There are 14 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. These schools have a few similarities and many differences. Per the PA Department of Education (PDE), a cyber charter school is an independent public school and a non-profit organization that uses technology to deliver a significant portion of curriculum and instruction. Cyber charter schools are established and operate under a charter through the Department of Education. The differences between schools are vast, and this section focuses on providing data to help families learn some of the key differentiators. Act 82 Building-Level Performance Profile Per PDE, The Act 82 Building Level Score (formerly the PA School Performance Profile) is an integral part of the Educator Effectiveness System. The profile provides a school-level academic score for all public schools, including charter and cyber charter schools, and career and technical centers. The Act 82 Building Level Score is one of the state’s measures of accountability for public schools in the commonwealth. Many data elements come together to create the academic score, including: Indicators of Academic Achievement:
PSSA/PASA/Keystone performance, industry standards-based competency assessments, grade three reading proficiency, and SAT/ACT college-ready benchmarks.
Indicators of Closing the Achievement Gap:
All student scores are used to define how well a school is making progress toward proficiency of students. Historically Underperforming Students scores are used to define how well a school is making progress towards proficiency of those students who have historically not demonstrated proficiency.
Indicators of Academic Growth/PVAAS:
Measures the school’s impact on the academic achievement level of groups of students from year to year.
Other Academic Indicators – Assesses factors that contribute to student
The data provided focuses on PA cyber charter schools scores, based on the PDE 2019 Act 82 Building-Level Profile Results.
PDE explains that these scores are designed to help inform the public of school performance and allow them to compare schools, while also providing a score for educators to use as part of their evaluation system and a methodology to analyze their strengths and needs.
We are proud to report that PA Virtual has one of the highest Act 82 Building Level Scores in 2019.
