PA Cyber 5-Year Charter Renewed by Pennsylvania Dept. of Education

MIDLAND, Pa., July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Education has granted a new five-year charter to the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.

"Charter renewal is great news for the thousands of Pennsylvania families who depend on our school, and a much appreciated validation of the hard work, expertise and dedication of the hundreds of PA Cyber teachers and other employees," said CEO Dr. Nick Trombetta. "Unlike school districts, we charter schools must demonstrate our effectiveness every five years or we cease to operate.

"I want to thank the education professionals at the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the cooperative manner in which they worked with us throughout the year-long charter renewal process," he said. "We appreciate their kind comments on our successes and take to heart their suggestions for improvement."

The renewal, signed by acting Secretary of Education Thomas E. Gluck and also by trustees and officers of the cyber school, grants PA Cyber a new charter from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2015.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, PA Cyber has been a leader and innovator in online education since first receiving its charter in 2000. Dr. Trombetta often is asked to speak at conferences on new educational methods and technology.

PA Cyber was the first Pennsylvania cyber charter school to offer all grades K-12, and first to accept all types of students from anywhere in the state.

PA Cyber originally was conceived as a fallback option for students of the small Midland Borough School District after economic conditions forced the district to close its high school. Those students were being bused across the state line to a high school in East Liverpool, Ohio, when PA Cyber opened in the fall of 2000.

Expecting 50 area students, the cyber charter school was nearly overwhelmed when more than 500 enrolled from all over Pennsylvania that first year. Enrollment has grown continuously, with 9,000 students attending during the 2009-10 school year. In 2009, PA Cyber met all AYP targets for graduation, participation and academic performance under the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

Headquartered in Midland, Pa., PA Cyber operates regional support centers in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.

CONTACT: Fred Miller, 724-777-5918, [email protected]

SOURCE National Network of Digital Schools