Considering A Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School? Use These Steps To Ease Enrollment

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Matt Hillesland

Arguably, the greatest hurdle to finding an alternative to the local public school is understanding how these other options work. While parents and pupils have likely heard talk of charter schools, it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to immediately grasp the enrollment process and have a hold on how this type of educational operation works. That being said, 21^st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS) wants to demystify the process. A Pennsylvania virtual charter school like 21CCCS delivers a learning experience that few local public schools could hope to rival. It’s for this reason that both prospective students and their parents/guardians will want to sign up. The only duty on their part is to read up on the enrollment process, which we will examine below.

According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “more than 7,000 charter schools enroll nearly 3.2 million students” in the U.S. between 2017 and 2018. What’s more, this is an increase of about 150,000 pupils compared to figures from 2015-16. The rise in popularity of means many may be considering a Pennsylvania virtual charter school to educate their young one in the Keystone State. The first step for enrollment at 21CCCS, for example, is to assess the available enrollment dates. At present, there are deadlines through January, February and March of 2019 so parents can keep the process going for their child.

The “quick enrollment” feature that’s offered at 21CCCS, a Pennsylvania virtual charter school, will ask the following steps of parents or guardians: Complete an initial inquiry form, submit vaccination reports, wait for communication from the enrollment team so they can guide you through the process, review the enrollment forms and await final enrollment notification. The aforementioned inquiry form is a good place to allow Pennsylvania virtual charter school and parent/guardian to get to know each other. On this form, applicants will be invited to offer additional insight on the child’s current education (grade level and participation in “gifted and talented” programs, for example), possible referral contact and opportunity to ask any additional questions. This form is the starting place and it serves a very important purpose.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has found that “16 percent of parents would like to send their child to a public charter school.” When you consider the perks, conveniences and other unique aspects that a Pennsylvania virtual charter school offers, it’s easy to see why demand is on the rise. Following a successful enrollment, a “day in the life” with one of these educational outlets will largely look like the agenda at a brick-and-mortar facility. There are math, science, history and gym classes. What parents and students won’t have to worry about is getting to and from school, staying late to make up work and other scheduling conflicts that just make life harder for all involved.

Here’s How ‘Traditional’ Schools In PA Also Benefit From Increased Cyber School Attendance

Posted on October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

They say that a “rising tide lifts all boats.” When it comes to cyber schools in Pennsylvania as well as the traditional brick-and-mortar options, this is absolutely the case. It goes without saying that both of these educational institutions work in tandem to educate young students. However, as attendance at cyber schools climb, the local school benefits financially. At 21^st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS), where faculty, staff and a board of trustees all help to steer the ship, meeting Pennsylvania Academic Standards is a top priority. How does this help surrounding school districts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties? Read on to discover why one group truly needs the other.

State funding of local schools is an essential lifeline. According to a 2018 report from PennLive.com, the national average spent on “instructional costs” is just shy of $7,000. In Pennsylvania, the statewide average on instructional costs — which includes “teacher salaries, benefits, classroom supplies and other direct costs associated with educating students” — comes in at just under $9,000. When a student is enrolled in a cyber school in Pennsylvania instead of a local elementary, middle or high school, school districts now have additional funding to support their own students. According to recent data, cyber charter schools are awarded only 72 percent of the per-pupil funding that a student at a traditional school would receive. This remaining 28 percent goes to the local district, which is then used for debt payments, adult education programs, transportation costs, building maintenance and more. That’s a good partnership, too, as a cyber school won’t have grounds to regularly maintain and the local school can put those funds to better use.

Officials say that the problem with Pennsylvania’s funding formula is that students in wealthy districts have traditionally received more money. This can make for an uneven playing field, unless you decide to send your child to 21CCCS. A cyber charter school in Pennsylvania provides opportunities to students that could have been unavailable to them if their district hadn’t received enough funding. High-quality teachers, more resources and opportunities are what an online school can deliver. Moreover, all types of learners will be welcomed at these online outlets. That’s because a cyber school can partner with therapists, receive special education assistance or hire teachers for academically-advanced classes to address the needs of every pupil who seeks a non-traditional education.

