Aug 28, 2016 3 min read

In response to your recent piece on cyber charter education, I feel it necessary to reply on behalf of the more than 35,000 students who will choose cyber education this fall as they enroll in one of Pennsylvania’s 13 authorized cyber charter schools. While your original article states more than 1.74 million students are enrolled in cyber education, that is actually the number for all charter students – cyber and brick-and-mortar.

The tired argument cyber charters “cost” districts quadruple the funds ignores the fact district intermediate units are, at most, a program offering of the district, utilizing staff, technology and curriculum that are already a part of the district’s operating budget. Cyber charter schools are more than simply a “stay-at-home alternative” program, running like a small district and independently employing hundreds of teachers, counselors, nurses and administrative staff.

We agree House Bill 530 should contain drastic charter and cyber charter reform measures, but cyber schools are already held to the same accountability measures as traditional school districts. For example, Agora Cyber Charter School already conducts annual audits performed by outside auditors. The school also evaluates our teachers in the same way other districts evaluate theirs, not to mention the fact Agora is held to the same standards with respect to all standardized testing.

To claim students who attend cyber school lack “social appropriateness” is a disrespectful blanket statement that perpetuates the stereotype cyber students are somehow misfits or should be regarded as inferior to their peers who attend traditional district schools. Cyber schools like Agora engage students with plenty of social outings and field trips, but also encourage participation in athletics or clubs in their home districts – a practice that is sometimes blocked by traditional districts who are unaware the law allows such participation. This year, for example, Agora’s valedictorian is the first female cyber student to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Not only is she an outstanding student, but she is also equally an outstanding athlete who possess the charm and social graces many parents wish to instill in their children.

Instead of attacking cyber charters, I invite you to look at the students who have successfully graduated from cyber charter schools, or dig deeper to discover the reasons why current students have chosen to leave their traditional districts behind in the first place.

Michael Conti

King of Prussia

Conti is the CEO of Agora Cyber Charter School.