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21CCCS – APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL (2022-2025)

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What Are Common New Year’s Resolutions for Students at Cyber Schools in PA?

Posted on by Matt Hillesland
Cyber Schools in PA boy on laptop

The start of a new year is an important time for students at cyber schools in PA. Not only does it give them the chance to evaluate what is working for them as they build towards their learning goals, but it also provides the opportunity to build on aspects of their academic careers that they feel could use some improvement.

Cyber school students often create New Year’s Resolutions to help keep them on track as they continue on the path of their learning goals. Here, 21CCCS explores a few of the most common resolutions for students as well as how students can work towards making them a reality.

Building Strong Connections with Students and Teachers

One common New Year’s resolution for cyber charter school students is to build strong connections with fellow students and staff. After all, any school experience is enhanced when you know that you fully take advantage of the support of your classmates and teachers.

As one of the leading cyber schools in PA, 21CCCS recognizes that keeping students fully engaged on their learning paths is much easier when they can foster strong connections with others. For some students, this means venturing out of their comfort zones a bit by reaching out if they have questions or need any clarification on their coursework. 21CCCS teachers have live teaching sessions weekly and are available in their virtual offices from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for live support every weekday, giving students ample opportunities to build strong, lasting connections with them as they progress through the course.

Enhancing Learning Spaces

21CCCS maintains that students’ learning spaces- the area of their homes where they work on their coursework- play an important role in keeping them connected during remote learning. With that being said, no learning space is perfect, and students frequently want to enhance their environment to best fit their personality, individualized learning needs, and improve access to materials they need the most throughout the day.

Luckily, there are several ways that they can go about it with the help of their parent or guardian. For example, one of the simplest ways to improve a learning space is to make materials needed for class easy to access from their desk. This is because spending too much time looking for class materials can break focus and make learning less immersive overall. There are other ways to build on a learning space as well such as letting students add personal touches and helping the area feel more comfortable.   Working on a Well Structured Schedule

21cccs calendar

Work for cyber charter school courses can usually be completed at any time of day during the week, meaning that students have a lot of freedom when building their daily schedules. Still, some students may have had an experience with leaving work until the last minute only to be stressed when it is time to turn it in. This leads to them establishing a New Year’s resolution to set a schedule for completing work that best sets them up for success.

Teachers at 21CCCS and other cyber schools in PA guide students in their progress through assignments. Lessons and assignments are divided into sections and are set up to be viewed in a particular order. While this certainly helps students break lessons up into manageable pieces, they still have the freedom to decide what times work best to complete them- as long as they are completed by their deadlines. Naturally, students will want to schedule their work in ways that allow them to finish lessons without undue stress. Prioritizing working on a schedule that provides enough time for each class is a great way to start the new year.

Getting Support from Parents or Guardians

Cyber schools may provide students with a lot of freedom to work at their own pace, but they will still need support from others in their circles much like any student in a traditional school environment would. For most this means that their parents or guardians will want to play an active role in ensuring that they are on track on their learning paths and feel as though they are equipped to deal with any potential obstacles along the way.

Cyber charter school students often base their New Year’s resolutions around having the support necessary to be set up for success throughout the remainder of the school year. There are many ways that a student may seek out support from members of their household. For example, maybe they would like mutual reading time, want to improve their learning space, or would like a system for quiet time while they are working. Empowering your student to ask for help when needed will not only keep them prepared for school but also provides the opportunity to build on your connection as a key part of their support system. 

21st Century Cyber Charter School Breaks Down the Benefits of Online Education

Posted on by Matt Hillesland
21CCCS

In 2020, many in-person schools were forced to transition to an online-learning model in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing orders. However, while some parents and educators were concerned about how the change would affect students’ learning, many families found that online learning, in fact, improved their child’s education and provided a variety of unexpected benefits. As a result, educators have seen many American families elect to keep their children in online learning programs even after social distancing protocols ended. 21st Century Cyber Charter School is thrilled to see online education highlighted in the public eye and hopes to share online education’s many benefits with other families considering the learning model for their children.

Strong Technical Skills

In an increasingly digital world, the importance of technical skills in the workplace cannot be overstated. Strong technical skills will be a major factor in employability and a necessity in nearly all industries for the next generation. An online education builds the foundation for strong technical skills, as it enables and encourages students to become familiar with a variety of tools, software, and troubleshooting strategies. Students with extensive experience in collaboration tools, content management systems, numerous programs, and basic coding skills will be viewed as excellent candidates for the majority of hiring managers.

Personalized Curriculum for Unique Learners

At traditional brick-and-mortar schools, students must match the learning pace of their classmates and read through the class textbook at a fixed schedule. While this approach may work for some students, students with different learning preferences might prefer to run ahead of their schedules and finish the work earlier, or students with learning disabilities who fall behind and struggle with their coursework might choose to take time and slowly progress. The traditional learning method can lead to many bright students feeling frustrated within the classroom or losing confidence in their learning abilities. Virtual schools and online learning offer students more educational opportunities such as flexible scheduling, personalized curriculum, and one-on-one instruction, which allow students to set their own pace when it comes to their education and improve their chances of succeeding!

Help Cultivate Independence

Unlike in-person learning, online learning puts the onus on students to take charge of their education. Many of the benefits of online learning also give students additional responsibilities when it comes to their education. For example, online learning allows students to set their own school schedules. While this is a significant benefit for many families, it also means that there will be no bell telling students where they need to be at what time. This teaches students time management and organizational skills that they will be responsible for their own educational success and know the importance of scheduling and planning.

