What are the PSSAs, Again?

Posted on March 19, 2013October 27, 2015 by Ben Ozgur

We all know that students are asked to take standardized state exams each year. But, what are they? Where do they come from? And what is their purpose?

I’m glad you’re asking yourself these questions! I’m even more glad that I have some answers!

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is set in place to distribute various assessments and produce reports based on assessment scores. The state does this to unify what is taught to students throughout the commonwealth, ensuring that all students meet a general set of standards, and making them prepared citizens who can tackle life after school. Students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 are assessed in mathematics and reading skills. Writing skills are then assessed in grades 5, 8, and 11.

While testing is mentally taxing for all involved, these assessments assists schools in determining student proficiency in basic subjects that will serve them well later in life. Test scores have been linked to graduation requirements, so that students must pass these exams, showing advanced or proficient understanding of the subjects tested, in order to graduate.

What the state finds especially helpful is that these exams not only prepare students from an academic standpoint. But, the scoring and reporting structure set in place helps the state to recognize how schools are performing. Student scores are utilized to calculate an Annual Yearly Progress score, or AYP. The state mandates that schools must meet a determined AYP score each year, to validate that their teaching practices are aligned to state standards, and produce results in student performance.

PSSA exams cost time and money to distribute to students. For a cyber school such as 21^st Century, teachers are sent to various locations throughout the state to distribute and proctor exams. It is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to see their students, and help make students as comfortable as possible before engaging in such a robust testing process.

Students in traditional brick-and-mortar schools have the afforded benefit of space and facility availability for testing purposes. They have gymnasiums, libraries, cafeterias, and large classrooms. Cyber schools, such as 21CCCS, need to rent space and send teachers and staff to man those spaces. Many teachers and staff make overnight trips, staying in hotels. Due to the disparity in expense, cyber schools provide testing in just one day. This means students must take each examination in one sitting, as opposed to taking them over the course of a few days, which traditional students are able to do).

What material is assessed in PSSA exams? In Pennsylvania, there are two sets of standards: the Common Core, and the PA State Standards. These standards contain skills, anchors, and the indicators of those skills. They are helpful guidelines that assist educators by defining what skills students should have, and how students can show their knowledge of those skills. The information outlined in our state standards reflects many of the subjects and topics that will be tested in the exams.

For more information on how to best prepare for the exams, CLICK HERE!

What Are Our Teachers Doing for Spring Break?

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

We asked our teachers and staff what their plans are for the upcoming spring break. It seems many of the 21CCCS family is traveling. Can you guess who responded to us?

“I plan to visit my son in Washington, try to play some tennis if the weather is nice, do some home improvement projects and try to relax…”

“I plan to visit my mother in Taiwan.”

“I am in the process of moving! I’ll be packing my bags! Plus, I get to talk about my super cool job at my daughter’s school for Women’s History Month.”

“I’m visiting Williamsburg, VA to see my Alma mater!”

“I have no idea!”

“I’m going to Atlanta!”

“I’m having a big Egg Hunt at my house!”

“I’m going to Delaware to see the sites! I also hope to get to the zoo, and to see my family.”

“I hope to do some home repairs and grade.”

“I won a free cruise to the Bahamas! So I’ll be there!”

“I’ll be in North Carolina.”

“I’m going to ‘Story Time’ with my son, and running with him in my jogger! I can’t wait.”

“I’m going to visit my sister in Dewey Beach.”

“I’ll be in Rehobeth Beach.”

“I’ll be doing some work on my house and taking care of my dogs. They can be a handful!”

“I’m heading to Rhode Island to spend time with family.”

“I am taking my family to Myrtle Beach, even though the weather does not look too great.”

“I will have Mommy-daughter day all week since my husband works. We are going to the park, the nature center, and the ‘Please Touch Museum.'”

“I plan to spend lots of time cuddling with my daughter and teaching her how to sleep in the big girl crib.”

“I will be painting furniture!”

