With several club members interested in the physics phenomena, for their January meeting, CES advisor Caroline Hardman arranged for a special online discussion with Hiro Miyake, a graduate student at MIT, and Nabil Iqbal, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Santa Barbara’s Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics and a former graduate student at MIT.

Miyake studies matter at temperatures billionths of degrees above absolute zero with lasers. Iqbal’s work focuses on attempting to understand the physics of black holes in the framework provided by string theory.

For the rest of the article, go to Students From the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School Discuss Physics, Education With Nation’s Top Graduate Students

The online school, tentatively called VAST, or Virtual Academy Salisbury Township, would be operated in conjunction with the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit’s proposed Virtual Learning Program, which hopes to enlist other member school districts.

For the rest of the article, go to Salisbury Considers Creating Cyber School

The key is to improve education options, said Ken Kilpatrick, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, which represents charter schools in the state.

“It’s families making a choice about what school will give my child the best educational future,” Kilpatrick said. “Competition is forcing districts to think about how they can improve.”

For the rest of the article, go to Educational choice in Pa. expands, but vouchers remain out of reach

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.

For the rest of the article, go to Pennsylvania’s rating on charter schools slips

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.

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

Commonwealth Connections Academy

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.

For the rest of the article, go to Why Is Public Education Being Outsourced to Online Charter Schools?

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.”

For the rest of the article, go to Most speakers fighting for East End have ties to school

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.

For the rest of the article, go to PM supports ‘open campus’ plan

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