Why Families Are Choosing Cyber Schools Over Traditional Ones

The Shift from Traditional Schools

Families in Pennsylvania are increasingly turning to cyber schools like Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) because traditional school districts aren't meeting their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the shortcomings of both in-person and online programs offered by these districts.

Instead of blaming cyber schools for their growth, perhaps we should ask why so many families are leaving traditional schools in the first place.

Budget and Efficiency

Some argue that cyber schools spend too much money. But let's look at the facts:

CCA's budget educates tens of thousands of students across the state.
Traditional school districts often spend more money on fewer students.
For example, the Pittsburgh school district has a budget that's over $100 million more than CCA's, but it educates 15,000 fewer students.

Transparency and Accountability

There's also talk about cyber schools not being transparent. However:

CCA is subject to public audits, open board meetings, and state oversight.
They invest heavily in student wellness.
In the 2024-25 school year alone, CCA staff conducted over 1,500 home visits and made more than 1,670 referrals to county children and youth services agencies.

State Testing and Assessments

Some claim that cyber schools avoid state testing. But:

CCA fully supports mandated testing.
They invest over $3 million each year to administer these tests.
The real issue is whether these outdated assessments actually measure learning.

Safety and Learning Environments

Traditional school districts often face problems like:

Bullying
Classroom violence
Unhealthy learning environments

For many families, these are not just policy debates. They are real experiences that make school unsafe or unproductive for their children.

Trusting Families' Choices

Families should be trusted to make the best choices for their children's education. Cyber schools like CCA are not perfect, but they are not a threat to democracy either. They are public schools that educate and support students with public dollars.

The Way Forward

If traditional school districts are worried about cyber schools growing, they should ask themselves why so many families are leaving in the first place. Instead of criticizing, they should look for ways to improve.