“My family is renting a log cabin in the Smokey Mountains.”

“I have a horse show planned. If the weather is good I will get some trail riding in, too. I am also taking my daughter and friends to the Mutter museum in Philadelphia. We have a lot to do!”

“We’ll be doing a lot of hiking, probably at Point Reyes.”

“I’m traveling to see my family in Georgia!”

“I will just relax.”

A Day on the Hill Means Changes Are Pending for Charter and Cyber Charter Schools

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

PENTAX Image — Photo provided by capitol.com

Last Thursday, March 14, Pennsylvania’s Education Committee met in a caucus room with seating for 200 in Harrisburg. The PA House opened their doors to the public in an attempt to gain insight on recent bill proposals, House Bill 618 and House Bill 759.While the caucus room only holds about 200 people, the rotunda within the capitol was also open to the public, so they could watch and listen in on the room’s happenings. Nearly 100 additional people filled the rotunda area, and their shouts of approval could be heard throughout the capitol, as they responded to testimony and discussion throughout the day.

Why were there so many constituents in attendance?

And why was 21st Century represented there as well?

These bills offer new solutions to the funding structure currently in use for charter and cyber charter schools in the state. At present, charter and cyber charter schools receive monies from school districts when a student transfers from his home school district to another public institution. Although there are deduction allowances in place, many say the formula is broken. School districts contest too much money is already given to charter and cyber schools. Because these schools operate differently from traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, what it takes to fund them properly is simply under speculation.

The caucus room was heated Thursday. Advocates and opposers of the bill alike have a lot to say. School district officials, such as the superintendents and office managers present, believe that direct pay from the state to charter and cyber schools will alleviate current tensions. Others believe it simply costs less to educate students through charter and cyber schools. Those who believe education costs are varied cite cyber schools as not having needs for student transportation, facilities maintenance, library services, school health, and more. What was somehow misrepresented was the fact that cyber schools, instead, have various technological needs, state testing expenses, and more. Charter and cyber schools have very different needs and, therefore, very different expenses than traditional bricks-and-mortar schools.

Following the testimony of school superintendents, student and parent organizations, business managers, and the like, Education Committee members questioned testifiers in an effort to give voice to the public and gain clarity on the plausible effects of approving pending bills 618 and 759. It is the hope of all in attendance that the cries of the public will be heard, understood, and utilized, as lawmakers work to build the best funding structure possible. The greatest hope of all is that the needs and interests of the students will remain at the forefront of the issue.

Keep informed! Follow us on Twitter @21cyberschool, or check out our new School Choice Movement page on Facebook!

Is Research Difficult for You?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

Learn some of the facts about using the internet for research through this informational visual. You may be surprised what you learn.

Graphic provided by OnlineEducation.net

A Mom On Cyber School

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

Attending cyber school is a choice given to students and parents, which has been made accessible due to the School Choice Movement. This movement has created learning options for students whose needs are not being met in traditional brick-and-mortar school environments. For a parent and child advocate like Suzanne Baumann, choosing cyber school was about finding new learning methods for her son. In a recent conversation with her, I learned a lot about what cyber school has done for her son and what it continues to offer for students like him.

“The reason many parents place their children in cyber school isn’t because they are too lazy to get up on time for school. It’s because they are not satisfied with their education,” Baumann says. She believes that her son’s school failed to provide the kind of learning from which he could benefit. And Baumann is adamant that choosing something different for her son does not mean she has chosen something inferior, as some have been led to believe.

Baumann wants to help dispel rumors and misperceptions. Her son attends 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, where classes are taught through two web-based platforms. Lessons and assignments are stored in one web space, while a separate platform allows for virtual interactions with teachers. Students learn to utilize technology in new ways, which will serve them in life after they leave school. They learning to build interactive web-based posters, create videos, build blogs, and express their creativity in entirely new ways. These are things on which traditional schools are not focused.

