PA Cyber School Reform Fails

Pa. lawmakers caving on cyber charter reform | Guest column

By Express-Times guest columnist By Mark Spengler Updated on July 18, 2017 at 10:30 AM Posted on July 18, 2017 at 10:19 AM

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene Depasquale recently reminded the public that we have the worst charter school system in the country. Easily the worst part of the Pennsylvania charter school embarrassment has to do with cyber charter schools, which have shown deplorable results in terms of graduation and student performance and have wasted a ton of taxpayer money. Here are some of the most recent numbers:

Average graduation rates for 2015-16:

·         Pennsylvania public schools, 86.1 percent.

·         Pennsylvania cyber charter schools, 47.7 percent.

Average school performance profile results, 2015-16 (70 is considered passing)"

·         Public schools, 70.3 percent.

·         Cyber charter schools, 50.9 percent (nine out of 14 scored below 50).

Total local Pennsylvania taxpayer money spent on cyber charter tuition, 2013-15:

·         $1.2 billion

Perhaps the saddest part of our cyber charter system is the funding method. Cyber charters are funded at the same per diem rate as bricks-and-mortar charter schools. This of course makes no sense, because cybers do not have anywhere near the same level of expenses as bricks and mortar schools. Going all the way back to 2012, it was reported by the Auditor General's office that Pennsylvania  taxpayers were being overcharged $365 million a year. Clearly, much of this has to do with overspending for cyber charters.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/07/pa_cyber_charter_schools_guest.html#incart_2box_opinion

School Performance Profile Scores for PA Cyber Charters 2013 - 2016

Source: PA Department of Education website          

A score of 70 is considered passing

Total cyber charter tuition paid by PA taxpayers from 500 school districts for 2013, 2014 and 2015 was over $1.2 billion; $393.5 million, $398.8 million and $436.1 million respectively. 

Not one of Pennsylvania’s cyber charters has achieved a passing SPP score of 70 in any of the four years that the SPP has been in effect.

School Name	2013	2014	2015	2016
21st Century CS	66.5	66.0	69.2	62.2
Achievement House CS	39.7	37.5	44.8	54.5
ACT Academy Cyber CS	30.6	28.9	36.1	40.7
Agora Cyber CS	48.3	42.4	46.4	37.6
ASPIRA Bilingual CS	29.0	39.0	38.4	41.9
Central PA Digital Learning Fdn CS	31.7	48.8	39.3	46.7
Commonwealth Connections Academy CS	54.6	52.2	48.8	47.5
Education Plus Academy Cyber CS	59.0	50.0		67.9
Esperanza Cyber CS	32.7	47.7	31.7	50.7
PA Cyber CS	59.4	55.5	65.3	51.0
PA Distance Learning CS	54.7	50.9	49.2	53.9
PA Leadership CS	64.7	59.3	54.7	57.5
PA Virtual CS	67.9	63.4	64.6	49.7
Solomon CS	36.9
Susq-Cyber CS	46.4	42.4	45.5	49.3

Edward Albert, Ed.D

Executive Director 

Pennsylvania Association for Rural and Small Schools

113 Stone Hedge Court

Lebanon, Pa 17042

717 587 3521