Today 34,000 Pennsylvania kids choose cyber charter schools. Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie) is sponsoring House Bill 1897, which would eliminate all cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania by fall 2021. The proposal issues a top-down mandate that each school district in the commonwealth develop its own cyber education program.
HB 1897: What’s in the bill?
- All cyber charter schools must cease operations after next year (2020-21).
- This means 34,000 students would have about 20 months to figure out what school—besides their preferred choice—they can attend. Since 87% of districts have no brick and mortar charter schools, cyber charter schools are the only public schooling alternative for many students. Eliminating cyber charters would force students who can’t afford private school back into a district that hasn’t met their needs.
Map: Which Districts Have Brick & Mortar Charter School Options?
- All districts will develop their own—or contract with another district, intermediate unit, or third party—full-time cyber program and provide two additional cyber programs via third-party vendor.
- School districts must provide or reimburse for all technology and internet service.
- Upon liquidation, cyber charter school assets revert to school districts based on each district’s enrollment in each cyber school. Any leftover liabilities will not be covered by the district or the commonwealth, leaving lenders responsible for the debt.
- Current cyber charter operators would be permitted to contract with school districts to offer a full-time cyber education, but they would function as third-party vendors—accountable to the school district rather than parents.
- Establishes state cyber ed advisory committee with no parent representation.
Pennsylvania cyber charter schools: the facts
- Cyber charter schools are public schools, fully tuition free to parents.
- As of 2018-19, 34,428 Pennsylvania students are enrolled in public cyber charter schools.[1]
- Cyber charter enrollment in Pennsylvania has increased 40% over the last 10 years.
- Cyber charter students come from 498 out of 500 school districts.
- The top five school districts for cyber enrollment are Philadelphia City SD, Pittsburgh SD, Reading SD, Harrisburg City SD, and Erie City SD.[2]
- As of 2017-18, cyber charter expenses were roughly $15,000 per student, about 79% of overall per-pupil funding.[3]
- Pa. school districts collectively keep roughly $136 million in revenue for cyber charter students they no longer educate.[4]
- As of 2017-18 Pa. school districts collectively hold $4.6 billion in reserves.
- Many districts have responded to the competition of cyber charter schools by developing online programs of their own.
Map: Cyber Charter School Enrollment by School District
Why do parents choose cyber charter schools?
Many parents choose cyber charter schools because their child was bullied.
- Delaware County mom, Stefanie D’Amico’s oldest son Bobby was relentlessly bullied in school. He needed an alternative, and Stefanie found relief for Bobby at Agora Cyber Charter School. Now Bobby is succeeding academically and a martial arts champion.
- Colleen Cook, a mom and U.S. Navy veteran, credits school choice with saving her son’s life. Her son with Asperger syndrome was struggling at the local district school, eventually attempting suicide. Ms. Cook enrolled her son in a cyber charter school tailored to his needs, where he is now thriving.
Many parents cite the flexibility a cyber education offers.
- 94% of PA Virtual Charter School parents reported the school offers their child the flexibility they need to learn.
- Alexis Dingeldein ‘17 wrote and self-published six novels while attending PA Virtual thanks to the program’s flexibility.
Many parents enroll their child for the specialized services cyber charter schools offer, including disability services.
- 22% of cyber charter students receive special education services, compared with 17% for all other public schools.
- Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) serves students with visual and hearing impairments, including blindness and deafness.
- CCA offers specialized and in-home instruction for students with blindness, such as a Vision Support Teacher or an Instructional Aide and assistive technology including text-to-speech and speech-to-text software, large screen monitors, and audio books.
- Similarly, CCA offers specialized and in-home instruction for students with deafness, such as a Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher, an Audiologist, or an Instructional Aide.
Parents keep their children enrolled in cyber charter schools because they are the best fit for their child. Parent satisfaction is the best measure of school accountability.
- 94% of CCA parents report they are satisfied with the school.
- 83% of PA Virtual parents reported they would re-enroll their child the following school year.
Students who leave district schools for cyber charter schools often enter the cyber school below grade level.
- According to i-Ready student assessment scores from CCA, 63% of incoming fall 2018 K-8 students scored at least one year below grade level in reading, with 64% at least one year below grade level in math.
- Students were re-tested in the spring of 2019. The portion of students at or above grade level grew by 20% in reading and 24% in math.
How to hold cyber charter schools accountable
Legislation has passed in each respective chamber to further improve the accountability and transparency of cyber charter schools. In the Senate, lawmakers should pass House Bills 355 - 358. In the House, lawmakers should pass Senate Bill 590. In contrast, Rep. Sonney’s HB 1897 does nothing to increase the accountability of cyber charter schools. Rather, it would destroy an entire educational sector and force thousands of kids back to a district school where there is very little accountability to parents.
Parents of 34,000 Pennsylvania kids chose cyber charter schools because their child’s unique needs were not met by their district school. We must respect the decisions of those parents, while working to increase accountability for all public schools.
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[1] Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports: http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Enrollment%20Reports%20and%20Projections.aspx
[2] Pennsylvania Department of Education enrollment reports: http://www.education.pa.gov/Data-and-Statistics/Pages/Enrollment%20Reports%20and%20Projections.aspx
[3] Pennsylvania Department of Education Tuition Schedule: 2008-09 to 2017-18: https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers - Administrators/School Finances/Finances/AFR Data Summary/Pages/AFR-Data-Detailed-.aspx
[4] Pennsylvania Department of Education Tuition Schedule: 2008-09 to 2017-18: https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers - Administrators/School Finances/Finances/AFR Data Summary/Pages/AFR-Data-Detailed-.aspx
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