Traditional schools and cyber charter schools alike are developing curriculum using the Common Core, which is recognized state wide in Pennsylvania. What differentiates brick-and-mortar schools from the cyber and charter schools is simply the delivery of those standards. How a teacher executes lessons and interacts with students varies between schools. Different delivery models work better for different students. Granting students the opportunity to choose an optimal learning model is what helps to inspire and invigorate students to learn.

What could be so bad about that? Currently, pending legislation in Pennsylvania seeks to restructure funding to cyber charter schools. This means potentially closing some of the smaller schools that cannot survive these cuts. This will limit school choice, which ultimately limits opportunities for student learning. Baumann claims further regulations will not benefit the children.

“I wish the government would let the people make their own choices. Yes, we all need rules and regulations, but you certainly do not need to take our freedom away. We should choose where our child can get the best education. My son has supposedly had a learning disability for reading. He struggled to read for years. So, he was placed in a special class and was given IEP for several years,” Baumann said.

By the time her son reached the 7th grade, he was still only reading at a 4th grade level. Baumann was told that her son had ADHD. Yet, instead of feeling glad to have identified a potential problem, she felt scrutinized and ostracized. She was told that her son’s challenges were a result of her own failure to read enough to him as a child. What was Baumann’s response? She adamantly defends that she read to her son constantly. She wonders why writing him an IEP and stamping him with a disability didn’t lead to progress. Having her son labeled led to different treatment by teachers. Baumann says, “My son was basically being bullied by the school and not the students. The students didn’t judge him for his learning disability, it was the teachers.”

When her son entered 21CCCS, his grades changed dramatically. His success level, confidence, and overall quality of life transformed. As a current 7^th grader, he is at the top of his class, achieving A’s consistently. Baumann says, ” I always talked highly of my child, but now I can brag about him.” She and her son are thrilled with the progress made in such a short amount of time. How can this be something that the government wants to see taken away from students?

The money issue is one that persists. It is always on the legislative landscape. The claim is that cyber charter schools cost taxpayers too much money. They are draining funds away from the public school system. But, charter schools are considered a part of the public school system. They receive funding from the state to educate students. When a child chooses between schools, whichever he chooses is the school owed monies for his education.

Baumann feels that the assumptions made about the costs for cyber schools are unfair. “In the long run, the school district is making more money than the cyber school. They are getting 20% of our tax dollars for a child who doesn’t even attend their school. So, that 20% can pay for either lighting in a traditional school, or a computer at the cyber school.”

Baumann’s understanding is not far from the truth. Traditional schools are eligible to receive a percentage of per pupil costs, based on a deduction structure put in place several years ago. The question remains as to what is truly equitable, and what funding structure will most behoove student learning.

The bottom line, argues Baumann, is that parents deserve a choice for their children. She says, “They always say there is nothing like the love of a mother for their child. Well don’t you think that I love my child enough to know that he deserves a better education than the one our school district was giving?”

It’s not easy to argue with that.

A Night to Remember…NHS and NJHS Inductions

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

The sounds heard outside the Rustin High School student weight room, training room, and auxiliary gym are usually those of rubber soled sneakers and bouncing balls. Instead, clicking heels and gleeful chatter echoed through those halls last Tuesday night. This is because 21CCCS hosted its National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society inductions in a room of blue and silver.

21CCCS teachers and staff arrived at Rustin’s gymnasium in West Chester, PA at 2:45 p.m. and set to transform the room into a space fit for elegant dining, proud parents, and teary students. Japanese paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, white tablecloths adorned each table, and chalkboard center pieces labeled with family names welcomed spectators to their designated seats. The final flourish included tiny white lights, which hung from the walls, and gave an extra special glow to the space.

By 6 p.m., the room was full and dinner was served to nearly 140 people. Everyone was ready to celebrate. Parents, family members, friends, and administrators each took seats together, allowing for great conversation. Current NHS and NJHS members were also in attendance to welcome inductees into this prestigious organization. A party can’t go wrong when the food is fabulous. Pasta, chicken, eggplant, and sweets filled bellies and broadened smiles just as we were ready to begin the ceremony.

