Feb 21, 2020 2 min read

Charleroi Area School District’s board of education approved a five-year extension with the Seneca Valley Cyber Program.

According to Superintendent Ed Zelich, Seneca Valley’s program offers many advantages to students who opt to get their education in a non-traditional learning environment.

“We have partnered with Seneca Valley’s cyberprogram for three years, and it has worked very well for us,” said Zelich, during the school board’s meeting Tuesday. “Seneca Valley’s pass rate is higher than many other cyberschools. It also gives our students a lot of flexibility with their learning schedule.”

Charleroi Area has 23 students enrolled in Seneca Valley’s cyberschool. The program offers classes for students from elementary through high school. Students are encouraged to participate in any of Charleroi’s extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs and dances. Students can also get their degree at Charleroi’s graduation ceremonies.

“For some students, cyberschool is better suited to their style of learning,” said Zelich. “For others, cyberschool may ease their fear of social stresses. It may also be ideal when a family moves around.”

Zelich noted that some of Charleroi’s cyberstudents eventually return to the classroom to complete their studies.

“We encourage cyberstudents to return to classes on our campus,” he said. “When kids are physically in school, they can learn social skills and learn communication skills. Our goal is to provide our students with the best possible education.”