Nearly every facet of daily living has been upended by COVID-19 and getting life back to something that resembles “normal” is going to take a team effort. Education is one of the sectors struck hard by the coronavirus and all online charter schools, including 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, have found themselves in a unique situation.

According to this March 2020 article from PennLive.com, cyber charter schools found themselves to be in a better position than the brick-and-mortar schools that have been shuttered for weeks as part of attempts to “flatten the curve” of new infections. An emergency bill passed by the state House and Senate in Pennsylvania, where 21CCCS serves students, imposed a freeze on payments to school districts that were based on enrollment figures as of March 13. “That means cyber charter schools could accept new students during the shutdown, but they would not get compensated for those students until the shutdown is lifted,” the article states. What’s more, officials across Pennsylvania also cautioned online charter schools from ramping up recruitment efforts during the shut-down. This word of warning was distributed because a smaller student body in public schools “could further financially destabilize traditional school districts at an already vulnerable time.”

We’ve all seen drastic changes to allowed and prohibited activities and 21CCCS not only understood where Pennsylvania lawmakers were coming from, but it decided to offer assistance during this time of shared sacrifice. A cyber charter school provides an online learning environment where the student experience occurs in the comfort of their own home. Lessons on math, language, science, history, health, and more are all delivered by certified and licensed instructors with proven classroom experience. This means lessons, which some parents have struggled to teach their children while in-school attendance is on hold, are delivered by educational professionals to 21CCCS students.

As such, the staff and faculty who instruct this institution have some advice to share with the typical school in the community. According to the PennLive.com article, “cyber charters have offered to assist the Pennsylvania Department of Education or any school district in the Commonwealth with questions or concerns about how to pivot to distance learning since that is their specialty.” Just as work-from-home options have skyrocketed over the past two months, those who can learn from home are better positioned to weather the current storm.

Moreover, 21CCCS students still have the opportunity to socialize — while remaining “distant” — and engage with each other thanks to virtual classes and student-led online clubs. These clubs provide ways for the student body to engage in special projects while expressing creativity. Those who join frequently comment on the opportunity to socialize, which is always important when talking about cyber charter schools, as well as grow with their peers. The club that creates the middle and high school editions of the literary magazine, for example, gets to connect with those who share a passion for writing, editing, design, and publishing. To learn more about student clubs, visit 21cccs.org/student-experience/clubs. Current 21CCCS students are also encouraged to contact their academic advisor to discuss the opportunity to start their own club.

If you’re the parent of a student in Pennsylvania and have seen the benefits of remote learning in action, we encourage you to learn more about 21CCCS’s structure and contact us today!

The ongoing global health crisis has pushed the topic of remote learning to the forefront of any conversation about education. It’s for good reason, too, as receiving an education from the comfort and safety of one’s home makes things convenient and secure. 21^st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS), which holds the highest score of any online charter school on the College Ready Benchmark, provides parents and guardians with an alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar public school in their community. To those who are considering a cyber charter school for the next academic year, 21CCCS will start accepting enrollments in June 2020.

The process of enrolling in a cyber charter school is easier than ever and only requires a few steps. For the convenience of parents/guardians who are contemplating this for the 2020-21 school year, please consult the directions below.

Vaccination Reports

Pennsylvania law requires that vaccination reports be submitted no later than five days after enrolling in 21CCCS. Additional information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health can be found here and here.

Initial Inquiry

The initial inquiry form is used by 21CCCS to obtain contact information for applicants. From there, a school enrollment team member will reach out for introductions and to answer any questions regarding the cyber charter school system.

Registration Access

An easy-to-use link will be sent to applicants who’ve made the initial inquiry outreach.

Enrollment Packet

Once you’ve filled out information requested during the previous step, 21CCCS will email an enrollment packet. The registrar will require immunization records, proof of age and residency as well as existing academic records.

The Final Step

Once we have received the completed packet, the parent/guardian will receive a notification from the registrar. This communication will convey the official enrollment with 21CCCS.