By 7:15 p.m. Principal, Kylene Ball, introduced everyone and shared inspirational words. She spoke of how the inductees were excellent contributors to communities, and ultimately, the world. She recognized that the passion and dedication of our students encourage others. These students show each of us how the world can be a better place. Her words rang so true.

Becoming a member of NHS and NJHS does not only grant students the ability to build character through the activities in which they will soon participate. It recognizes the existing makeup of our student body, acknowledging the incredible character that already lives within each member. Being inducted into NHS and NJHS ultimately allows students to join their efforts. These students come together to instill values of “academic scholarship,” “leadership,” “community service,” and “character,” in other others, by setting a tremendous example.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Teresa Powell, spoke of her immense sense of pride in the success stories of our students. She was so thrilled to speak at an event where excelling students have embraced opportunities, challenged themselves, and served their communities. They are playing instruments, dancing, participating in athletics, serving their communities, and building dreams.

A real highlight of the evening was truly the letter reading portion, at which point teachers Drew Benson and Kathleen Groff read through encouraging letters from parents to the inductees. Their words touted the successes of their children in a meaningful way that helped each of us to see the individual life experiences that make each student so special.

Many contributed to make the evening special. Advisers Brian Petters and Mark Miller did an exceptional job organizing the event, and we owe a special thanks to them. But, most importantly, thanks are owed to the students who strive to achieve their very best, time and time again. Your hard work and dedication make our school a very special place to work, learn, and teach. And ultimately, it is your hard work and dedication that will make our world a better place.

Preparing for Standardized Testing

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

The months of March and April are especially unique at 21^st Century Cyber Charter School. That’s because our students are required to take state standardized tests. While every public school student in Pennsylvania takes these exams each year (depending upon grade level) the distribution of these tests is wildly different for a brick-and-mortar school. When you are a cyber school, these months are dedicated to preparation and organization. We must then move ourselves all across the commonwealth to meet with our students and proctor the exams.

Our Guidance Department recently released a long list of testing dates and sites about two weeks ago. (If you have not seen this list, or if you have not yet signed up successfully for a testing site, please contact Guidance immediately!) Upon receipt of such a detailed list, you may have asked yourself, “What does it take for school to come to me for these tests?”

Well, we’re glad you asked!

For traditional brick-and-mortar schools, times of standardized testing create a particular buzz in the building. For the most part, schedules are altered, and teachers are pulled in different directions to help accommodate proctoring needs. When the tests arrive, there are checklists to be checked and orders to follow to ensure that each test is administered correctly.

But for a cyber school, none of that hustle and bustle occurs in-house. Everything we do takes place on the road. Our 21CCCS family becomes its own traveling band, setting up camp in places foreign to us in order to proctor exams. It is no simple task! Here’s a rundown of what occurs:

Our technology department travels to each testing site to check on internet connections, bandwidth availabilities, server capacities, and more. We are utilizing a fully online version of the PSSA and Keystone exams this year. Therefore, each site we use for testing needs a mark of approval from our tech team, assuring us that our students will not have trouble logging into their tests, scrolling through them, and saving their responses. This year, we are testing at colleges and universities, to ensure that enough bandwidth is available to properly run the tests.

While tech runs across the commonwealth, teachers and staff are required to complete a training program, provided to us by the state education department. It shows us how to properly administer, collect, and resend the tests back to the state. It takes us about 45-60 minutes to read through the training materials provided to us. We watch videos and learn how to be of service to students while they are testing. Then, we take quizzes to be sure we understand what to do. See! Even teachers keep learning, and testing!

Come the weeks of testing, teachers are all set to get to their sites to proctor. We make hotel and rental car arrangements, pack our bags, and load up supplies to successfully distribute the exams. Some teachers travel four or five hours, and stay in a town they have never before visited. It is an exciting opportunity for us to see new things and the students we might not normally see.

