The state Department of Education has renewed the charter for five years for The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School , which was the first and is the largest cyber charter school in the state.
Pa Cyber, founded in 2000, now provides free public education to 9,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is one of 11 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania.
PA Cyber started when the small Midland Borough SchoolDistrict on the Ohio border was forced to close its high school due to economic conditions and began busing students across the state line for classes.
District officials expecting an enrollment of 50 local students were shocked to find applications from 500 throughout the state
The school remains based in Midland but has opened support centers in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
Classes mostly occur online and can be either taken real-time or via recorded sessions.
The school has met statetargets for graduation, participation and academic performance.
Hat tip to Commonwealth Foundation