We will all emerge from the coronavirus era with many personal lessons learned. To those who’ve tried to balance teaching their children with work obligations, the difficulty of doing so may leave a lasting impression. According to this April 2020 article from The New York Times, “parents have to play teacher’s aide, hall monitor, counselor and cafeteria worker — all while trying to do their own jobs under extraordinary circumstances.” For those deemed “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic, the alternatives have meant students home with one parent or possibly none – while still trying to learn on their own.  Online charter schools represent a modern form of learning, where the student’s academic day is completed at home and guided by licensed instructors.

Rolling enrollments will also be offered throughout the year. The dates are as follows:

• August 26 and 31
• Sept . 8, 14, 21 and 29
• Oct. 5, 13, 19, and 26
• Nov. 9, 16 and 30
• Dec. 7 and 14
• Jan. 4, 11, and 26
• Feb. 1, 8, 16 and 22
• March 1, 9, 15 and 22

As a time-honored way of getting a jump on the upcoming academic year and accumulating credits, summer school is the clear choice for proactive pupils. These classes provide a way for middle and high school students to take on additional topics and even accelerate graduation. 21^st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS) has made summer school courses available to all Pennsylvania students for 12 years in a row. While this has offered convenience to parents and students alike, 2020 has taught us that remote learning can be more than convenient – it can be a lifeline. The coronavirus pandemic forced traditional brick-and-mortar schools to cease in-school attendance for weeks on end while cyber charter schools continued on with business as usual.

The cyber charter school setting is perfect for summer courses and in the three reasons outlined below, we’ll show readers why this summer should be spent with 21CCCS educators!

Making up for lost time

It has been a difficult year for so many of us. Even if your academic career wasn’t inconvenienced by COVID-19, it’s possible that parents saw their daily lives derailed and a hectic schedule ensued. Re-opening schools across the U.S. remains a hotly-debated topic. Given that “three-quarters of U.S. states have now officially closed their schools for the rest of the academic year,” according to this NPR article, the future is uncertain. What parents can count on from a cyber charter school is an educational environment with none of the health risks seen at public school facilities.

Clean and convenient

All that’s required to participate in 21CCCS summer school classes is an Internet connection, a personal computer, and software. As public schools grapple with how to keep classrooms free from infectious material, per this recent CNN article, a cyber charter school student learns from the safety and comfort of their own home. It mirrors what millions of American students have been doing throughout the months of March and April (and foreseeably May and June) and that means hygiene at home is overseen by parents.

Personal paths plus professional delivery

The types of summer courses available to middle and high school students fall into two categories. The first is original credit for high school students who are taking a course for the first time. The second is credit recovery for middle school students as well as for high school remediation. Whether you’re enrolling in English Literature, Algebra I, or Environmental Science, all 21CCCS courses are taught by full-time educators who are certified teachers in Pennsylvania.

Registration dates for summer 2020 courses are as follows:

• Registration opens April 6 and closes on June 15.
• Original credit classes run from April 27 through July 30.
• Credit recovery classes run from June 22 through July 30.

The challenging times we face today have many of us looking for silver linings and better days ahead. There’s no harm in this – unless we start rushing toward solutions that aren’t ready to be rolled out. We’ve seen many school districts that depend on on-site attendance cancel the remainder of the 2020 school year as plans for the fall are formulated. Some school districts are still holding out hope for partial attendance in May or June. While some parents may feel that re-opening schools in their part of the country is mostly safe, others in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania – which have been particularly hard-hit – could disagree. 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, which is one of the best-known cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania, offers a safe alternative.

Local rule and state’s rights mean the decision to re-open is one made on a case-by-case basis and not by federal mandate. This April 2020 article from USA Today gives us a good picture of what re-opening will look like and it shows that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to doing so. For example, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests “schools place desks six feet apart, serve lunch in classrooms and close playgrounds.” This is on top of expectations that cleaning will be a near-constant effort, large rooms like gyms will be left empty and days of on-site attendance will be staggered.

At 21CCCS, staff and administration can continue to concentrate on academic issues because remote learning is the norm here. This should come as a relief to parents who’ve placed priority on continuing their child’s education instead of having to worry about the level of cleanliness at their local school. The typical day for a 21CCCS student will account for a flexible and personalized agenda, where all the hallmarks of middle and high school classes are present. State-certified teachers will oversee staff-developed curriculum and students will benefit from the opportunity to work closely with academic advisors. Of course, 21CCCS students will have frequent contact with their teachers who will be able to one-on-one help as they complete five to six hours of work each day. Communication is frequently done via phone, email, or during virtual office hours.

