
Enrolling in Cyber School
Considering cyber school for the first time? Education policy expert and cyber school parent Marc LeBlond explains how to get started and the options available for Pennsylvania parents:
Charter schools are public, tuition-free schools open to all students. They are held to state academic and financial reporting standards, but they have more flexibility than district schools in terms of curriculum, school calendar, length of school day, and teacher qualifications.
Cyber charter schools are charter schools that deliver instruction over the internet, allowing students to attend classes from home. Cyber charter schools provide all the required equipment for learning, plus a stipend for broadband internet access.
Here’s a directory of cyber charter schools operating in Pennsylvania and their contact information to explore what they offer. As you consider the various alternatives, some things you might want to consider are the size of the school; the curriculum used; synchronous vs asynchronous options; and whether they offer in-person activities in your area.
- Agora Cyber CS
- Enrollment link: https://agora.org/enrollment/
- Phone Number: 844-462-4672
- Email: enrollment@agora.org
- Commonwealth Charter Academy CS
- Enrollment Resources: https://ccaeducate.me/how-to-enroll
- Phone Number: 844-590-2864.
- Enrollment form
- Esperanza Cyber CS
- Enrollment Resources: http://esperanzaacademycs.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=2152900
- Phone Number: 215-457-3667.
- Enrollment form
- Insight PA Cyber CS
- Enrollment Link: https://pa.insightschools.net/how-enroll.html
- Phone Number: 855.667.4536
- Pennsylvania Cyber CS
- Enrollment link: http://www.pacyber.org/enroll/
- Phone Number: 1-888-722-9237
- Pennsylvania Distance Learning CS
- Enrollment link: http://learn.padistance.org/enrollment
- Technology need: The enrolling student must have reliable, high-speed internet service in the primary residence no later than the first day of school.
- Phone Number: 1-888-997-3352
- Enrollment form
- Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School
- Enrollment Link: https://www.palcs.org/enroll-now/
- Offers K-12 education.
- Phone Number: 610-701-3333
- Pennsylvania Virtual CS
- Enrollment link: https://www.pavcsk12.org/pa-virtual-charter-school/enrollment
- Phone Number: 866-728-2751
- Reach Cyber CS
- Enrollment link: https://www.connectionsacademy.com/reach-cyber-school/enrollment
- Phone Number: 1-717-704-8437
- Susq-Cyber CS
- Enrollment link: https://www.susqcyber.org/featured/2
- Phone Number: 1-866-370-1226
Each school has its own enrollment procedure, so be sure to check the school’s website or call for more information. Note that in some cases, enrollment may take seven–10 days to process.
Be sure to have documents ready, such as:
- Proof of age, such as birth certificate or passport
- Proof of residence, such as utility bill or mortgage statement (or lease agreement)
- Proof of immunization, such as immunization records from prior school or doctor
Additionally, you can help schools get a jump on knowing how to serve your child by providing academic records, such as transcripts, report cards, 504 plans, and IEP plans.
Every family has their own unique reason for choosing cyber charter school learning. For my family, it was the result of onerous regulations at our district school stifling teachers’ well-meaning innovations to educate our children virtually this spring. Despite the best efforts of our teachers, the virtual platforms and curriculum provided by the district were sorely lacking. As parents, we want the flexibility a cyber education will provide, from a provider who’s been educating kids online for years.