PA Virtual School Newsroom

Andie Byron

Blog Feature

Quick Tips in Education

6 Tips to Setting Up a Home Learning Environment

For the past 20 years that PA Virtual has been serving Pennsylvania children, our teachers, staff, and families have all learned a lot about the best practices of cyber schooling and how to set up our students to be successful in this model. If you've just started cyber schooling your child or children, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out where exactly to begin. First and foremost, you may be wondering where exactly your child should learn everyday. Many of our experienced families have shared with us that it helps to set up a specific area in the home where school "happens" each day. While some students may work just as well in a more relaxed environment, setting up a dedicated school area can be a great way for new families to get into the swing of things.

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Blog Feature

Why PA Virtual Parents Started Looking for a Charter School

It’s been over 20 years since school choice legislation was passed in Pennsylvania, and with over 150 charter and cyber charter schools in the state, parents now have more choices for their child’s education than ever. The reasons parents begin looking for a charter school can be as different as families themselves, but in the end, there is one common denominator: something in their current school situation isn’t working for them. Charter schools allow parents to make a choice that better suits their needs and the needs of their child.

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Blog Feature

Quick Tips in Education

How to Convince My Mom to Let Me Do an Online School

Thousands of students each year realize that something isn’t working for them at their local school district, and they start looking for an alternative way to receive their education. If that’s where you are, and you’ve decided that a cyber charter school would be a great fit for you, you’ve come to the right place. You may be wondering, "How to convince my mom to let me do an online school?" This blog can help you prepare to talk with your mom (or dad) about making the choice to enroll at an online school.

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Blog Feature

About Cyber Education

What is a Cyber Charter School, Anyways?

Per the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), a cyber charter school is an independent public school and a non-profit organization that uses technology to deliver a significant portion of curriculum and instruction. More than 35,000 students in Pennsylvania take advantage of this model of education, and there are currently 15 cyber charter schools available to students across the state.

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Blog Feature

In the Community

Summer Reading Extravaganza

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's (CLP) Summer Reading Extravaganza is one of the best ways we know to kick of summer reading! This annual outdoor festival offers music (we love Timbeleza!), crafts, games, storytelling, food trucks, and most importantly the opportunity to enroll in a summer reading program. This year PA Virtual gave participants the chance to express their creativity by making magic scratch bookmarks, which they can use all summer as they read their favorite books. According to Story Pockets, the official blog for Children’s Services at CLP, "participating in a summer reading program can help kids and teens retain the literacy skills they have gained during the school year. Studies have shown that when kids and teens read during the summer, they are more likely to succeed when the new school year begins. Summer slide, or summer learning loss, can be challenged by reading books and engaging in out-of-school learning opportunities."

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