Mrs. Williams, a 21CCCS student parent, found this to be especially true and, in an online forum, stated, “I am so glad we found 21CCCS during the pandemic. While other schools learn how to teach children with virtual education, I choose the experts. The school taught me a lot about my child and her capabilities. She became a very independent learner, something she will have to rely on being in college, and she was inducted into the National Honor Society.”

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

Posted on by Matt Hillesland

21CCCSThey 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 21st 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.”

The Life of a Speed Skater

Posted on by Ben Ozgur

High school junior here at 21CCCS, Lexi Burkholder, is a speed skater. She has been training and practicing for years. As a result, she has a pretty atypical lifestyle. When I asked her to describe a few things for me about her life, she was happy to create a blog post for us. Read below to learn more about the complex, dedicated life of Lexi!

Photo from the AmCup Finals
Photo from the AmCup Finals

Hi! My name is Lexi Burkholder and I’m a short track speed skater. I also attend 21st Century Cyber Charter School. I’ve been skating since I was 10 and went to public school until 8th grade, which was when I won my second age group national championship. At that point, my parents finally relented and allowed me to enroll in cyber school so I could have more time to train.

I trained on my home ice rink in Pittsburgh during my freshman year of high school, and qualified for my first junior world team. I had previously only competed at domestic meets, mainly in the Midwest and Northeast. These areas are hotbeds for speed skating. So I raced in Courmayeur, Italy at the Junior World Championships and learned the hard way just how different (and difficult) international racing was.

I continued training in Pittsburgh through October of my sophomore year. Later that year, I decided to stop ignoring the pain that had been building for months in my left knee. After various doctor visits, MRIs, and lots of physical therapy, it was determined that I had partially torn my quadriceps tendon and I needed surgery to “patch things up.” Believe me, going from training five hours per day to nil is pretty rough, and I think I jumped into things too quickly afterward! I was back on the ice that December, and raced a qualifier in late January for Junior Worlds (which was in Australia that year, and had been on my bucket list).

I didn’t make it. Around that same time, I lost my coach and needed to find somewhere else to train and rehabilitate myself. Washington DC was close and had a great team, so I trained there for the rest of that season and throughout the summer.

I liked DC, but couldn’t afford the training and living costs. At the beginning of my junior year (this year), I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to try out an experimental program they were starting out. I could hardly do off-ice training at this point, since I was still recovering from my knee surgery. I really had to figure out how to listen to my body and learn when to push and when to stop. I also had to learn to be diligent enough to stretch more and to strengthen my smaller muscles.

I raced two senior qualifiers this year, finishing around 11th place in both. I qualified for the Junior World team in late January. Then, my schedule really started to pick up. I trained in Salt Lake City for all of February, then left for Warsaw, Poland from there to compete at the Junior World Championships. I placed 35th, which I’m really not proud of at all, but I was super thankful for all the hard lessons I learned to even get there. I know that those lessons will serve me in the future. I finished this season up with the American Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska, where after some remarkably dumb racing decisions, I still came in 5th.

Since Omaha, I’ve been enjoying my off-season in Pittsburgh and planning my move to Salt Lake City. I’ll be driving cross-country mid-April and will be there probably until next March. I’m excited to train this summer since my knees are finally starting to cooperate. I’m also excited for next season because it’s Olympic season and people actually take some interest in speed skating!

Lexi is currently an eleventh grade student here at 21CCCS. She enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends. She hopes to pursue psychology as a major after graduating from 21CCCS.

Alumni Spotlight!

Posted on by Ben Ozgur

Welcome to our “Alumni Spotlight” blog series! We will be featuring the amazing journeys of our alumni, after they leave the comforts of 21CCCS behind and enter the next chapters of their lives. Our alumni continue to amaze us! This month, read below to learn about Sarah, and see what she’s been up to!

Sarah:

I am proud to say that I was a pure-bred home-schooler! I never rode a bus, walked the halls of a school, stashed things in a locker, or sat in a classroom until my 8 a.m. American History class the first year of college (I showed up 20 minutes early). Since graduating from 21CCCS in 2006 (I can’t believe it has been 7 years) I earned my B.S. in Equine Studies from Wilson College (Class of ’10) and did the unthinkable for a home-schooler: I moved away from home!sarah pic

To say I was nervous to relocate 622.4 miles (yes, I just Googled that) is a little bit of an understatement. But, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I permanently moved to Lexington, Kentucky (the horse capital of the world) in July of 2011 and started my job at a standardbred breeding farm. I have helped bring 25 baby horses into the world, learned how to perform a uterine infusion, observed several equine surgeries, and assisted in the breeding of countless mares. These days I get to hang out with 54 amazing yearlings (8 of which I foaled out) who I feed, groom, and care for. Sometimes they can be a little rough on me. This is because their weights vary from 500-800lbs. But, working with them is my favorite part of the job. The fact that they are absolutely adorable doesn’t hurt either! horse pic

So, I guess the moral of my story is to never be afraid to move away from the familiar! I have learned a lot about being a grown-up since leaving home. I’ve met many interesting people and discovered amazing things about myself. New experiences lead to adventures and until you put yourself out there, you will never know what the world has in store! Best wishes and good luck to the future alumni classes!

Congrats to Sarah in her successes thus far! We are excited to see what lies ahead! Keep up the good work!

What Great Teachers Do Differently

Posted on by Ben Ozgur

21CCCS is all about development and improvement. We uncover new ways to reach and teach our students every year. We also love to learn about the great things occurring in other schools, among other educators. In a recent blog posted by Edutopia.org, developer Chris Anderson explores “The Four C’s,” which he tries to implement into student lesson planning for 21st century skills development. To read more about this interesting take on focused teaching, CLICK HERE.