21CCCS, which is funded by tax payer dollars, takes its mission very seriously. The field of cyber schools in Pennsylvania has grown in nearly unimaginable ways. Where there was only 10 students in 1998 when the first cyber charter school opened, there were 32,254 in 2017. This is a testament to trust: Parents and guardians trust 21CCCS to educate their young ones. As the parent of children enrolled in a cyber charter school in PA recently said, “Both my kids were miserable, stressed, and lacked the excitement for learning they once had. Since starting with 21st Century, my 11th and 12th graders are happy and excited to learn again.”

Summer School In Online Setting Gives Students Chance To Catch Up Or Complete New Courses

Posted on September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

Success is often driven by state-of-mind. Once a student makes that decision to pursue an advanced track in his/her schooling or even decides that it is time to make up for prior failures, it is the school’s responsibility to provide options suiting student’s needs. At the top online schools in Pennsylvania like 21^st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS), students have access to summer school courses that allow them to meet these goals and find that success.

Families who have participated in any summer program, be it swimming lessons or other extracurricular activities, know that logistics can become a problem. 21CCCS alleviates that pressure of coordinating these logistics by offering courses that are accessible 24/7 and live teacher support via phone, email and the virtual office at least 16 hours a week during the session. 21CCCS implements best practices specifically for the cyber education field that continue to result in student success and growth so parents can be assured that their student is getting high-quality content and instruction. Open to both currently enrolled students and Pennsylvania residents in grades 6 -12, 21CCCS’s summer school curriculum is easy to access, flexible and offers a wide variety of courses for students to meet their goals.

21CCCS’s highly qualified teachers work closely with students and families to meet their academic goals and achieve success in original credit and credit recovery courses. Students have the ability to earn up to two credits during a summer school session. To inquire about pricing and learn more regarding the 21CCCS Summer School Program, call 484-875-5400 or email summerschool@21cccs.org.

Technology Offered By Best Cyber Schools In PA Ensures First-Rate Educational Opportunity

Posted on August 2, 2018December 13, 2022 by Matt Hillesland

Best High Schools in PA

The thought of at-home schooling is one often marked by misconception. While parents were at one time responsible to a degree, modern technology has made at-home instruction by certified professionals a possibility. Those same rapid advances in technology have also turned at-home “classrooms” into places where modern concepts can be conveyed via equally-modern laptops and programs. This approach is why the best schools in PA have flourished over recent years and while it’s an investment for all involved, it also offers an education that rivals anything to be found in brick-and-mortar middle and high schools.

When enrolling in 21st Century Cyber Charter School (21CCCS), which is one of the best high schools in PA, you’ll be provided with the following: A MacBook laptop with a charger, a calculator, a tablet or stylus. Come the 2018-19 school year, iPads will be phased in for 7th, 8th and 9th grade students.

Some of the programs and other gadgets that students will use include electronic dictionaries, PDF-format audio books, noise-canceling headphones and online supplemental educational programs that all serve to enhance the learning process. What’s more, teachers and staff at 21CCCS will be using the same exact hardware and software that students of this school are so everyone is on the same page – albeit a digital one – during instructional periods.

While homeschooling through a cyber school means there’s no bus to catch, there are also new at-home expenses that parents and guardians will take into consideration. This is where the topic of reimbursements comes into play and 21CCCS takes it very seriously because the administration wants parents and guardians to not incur any excess and unreasonable expenses. Generally, a $45-per-month reimbursement toward the home’s Internet bill will be offered provided the bi-annual form is submitted during the distribution periods. As we’re all generally familiar with the vulnerabilities of computers, the best high schools in PA will have taken this into account. This is the reason why 21CCCS has opted for MacBooks from Apple; they won’t get spyware or viruses that a PC would and this means parents won’t have to worry about fixing more pieces of technology at home.

Of course, all the bells and whistles are only worth the eventual payoff and 21CCCS can point to a track record of accolades to prove that this cyber school delivers. As the highest-ranked cyber charter school as acknowledged College Ready Benchmark and based off of SAT and ACT scores, the proof is readily available. Parents and guardians considering the best high schools in PA will undoubtedly appreciate the technology that’s offered but the fact that it contributes to an enviable education only makes this route a more logical choice for your child.

