During the 2018-2019 school year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is introducing a new school assessment tool, the Future Ready Index. This new tool is designed to take a more comprehensive look at individual students; assessing their unique needs and abilities, measuring their year over year growth, and determining if schools are truly preparing Pennsylvania’s students for long term success. While in the past, great schools were measured almost exclusively by standardized test scores, the new Future Ready Index will take multiple criteria into consideration including how a student performs over several years as well as whether a school is providing opportunities for exploring career pathways and college options.
Given the rapid pace of change brought on by advances in technology and new economic drivers, it is difficult to determine what the future will hold for our current students and which careers will be most in demand. Therefore, it is essential that today’s schools provide students with the skills necessary to be able to adapt to a changing environment and an uncertain future.
For over 15 years, Pennsylvania’s cyber charter school network has been preparing students for their future. By their very nature, cyber charter schools advance a student’s technology skillset and introduce them to a variety of engaging and interactive programs that help students develop their technology literacy. In addition, cyber charter schools help students develop essential time management, self-motivation, and self-responsibility skills. All of which are crucial for a successful career in any field regardless of future opportunities. PA cyber charter schools also engage students’ creativity and adaptability skillset encouraging students to be open to new possibilities and develop innovative solutions to new issues. Perhaps most critically, cyber charter schools engage all students in rich and varied classroom experiences, uniting students from varying zip codes and socioeconomic backgrounds to develop cross-cultural communication and leadership skills.
Despite often negative headlines, it is evident that the cyber education model is providing opportunities for students to learn and develop a crucial skillset that is beyond what is traditionally assessed in a standardized test. By engaging students in real opportunities for the development of critical skills, cyber students are future ready.
Want to learn more about the new Future Ready Index? Click here.
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