Staff writer
Pamela Schleicher watched as her son's grades fell in seventh grade.
Joseph was bullied. His mother didn't feel like his individual plan required by federal law because of his Asperger's syndrome was being implemented completely by Trinity Area School District.
And each morning, Joseph begged his parents not to send him to school.
Yet for a while, she and her husband, Joseph, still sent him because they were concerned that he wouldn't have the proper socialization if he were in a cyber school. And, Pamela Schleicher says, there were some wonderful teachers who tried to help.
But the Schleichers questioned what the best way to facilitate their son's learning would be.
"That's what school is supposed to be," she said. "We are responsible for making sure his educational needs are met so he can be a productive citizen."
The couple, with their son's agreement, enrolled him in Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School last year.
"Joseph has absolutely flourished in cyber school," Pamela Schleicher said.
He's pulling down straight As, he's ahead of schedule this year because he can work at his own pace and he's not having problems with misplacing homework or books.
If he has problems, he can get a tutor through the cyber school. He also gets speech therapy.
Joseph is still involved in activities, including karate, church youth group, a swim team, a bowling league and playing the violin, she said.
"Now, his socialization is positive socialization," she said.
Whether he returns to a traditional public school in high school is up to him, she said. But, for now, she's happy with the choice the family made.
"I want my child educated to the best of his ability," she said.
It's a question that more parents are asking themselves as the numbers of students in cyber schools have skyrocketed in the past decade.
Since a 2002 state law created public cyber schools in Pennsylvania, about 20,000 families have enrolled their children in them, according to PA Families for Public Cyber Schools.
The cyber schools are open to all kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the state. Because they are public schools, families do not have to pay tuition. Instead, public school districts pay tuition equal to the district per-student education cost for those who attend cyber schools.
Traditional public school officials contend they shouldn't be paying that much to cyber schools and that most students are better off in the "brick-and-mortar" schools. Cyber schools say the money should follow the students and parents should be able to make a choice about the public school in which they enroll their children.
For Sara Sykes and her father, Andrew Sykes, the decision was a no-brainer. She was tired of high school drama and rumors.
She wasn't doing well at Fort Cherry High School because of peer pressure, Andrew Sykes said.
He enrolled her in Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School in September. She still has her friends and socializes but is getting a good education too, he said.
"I think it's pretty cool," he said.
Sara said she wanted to get away from the drama but still get a good education.
She says it's going well.
"In math class, I'm way ahead," she said.
The reasons that parents decide to enroll their children in cyber school vary, said Fred Miller, communications coordinator of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.
For some, it's because their children are bullied, while others want their children to be more challenged in a gifted program, he said. Some want to screen out distractions for the children, and others want their kids to learn in a safe environment, Miller said.
Cyber school isn't the best choice for all students, but Jefferson resident Joe Tokish said enrolling his son, Phillip, in Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School was for the best.
He didn't think the teen would graduate from Carmichaels Area High School. Phillip spent about three years in cyber school and graduated last year. Taxpayers should have the right for their children to be educated successfully, he said. Without cyber school, Joe Tokish believes there would be more public school dropouts.
"For some kids, it's really important for them," he said. "They need it. Cyber school? I believe in it."
Cayna Scumaci of Cokeburg said her daughter, Aeriel Dochenetz, was not getting enough one-on-one attention at Bentworth Middle School.
"You either get it or you don't, and you fall behind," she said.
On top of that, she was concerned about bullying that she felt wasn't taken seriously enough by the school.
This is her daughter's first year in cyber school. Her grades have improved from As, Bs and Cs to straight As in Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, Scumaci said.
She attributes it to the one-on-one attention her eighth-grade daughter receives. She sees her teacher on a webcam.
"They're a phone call away for the kids," Scumaci said.
When she first heard of the idea, Scumaci said she thought, "No way." After researching it, she decided to give it a try because of the individual help.
Now, when parents complain about the same problems she had with traditional schools, she urges them to consider a cyber school.
"It's the best thing I ever did," Scumaci said.