PA Virtual School Newsroom
April 5th, 2019
Of all the countless decisions you’ll make as a parent, perhaps none are so important as how you choose to educate your child. Yet, for all the weight and consequence placed on this choice, it...
March 18th, 2019
Cyber charter schools have been widely criticized for poor performance on standardized testing. These scores only tell part of the story. Cyber charter schools enroll many students who have...
March 28th, 2018
A common question families ask us when beginning the enrollment process is how often their child will get to socialize with others while being educated in a virtual environment. Socialization is an...
A deeper look into the nationally recognized curriculum used by PA Virtual PA Virtual challenges students each day in a flexible online learning environment from the comfort of their own homes. How does a school connect students from across the state and ensure their academic needs are met? Our state-certified teachers guide students through their studies using the nationally recognized K12, Inc. curriculum that aligns with the PA Core Standards set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PA Virtual teachers deliver these online courses to students in each grade at every level of learning. Teachers use their creativity to individualize lesson plans based on the needs of students in the virtual classroom. PA Virtual has used K12, Inc. as the source for curriculum since its inception in 2001. Nationally, the curriculum aligns with the Common Core, however the PA Core Standards are slightly different. Parents may find “PA Only” lessons or supplements provided by K12, Inc. or teachers during the course of the school year.
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At PA Virtual, we offer both asynchronous and synchronous learning models for our students based on their academic performance, learning style, and need for academic support and socialization. So, what does that mean and how are they different?
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About Cyber Education | Insider Perspectives | PA Virtual Grads-Where are They Now?
For the first time in PA Virtual’s history, we have hired one of our alumni as a teacher! Former student Sigrid Gulbis was hired this past summer as a High School Math Academic Support Teacher. Ms. Gulbis entered the first grade during PA Virtual’s second year in business and graduated four years ago. This past May, Gulbis graduated Summa Cum Laude from DeSales University with a bachelor’s of science in math. “It’s interesting to see many teachers who instructed me are still at the school and now are my coworkers,” Gulbis said.
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About Cyber Education | Happenings & Perspectives
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.
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What is it like teaching in a cyber school? What can students expect as they settle into the school year? PA Virtual teacher, Ms. Lisa Steen, shares some of the behind the scenes action that takes place at cyber schools and gives advice for students who want to start the school year strong! Ms. Steen has been an elementary classroom teacher at PA Virtual since the school opened. She has taught all grades (K-5) and this year is excited to work with our Kindergarten students. How do cyber school teachers spend their day? A teacher’s job is never done! Ms. Steen and other PA Virtual teachers do complete tasks similar to teachers at a brick and mortar school, such as data entry, lesson planning, grading and attending meetings, but there are also lots of differences. First – they don’t have to drive to class! Many PA Virtual teachers have an office set up in their own home, just as students have a designated “school” space. Here, they sign into their computer, load lessons for the day and engage with students and families during live lessons or remediation classes. The flexibility of cyber school often allows teachers to individualize lessons based on the needs of students.
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A step by step guide to help new families be successful in cyber education
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