How cyber school students can keep their mind sharp this summer

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

School being out for the summer is a great feeling, but it can also lead to a lull in learning at the beginning of the next school year when students return to the classroom or, in the case of cyber school students like those homeschooling in PA with 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, the laptop or iPad.

However, there are ways to keep your mind sharp throughout the summer and avoid the learning block that we are susceptible to at the start of the school year. To help yourself prevent brain drain in the summer, here are some ways to keep your mind sharp.

Visit Museums: Particularly on a summer day when it’s too hot to be comfortable outside, it can be nice to spend time in an air conditioned museum. But museums are good for more than just cooling down. They’ll make your brain think about art, history, culture, science, and more. Keeping a journal of the things you learned at museums or found interesting while touring them can also be a good way to keep your brain active.

Watch Quiz Shows: Quiz shows like Jeopardy are one every night during the week and catching a few episodes here and there can be beneficial to your education. Shows like Jeopardy feature challenging trivia and strategic thinking that make the brain work while also being entertained.

Write Reviews: Throughout the summer, you’re sure to take some day trips and vacations to various attractions and destinations. Why not become a critic and write reviews online about the places you visit in order to keep your writing skills on point? It can be empowering for students to share their opinions, and like many other skills in life, writing gets easier the more you practice.

Take Tours: Find a place that interest you and see if they offer tours. Many metropolitan areas offer a variety of tours to help visitors learn more about the city and its landmarks. Typically a guided tour has some educational aspects and you can take the knowledge you’ve gained about different places and carry it with you throughout life.

Read: This one might seem obvious but it can’t be overstated. Reading is one of the most sure-fire ways to keep your mind sharp over the summer. It doesn’t have to be educational reading. Any reading will do the trick. Pick your favorite genre or author and dive into some books when you’re not diving into a swimming pool this summer.

Play Brain Games: There are games out there that are actually intended to make your brain work. Vocabulary and math games like Scrabble, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and more are great games to play throughout the summer to keep your mind active.

Take a Class: Whether it’s an educational online class such as those offered at 21CCCS summer school or just a community class to learn something new, partaking in a structured learning environment in the summer can be a great way to avoid summer brain drain. It will keep you partially in “school mode” and make returning in the fall seem like not so much of a drastic transition.

Why Cyber School Enrollment Is Growing

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

Cyber school enrollment has grown immensely over the last decade, and we’re here to explore why.

According to the International Association for K12 Online Learning, there were 200 virtual charter schools in operation nationwide during the 2008-2009 school year, and that number has grown an estimated 30 percent annually since. The number of students taking part in online learning has also spiked in the last 10 years and seen more than an 80 percent increase.

“A lot of the parents are choosing cyber charters because there is something not working for them in the traditional environment,” executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, Ana Meyers said in an interview with TribLIVE.com.

But what is that something that Meyers speaks of?

There are many reasons more parents are choosing to enroll their children in cyber school. Here are some of the top reasons for the growth of cyber school over the last decade.

Customized Learning

Perhaps the biggest advantage to enrolling in a cyber school is the ability to have a personalized education that suits an individual’s specific needs as a student. In traditional brick-and-mortar schools, teachers often have to teach at the pace of the slowest-learning students. This can lead to students who learn faster becoming bored and unengaged. But cyber school allows students to work at the pace that works best for them.

Solution to Public School Problems

There are several issues that can arise in public schools that you simply won’t find when enrolled in cyber school. For example, if a child has been bullied at a traditional school and wishes to leave that environment, cyber school can give them an avenue to do so. Social and behavioral issues might create lack of motivation and increase stress level on students, so they can severely hinder learning.. Cyber school is a great way to free children of social stresses and other distractions.

Safety

Safety in public schools has never been more in doubt. What were once thought of as safe environments for children to learn and socialize have now been put into question because of increased violence in schools and school shootings in recent years. But cyber school provides a safe learning environment that gives parents and students more peace of mind.

Parents’ Involvement

Many parents wish to have more involvement in their child’s education, and cyber school is a great way of achieving this goal. When a child is receiving their online education from home, it presents more opportunities for parents to get involved and stay brushed up on what their child is learning.