By the time March floats around, the look of our building at 805 Springdale Drive, changes drastically. Long gone are the busy cubicles, noisy teachers, phones ringing, and mouths chattering. Our teachers are divided between the various testing sites, eager to set up your tests and see your smiling faces. Being cyber school teachers, we only see you at field trips, community outreach events, or tutoring opportunities. However, because standardized tests are mandatory (every single student in grades 6, 7, 8, and 11 must take them) we get a chance to see everyone!

Good luck to everyone as you prepare for these tests! We’ll see you on the road!

Spring Break Possibilities

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

The time to relax is coming! Our students and teachers here at 21CCCS work SO hard; they have earned a little rest and relaxation. But, what to do? Not everyone can hop a plane to the Congo, or afford a cruise of the Mediterranean. Spring break is the time of the school year just before the final stretch to summer. It is a great time to focus on something educational and interesting—to help stimulate our minds and challenge us in new ways. So, what can folks across the commonwealth do to charge their brains and still have fun? Check out a few of these options!

1.) Crystal Cave Park, Kutztown, PA: This is a spot that offers a tour of underground crystal caves for just $12.50 per person. An educational 45-minute tour can show you and your children a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, and dropstone formations that were discovered back in 1871. This is easy to get to and sure to impress. For more details, click here: http://www.crystalcavepa.com/

2.) The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA: You might consider visiting the academy. Their permanent exhibits include butterflies, a dinosaur hall, dioramas of Africa, Asia, and North America, as well as a live animal center. The museum is open to the public for $15 per adult. For more details, click here: http://www.ansp.org/visit/

3.) Penn’s Cave, Centre Hall, PA: This spot is open year round and offers visitors the opportunity to view an underground stream and wildlife. You can choose between touring the only the cavern, or the wildlife (both is an option, too!). Rates vary up to $30 per person, based on which things you would like to tour. For more details, click here: http://www.pennscave.com/

4.) The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA: This is a great museum offering insight into science explorations. The institute is currently featuring an exhibit on the Titanic (through April). Rates range from $12.50-25.00 per person, depending on which exhibits/attractions you would like to see. For more details, click here: http://www2.fi.edu/

5.) The Kennett Symphony of Chester County: Kennett Square, PA: Why not book tickets to hear the symphony? Their season has begun, and the sounds are wonderful! Check out their schedule and consider tickets for your family! For more details, click here: http://www.kennettsymphony.org/

6.) Road Trip to Hamburg, Hamburg, PA: Looking for something to do for a few days? Hamburg is a spot offering over 200 years of history. You and your family can explore attractions such as “Roadside America,” “The Gallery of Hamburg,” “The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum,” and the “Blue Rocks.” There is so much to do! Plan a few days for yourselves and explore. For more details, click here: http://hamburgpa.org/

Why I Love My P4SLs

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

To learn more about our P4SL Model and what it means to teachers, read below. These are some of the experiences of English teacher, Eileen Vice:

The name “P4SL” is likely unfamiliar to anyone outside of the 21st Century family. That’s right, I said “family.” That’s what we are like here at 21CCCS! Originally, our family knew the phrase P4SL stood for “Plan for Student Learning.” (I should know, because I’ve been here FOREVER!) The P4SL was a program our students entered to help them understand their unique learning styles. At some point in time, the program’s name shifted. Today, it is not the name of the program. Instead, a P4SL is the term we use to refer to our student mentees. Weird, right?

So what are P4SLs anyway? As I mentioned, they are essentially mentees. Teachers at 21CCCS act as a Learning Coach for their P4SLs. Being a learning coach is what makes my job especially exciting. I get to work closely with a smaller number of students outside of my teaching load. I communicate with them about grades, sure. But, I also get the chance to talk about other important topics like friendships, family, jobs, fears and anxieties, goals, and dreams. I dispense wisdom and advice they always appreciate and follow (okay, not always, but they make a good show of it.)

