Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, known simply as PA Cyber, is a public cyber charter school founded in Midland, Pennsylvania in 2000. The school secured a five-year renewal of its charter, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in July 2010.[1] After a yearlong review, the school was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 2011.[2] According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012-2013 school year, the Title 1 school reported an enrollment of 10,434 pupils, 1,326 of whom had IEPs. It reported a 50.75 student/teacher ratio.[3] In 2013, the school held three graduation ceremonies and, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education,[4] it graduated 1500 students, 87.7 percent of whom were bound for a post-secondary education.

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School
Address
652 Midland Avenue

Midland
,
Pennsylvania

United States
Information
TypeOnline
MottoThe Learning Never Stops
Established2000
CEODr. Nick Trombetta (2000-2012) Dr. Michael Conti (2012-present)
GradesPre-K - 12
EnrollmentPublic (PA only), 10,000+
Websitewww.pacyber.org

Academic results

In 2009, 2010 and 2011, PA Cyber Charter School achieved AYP status.[5][6]

Criticisms

The school has been subject to regular criticism from the Pennsylvania School Board Association and Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials over several issues, including funding and the school's fund balance reserves.[7] In 2010, the school reported an Unreserved - Undesignated Fund balance of $2,406,089 and a Reserved - Undesignated Fund balance of $11,415,257.[8] The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.[9]

The school was subject to a grand jury investigation in 2007 regarding using funds improperly (for expenses not related to each individual student). The allegations were: double billing, excessive management fees, questionable payments to building contractors and misuse of tax dollars with regards to the building of a $23.5 million Performing Arts Center.[10][11][12] In 2013, Nick Trombetta was indicted by a federal grand jury for siphoning more than $8 million from the school through a network of profit and non-profit companies he controlled.[13] In July 2018, Trombetta was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for tax fraud.[14]

Awards

The school was named "Top Places to Work" by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in October 2011.[15]

2012 Pre-K–12 Educator Award from University of Pittsburgh School of Education [16]

In 2015, PA Cyber's Wexford 1 team attained Platinum tier in CyberPatriot VII, placing first in Pennsylvania and 54th in the nation.[17]

Regional Office locations

Allentown, Pennsylvania

Erie, Pennsylvania

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Midland, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

State College, Pennsylvania

Warrendale, Pennsylvania

Wexford, Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Alumni

References
  1. Eleanor Chute, Pa. Cyber Charter School gets 5-year renewal, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 22, 2010
  2. Beaver County Times, Midland: Cyber school accredited, November 6, 2011
  3. http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&State=42&SchoolType=1&SchoolType=2&SchoolType=3&SchoolType=4&SpecificSchlTypes=charter&IncGrade=-1&LoGrade=-1&HiGrade=-1&SchoolPageNum=8&ID=420007100534
  4. http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/graduates/7426
  5. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "PA Cyber Charter School AYP Overview". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011.
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 29, 2011). "PA Cyber School AYP Data Table 2011". Archived from the original on February 4, 2012.
  7. Pennsylvania School Board Association (2011). "Charter Schools Talking Point". Archived from the original on 2012-09-07.
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2011). "Fund Balances by Local Education Agency 1997 to 2010".
  9. Murphy, Jan., Pennsylvania's public schools boost reserves, CentreDaily Times, September 22, 2010
  10. Suzie Clarke, Steven Hurlburt, Lindsay Wines, George Mason University School of Public Policy, Balancing ‘BRICK-AND-MORTAR’ & ‘BITS-AND-BYTES’: An Analysis of CyberCharter School Funding in Pennsylvania, Spring 2007
  11. HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE (August 1, 2007). "Informational Meeting Cyber Charter School Legislation transcript" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  12. Maunz, Shay (October 6, 2011). "Cyber School Had Genesis Here: PA Cyber brought new life to depressed Midland and spawned an education alternative - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  13. https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2013/08/pa_cyber_charter_founder_nick.html
  14. https://archive.triblive.com/local/regional/former-pa-cyber-ceo-nick-trombetta-gets-20-months-in-prison-for-tax-fraud/
  15. Shay Maunz, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Top Places to Work - Top Large Employer, October 6, 2011
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-04-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. http://www.pacyber.org/news/article/?PA-Cyber-teams-top-state-in-cyber-security-competition-47
  18. "Who is Gabby Barrett? A closer look at Pa.'s 'American Idol' finalist". Penn Live. May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  19. "A healthy Alex Kirilloff is hitting his stride in the minor leagues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 19, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  20. "PA Cyber teen lands Disney TV role". PA Cyber. February 22, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  21. "PA Cyber celebrates honor society inductees". December 12, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.

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