How Cyber School Can Benefit Students with Physical Limitations

Posted on May 15, 2018February 3, 2023 by Matt Hillesland

For some students that have physical or medical limitations, going to a traditional school can be difficult or sometimes impossible. Giving students the ability to work from their home or just about anywhere they can find a computer and an internet connection is a unique benefit of a cyber school that allows these types of students to gain a great education without putting themselves at risk.

As one of the top-performing Pennsylvania virtual charter schools, we have witnessed the numerous advantages online courses give disabled students and are proud to be part of making a difference in their educational experience.

At 21st Century Cyber Charter School, all students are provided with a Macbook, which has unique accessibility software. For students with vision impairment, students have access to VoiceOver, Zoom, low-vision features, and speech-to-text. For students with hearing impairments, there is the ability to turn on screen flash, which flashes the screen when a system alert appears. The Macbook also has Dictation (convert spoken words into text) and Speech commands. The keyboard layout can be changed to enable accessibility shortcuts, and enable audio notifications.

Students whose fine motor skills are affected have the ability to utilize their school-issued laptop to submit all of their work, including lengthy writing assignments, which in the traditional school setting can be both strenuous and stressful.

Disability is a broad term. According to a recent study by the Disability and Information Technologies Research Alliance, about 49 million Americans (or 16 percent of the country’s overall population) claim to have a disability of some sort. There’s a wide range of disabilities out there and the most commonly reported ones in the study were learning disabilities, mobility impairments, ADD/ADHD, psychological conditions, and health-related impairments.

Any student with physical or medical limitations can benefit from Cyber School. The perks of taking online courses stem from the convenience and flexibility such schooling provides disabled students.

Because online learning can provide convenient access to education and is usually more flexible than traditional brick-and-mortar schools, students with disabilities who might require special accommodations or scheduled care can find time to do so without falling behind on their studies.

Another inconvenience for disabled students is daily transportation. Without the need for travel and transportation to and from school every day, cyber school helps make life much easier for students with disabilities. Thus, they can set up their own home learning area that meets all of their individual needs.

In contrast to widespread belief, enrolling as a cyber school student doesn’t have to have a negative effect on social development. Online students are encouraged and given the flexibility to interact with other classmates, join the school clubs, attend field trips, and many other activities that are offered by their online schools.

To get a better feel for what we’re talking about, ask around and see what other students with disabilities are saying about their cyber school experience and online learning altogether. We believe you’ll find that online learning is a viable option for disabled students, and one that has many benefits that can help get the most out of their education.

21CCCS Offers National Honor Society Program

Posted on April 5, 2018April 11, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

Established in 1921, the National Honor Society is an organization of the world’s highest achieving students. Whether it’s traditional schooling, home schooling, or cyber schooling, the very best and brightest students are recognized for their outstanding achievements by being placed on the national honor roll.

But being part of the National Honor Society is about much more than just making the honor roll. It is also a “distinctive multifaceted learning experience that provides a solid and meaningful foundation for life” according to the NHS website.

“NHS is a place where like-minded students can grow their character, and improve as a leader through their service and monthly meetings.” said Collin P, NHS President.

Here at 21^st Century Cyber Charter School, we’re proud to hold an affiliation with both the high school chapter of the National Honor Society for students in grades 10-12, and a junior chapter with the National Junior Honor Society for students in grades 6-9.

The 21CCCS has been a chapter of the National Honor Society for over a decade. Participating members of the 21CCCS National Honor Society work with both the school and their community to fulfill the Four Pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.

Participating members must maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher, earn at least 30 hours of community service each school year, and complete an Honors Leadership Project prior to graduation.

The benefits NHS members have are incredible and can help make their dreams come true. Members of the NHS better themselves, their communities, and go on to make a major impact on the world.

This year, 21CCCS National Honor Society members participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser and collectively raised $2,675 to fight Alzheimer’s disease, have volunteered their time to help new students in orientation, as well as countless acts of service across the state of Pennsylvania.

The NHS does a great job of preparing its members for the future by helping students be ready for whatever comes their way after high school. Between the college admission and financial aid planning, service projects, scholarship program, and leadership development offered by the NHS, members are provided with all the tools they need to grow as students and become successful.

