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Thursday, April 12, 2001
Eight cyber charter schools have been authorized in Pennsylvania.
Two already are open:
Six other schools are set to open next fall:
The SusQ-Cyber Charter School, now in its third year, in Northumberland County. The school draws its 80 high school students from Northumberland and four nearby counties. The Western Pennsylvania Cyber School, based in Midland, Beaver County, which opened this school year with 500 students in 105 school districts spread among 22 counties. The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, created by K12, a for-profit firm headed by former U.S. Education Secretary William J. Bennett. It plans to open with up to 1,500 pupils in kindergarten through second grade, and its charter will permit it to grow to 15,000 students within five years in kindergarten through 12th grade. LEARNERS On-Line Regional Charter School, initiated by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which will have up to 100 students. Ten school districts have agreed to serve on the school's board: Allegheny Valley, Baldwin-Whitehall, Bethel Park, Chartiers Valley, Deer Lakes, Moon Area, Shaler Area, South Allegheny, West Allegheny and Woodland Hills. Midwestern Regional Virtual Charter School, initiated through the Midwestern Intermediate Unit in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties, has been chartered by nine school districts, and 26 districts have agreed to participate. It plans to open with 500 students. 21st Century Cyber Charter School, developed by intermediate units in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, which plans to open with 100 high school students, growing gradually to cover kindergarten through 12th grade. Commonwealth Cyber School, chartered by the School District of Lancaster, plans to open with 100 11th- and 12th-graders from throughout the state. The Einstein Academy Charter School, chartered by the Morrisville School District in Bucks County, expects to start a computer-based program with 1,000 students statewide in kindergarten through 12th grade and grow to 7,500 by the fifth year.