Unlike the “new normal” we are all adapting to now, parents of 21CCCS students are not expected to be teachers of course material; their active involvement in student academic progress is enough to keep things headed in the right direction. We don’t know what the future will look like, but we do know that 21CCCS is in a fortunate position. We outperformed other cyber charter schools and achieved some of the highest college readiness scores in Pennsylvania. We are dedicated to setting our students up for success is what we’ve been doing year after year.

In the past decade, enrollment in cyber charter schools has been on the rise and is projected to grow even more by 2025. Institutions’ reasoning for this rise in cyber charter enrollment tends to vary. In executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, Ana Meyers’ view, more parents are beginning to choose cyber schools for their children because there is “something not working for them in the traditional environment.” Established issues with traditional schools regularly stem from a lack of teacher engagement. Meaning, some parents do not believe that the standard of parent-teacher conferences and progress reports entail enough contact between students and parents or students and their teachers. Whereas at the best cyber schools, teachers engage with students not only to teach the core standards but also to guide them to a successful future as a mentor and an academic coach.

The attractiveness of curriculums that can be better tailored to the learning styles of individual students within the student body is a large factor in why research has shown that cyber school enrollment is projected to rise incredibly into 2025. Students are establishing a more symbiotic nature with technology, while administrators and educators are realizing that virtual curriculum can be beneficial to students of varying learning styles. According to students currently enrolled in Pennsylvania cyber charters, lessons do not always consist of simply sitting in front of a computer, as detractors often note. Curriculums include live video conferenced lessons supplemented by time spent working on assignments independently, which can include hands-on projects and school trips.

The projected growth for cyber charter schools is linked to the evolution of a parent’s role in helping to facilitate their children’s education as well. Cyber charter schools acknowledge that parents often take a more active role in their children’s education when they are enrolled in cyber school. This is because a student that is getting their education from home is more readily available to receive help and guidance from their parent. Cyber schools are also self-aware in that they realize the educational sector must make a concerted effort to ensure that students feel as engaged and stimulated as a traditional educational environment and are willing to work with parents with concerns. Brick and mortar educational facilities can do wonders for students just as a cyber school can, but some acknowledge that some teachers and parents can take the physical presence of a classroom for granted and perhaps not have the resources to properly hone in on students that learn better via different educational methods. Students, educators, and parents are realizing that technology can be used to further our understanding and methods within the educational sector, cyber charter schools’ projected growth in coming years is proof of that.

Personalized learning experiences have begun to achieve popularity in American school systems and for a good reason. 21^st Century Cyber Charter School knows that some parents may be unaware of the reasons while it is important to personalize the learning experiences of children and provides a list of 3 reasons to consider.

Not all students learn the same: A big reason for the importance of personalizing the learning experiences of children is for the simple reason that not all children learn the same way. Some students are fast learners, some take their time, some are largely independent, some require a bit more assistance from a teacher or aide. Different children also have different areas of expertise and interests as well as different areas that they require a little more help with. Personalized learning strategies acknowledge the legitimacy of children’s tendencies towards different learning styles. This gives students more keys to succeed than learning experiences that are not better tailored to the individuality of the student body.

It keeps students engaged: It’s no surprise that children enjoy going to school and do a better job remaining engaged in learning environments that consider their different learning styles. Personalizing the learning experiences of children helps students stay engaged during lessons in part because it ensures that students are learning in the way that best suits them. Similarly, because personalized learning can help cater to the speed in which a child prefers to learn, it helps make sure that students do not fall behind. Keeping pace with lessons plays an instrumental role in making sure that students stay focused, engaged, and on task.

It Helps Students Succeed: There is a positive correlation between student engagement and academic success when it comes to schooling. When the qualities and learning processes of children are considered and learning strategies are drawn based on them, it becomes obvious that success is much more attainable for many more types of students. We know now that students that were once considered difficult in the classroom were capable and worthy of success, it was the learning strategies and lessons that did not properly cater to them. As the knowledge of personalized learning spreads and grows, our image of what makes a “good” student expands. In many cases, engagement and a child’s ability to see their own success is what keeps them on track with academic expectations.