Becoming a member of the NHS isn’t necessarily easy. It takes hard work and consistent outstanding performance. But membership is obtainable for any student who’s willing to put in the effort.

The 21CCCS NHS chapter uses an application process to select its students who qualify based on their academic standing. Promising applicants are then presented to a board of judges to be further evaluated. Once new members are selected, an induction ceremony is held to welcome the chosen students.

Honor roll students at 21CCCS are required to help with service projects and attend certain events each year. NHS and NJHS members at 21CCCS also meet monthly to share their successes and how they maintain their outstanding performance in the areas of Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.

The most recent 21CCCS National Honor Society induction took place in Murrysville, PA., March 27, and Downingtown, PA., April 4.

How to Utilize Academic Resources as a Cyber Student

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Matt Hillesland

Cyber Students at 21^st Century Cyber Charter School—a top performing Pennsylvania virtual charter school—have access to many excellent resources that help propel their learning and put them on the fast track to academic success.

One of the best online academic resources 21CCCS cyber students can utilize is the Cybrary in the Moodle portal that they have access to. The Cybrary is every cyber students’ very own online virtual library where they can access all kinds of information and resources in eBooks, links, audio clips, videos, images, and other forms of media. The Moodle Cybrary is very meticulous and even allows cyber students to play interactive games that are intended to help them learn a particular subject.

Taking a closer look at all the Cybrary has to offer, here are some of its areas that help 21CCCS cyber students find additional resources to support their course work.

Learning Resources

The learning resources cyber students have access to in the Moodle Cybrary include POWER Library, BrainPOP, and Quizlet. The word POWER in POWER Library is an acronym for Pennsylvania Online World of Electronic Resources, and that’s exactly what 21CCCS cyber students have to their disposal with this module. The POWER Library allows students to access thousands of full-text periodical articles and newspapers, as well as a major encyclopedia, photographs, pictures, charts, maps, reference materials, and more. BrainPOP is an online resource that was designed to explain difficult concepts to young students in creative ways such as learning games, animated movies, and activities. Highlighting core and supplemental subjects, BrainPOP reaches millions of learners worldwide and is an excellent tool for 21CCCS cyber students to utilize. Quizlet is another online resource utilized by 21CCCS cyber students and it helps them improve their grades by providing them with study tools such as flashcards, review games, and more.

Research

Cyber students at 21CCCS can also find powerful research tools within the Cybrary. NetTrekker is a great online resource that allows students to search for information online by simply typing in a keyword or search term. It has search engines for elementary, middle, and high school levels. EBSCO host and Wikipedia are also other research resources 21CCCS cyber students can find in the Cybrary. The Cybrary even include reference tools for creating citations and bibliographies.

Subject Area

If 21CCCS cyber students need help in a particular subject, they can turn to the Cybrary and find additional academic resources for each subject area. Whether you’re looking for core subjects like English, Math, Science, or Social Studies, or supplemental ones such as art, music, health and PE, the Cybrary has additional academic resources that can help improve a cyber student’s grades and overall learning experience.

Media Library

The media library portion of the Cybrary is where 21CCCS cyber students can search for specific eBooks, student publications, audio clips, videos, and images. Cyber students can download full eBooks in PDF format, find past issues of the school magazine or newspaper, listen to audio books/podcasts, watch a class lesson or tutorial video, or view images from class field trips and community outreach events all in this area of the Cybrary.

21CCCS Parent Forums Help Parents to Connect

Posted on February 21, 2018February 22, 2018 by Ben Ozgur

21CCCS Parent Forums give our parents the opportunity to meet up and engage with other parents and students. It is very simple to communicate in the 21CCCS forums’ six segmented regions. Parents are encouraged to subscribe to any of the forums to get emails, and post in their own region, or post any other region to invite other families in the area.

21CCCS offers two options to the parents for a quick access. If parents are mobile users, we suggest them downloading our school app for a quick mobile access. They can find the parent forums within the app, as shown in the photo below. Download the app.

If our parents prefer to use their desktops or laptops, we recommend them visiting Moodle to subscribe to the Parent Forums in their region. Here is the link for quick access to Parent Forums.