Why is the P4SL relationship so important? Having a Learning Coach means every student has a special point of connection with 21CCCS. It means every parent has the phone number and email address of the person who knows their child better than anyone else at school. As a result, I get a lot of calls from my P4SLs and parents alike. Although many parents feel the need to apologize for “hassling me,” they are never a bother. I love to talk to them about what is going on with their child, especially since kids sometimes forget to tell their parents the important stuff. Everyone who knows me knows that I do not like surprises. Open communication prevents surprises. It is one of the most crucial components of the P4SL relationship.

I find the best way to connect to my P4SLs is to torture them mercilessly. To get them to submit their yearbook head shots, I repeatedly send photos of myself from my high school days (those were some good years!). I like to start the year off right by sending my P4SLs postcards in the summer. That way, they don’t forget about me or their school! I force them to get their picture taken with me on field trips. I make them schedules, even if they don’t want them, and accuse them of “trying to kill me” when they procrastinate. They come to love my incessant nagging, and expect it by the end of the school year. They know I do it because I care.

On the other hand, there are many things my P4SLs may not know about me.

They may not know that I don’t lose sleep over their failures because I am disappointed or frustrated. I lose sleep because I know they are so much more than a grade on a piece of paper. My P4SLs may not know that I will forever remember what they’ve told me they want to be when they grow up. Some students have been my P4SLs for over 5 years. I am certain they do not always believe that I know what I am talking about, or that I could possibly understand what life is like for teenagers today. But, I have five daughters. Believe me, I get it.

I think my P4SLs are amazing. I think they are smart and funny, and strong and capable. I think they are brave for trying online learning and succeeding, even more so if they failed at first. I think they are pioneers in the fields of education and life. Most of all, I am more proud than they will ever know, that they are mine.

And when they walk across the stage at their graduation, I will cry like a baby.

Who Are Our Students?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Ben Ozgur

Read below to learn about the students of our school, as described by one of our English teachers, Kathleen Groff.

“So…what kind of kids do you teach?”

In my six years teaching here at the 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, this has to be the question I am most frequently asked. The concept of a middle or high school existing completely online is foreign enough to some people. Now try imagining what sort of students might attend such a school.

Luckily for them, I have a very thorough answer to this question!

I tell them that my students are athletes who are dedicated to their sport and training. They work hard each day, pushing themselves both physically and mentally to reach the next level and achieve greatness in their sport and passion. They need the flexible schedule we offer to accommodate their demanding practice schedule.

My students are also musicians and artists; they work their fingers raw perfecting a difficult concerto, while traveling to and from auditions to look for their next project. They need to be able to travel to New York City several times a week or attend lessons during the day to continue growing as artists.

My students are dealing with the emotional scars of bullying and gossip. They come to our school to find a safe, accepting atmosphere. They leave toxic and painful environments and make the brave choice to enter a new type of schooling. Our school is one where students are free to be themselves, learn, and build new friendships.

My students were once lost in a traditional classroom, as they silently watched the class move on to the next topic before they could gain understanding; they now thrive in an environment where they can receive one-on-one attention and work at a speed that is more comfortable for them.

My students were once tapping their pencils on a desk, bored by the pace of a brick and mortar classroom. They wanted to be challenged academically and move through the curriculum at their own pace. They need a rigorous course load that they can complete, given their strengths and abilities.

My students are members of families who value their homeschooling lifestyle and seek a superior education with certified teachers, which can still be delivered in their home environment; they are students struggling with medical issues who wish to learn while in the comfort of their own home; they are young mothers and fathers who are trying to care for their child while building a future through an education.

Ultimately, of course, my students are young adults who deserve a quality, flexible education that places them at the center. They are the reason we do what we do here at 21CCCS!

21st Century Cyber Charter School

Category: Parents