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Schools

Parkland Officials Give Cyber School a Thumbs Up

Twenty-four students are enrolled in Parkland School District's cyber school.

Parkland School District officials are pleased with the cost, expansion and quality of student work in the Parkland Cyber Learning Program, according to information presented Tuesday to the school board’s Education and Athletics Committee.

 “I don’t think we could be more pleased with how it’s going,” said Randy Claroni, director of curriculum instruction and professional development. He also said there has been “considerable academic growth” demonstrated by the participating students.

Currently, Claroni said, there are 24 students enrolled in Parkland’s cyber school at a cost of $118,680 in basic program fees.

School officials have determined that the cost to Parkland would be $331,622, if students used competing cyber schools. Consequently, Claroni said, Parkland is saving $212,942 in basic program fees, based on enrollment as of Oct. 20.

In addition to the basic program fees of $4,945 per student, Parkland pays VLN Partners of Pittsburgh, which loans basic computer equipment to each student, $16,700 for a maintenance fee. The maintenance fee covers VLN’s expenses to update courses throughout the school year.

Parkland piloted its cyber program in February 2010 with four students in ninth and 11th grades, Claroni said. The cyber program was created to give students already enrolled in competing cyber or charter programs the option to remain in the Parkland system as a cyber student.

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Cyber students do all their school work online -- doing assignments, taking tests and communicating with their teachers.

The pilot proved to be successful, Claroni said, and so in September 2010, Parkland offered more than 70 courses to serve the needs of students in grades six through 12. The first cyber students graduated with the Class of 2011.

School officials anticipate having a minimum of 98 courses in the cyber program by September 2012. In addition, Claroni said, the program now can accommodate the needs of students in alternative education programs.

Parkland actually is part of the Lehigh Valley Cyber Consortium, founded by Parkland officials. In addition to Parkland, the consortium includes students from the East Penn, Southern Lehigh and Whitehall school districts.

The school districts contracted with VLN Partners of Pittsburgh, which provides the teachers. The schools provide the textbooks.

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