Please review our enrollment process if you are considering 21st Century Cyber Charter School.

Please see 2019 testing schedules below:

• Algebra Keystone Schedule
• Biology Keystone Schedule
• Literature Keystone Schedule
• PSSA ELA Day 1 Schedule
• PSSA Math Day 2 Schedule
• PSSA Science Day 3 Schedule

 

The cyber charter school sector is one that’s often considered to be in a league of its own. While meeting educational benchmarks is of utmost importance to teachers and administrators, the non-traditional setting often prompts many questions from pupils and parents alike. One of the frequently-asked questions is about extra-curricular activities. A cyber charter school doesn’t have a traditional brick-and-mortar footprint, so how do these students enjoy themselves in social settings outside of their online school programs? Pennsylvania’s 21^st Century Charter School (21CCCS) is one provider of online school programs with an answer, which we’ll learn more about below!

Pathfinders Write Themselves into History

Victor K., left, and Shaw S., right.

On Friday, June 29, 2018, a group of friends and family gathered at Lackawanna State Park, in Pennsylvania, to celebrate and applaud two outstanding young men on their historic achievements.

Victor K. and Shaw S., both students of online school programs at 21CCCS, are Pathfinders with the 68th Frost Hollow BPSA-US. The two young men are the first in the country to achieve the prestigious awards of the Bushman’s Thong for scouting skills and the George Washington Award for service. Both young men also earned the Gold All-Round Cord for completing well beyond the 18 required “special proficiency” badges.

 

Victor discusses the route he has mapped out for a 30-mile Delaware River expedition with his Pathfindermaster

Troop Leader Victor K., 17, is a quiet yet decisive youth who has some impressive credentials already under his belt. While Victor can usually be found breaking in new mountain bike trails through the woods or enjoying target shooting, he also enjoyed leading the 91st Sojourners of upstate New York and the 818th Storch of Germany through challenging canoe camping expeditions along the upper Delaware River region.

 

Shaw created a complete camping kit, which he donated to be raffled to benefit the local fire company.

Owl Patrol Leader Shaw S., 15, is an eager learner. He passionately pursued his goals to learn traditional skills. As a NOAA Advanced Certified Skywarn Spotter, he was in charge of keeping the troop abreast of weather conditions, moon phases and nighttime navigation. Shaw also served as the Junior Camp Warden for the 2017 BPSA-US Northeast Regional Moot, hosting over 150 fellow adventurers.

Both young men have earned “Arrows” for leadership skills, as well. These Pathfinders, proud to be the first, have individually taken varied paths through different proficiencies to achieve these highest awards.

The Bushman’s Thong for bushcraft skills can only be earned after a Pathfinder completes a solo overnight journey. Victor cycled his 30-mile journey on the Lackawanna Heritage trail while Shaw chose to canoe the Susquehanna River, camping on an island. After they completed their quests, the real work of earning bushman proficiencies — like Explorer, Tracker and Senior Navigator to name a few — began.

The George Washington Award is modeled after the original King’s Scout badge of the traditional program in the United Kingdom. The George Washington’s Scout badge is awarded to Pathfinders who, through the passing of the required public service proficiency badges, are showing their current ability to provide civic and public service to their community, state, and country. Pathfinders are always prepared and George Washington’s Pathfinders are doubly prepared to render service when called on or in need.

Baden-Powell Service Association — US is co-ed, all-inclusive, traditional scouting for adventurers of all ages. The aim is to promote good citizenship through community service, self-discipline, loyalty, self-reliance, worthwhile life and outdoor skills.

“Traditional Scouting” generally refers to “old-fashioned” Scouting, which consists of the original elements in Lord Baden-Powell’s Scouting scheme. This includes what B-P called “Proficiency Badges” (“engraved with the symbol or the deed for which it is given,”) Scouting games, Patrol method and advancement based on standards rather than competition.

Both young men will be continuing their education as juniors through online school programs at 21CCCS. Moreover, both are looking forward to continuing their adventures as Rovers (adult scouts) with the North Woods Rover Crew.

Pictured above, congratulations gifts from Feuer Machen’s author, Taro Gehrmann, came all the way from Switzerland.