the duration of the study. If you need a degree to improve your job prospects, I would say that Penn Foster is definitely the first choice.

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With cyber charter competition, school districts start to advertise

December 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

An electronic billboard on Business Route 6 in Dickson City flashes an image of smiling students and teachers.

The advertisement for the Mid Valley School District promotes student achievement and district accomplishments. At $900 a month, officials hope it saves thousands in lost tuition.

As online charter school enrollment continues to grow, public school districts across the region and state are facing competition like they never have before. When students leave public school districts, their state funding follows them to cyber schools. Districts are now advertising, holding recruitment nights and thinking about public relations.

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