The Thomas family realized when their oldest son, Fletcher, was in preschool that a traditional public school would not serve him best going forward with his education. Health concerns drove the decision for the family to research cyber school as an option.

“Fletcher went to a traditional preschool and he missed about half the academic year because of his viral-induced asthma,” says mom Lisa. “When it came time for kindergarten, I knew a classroom full of germs wasn’t going to work for him. He simply would have missed too many days of school.”

Once the Thomases started researching other options, they quickly discovered the many advantages of enrolling their son in a cyber school.

Why the Thomas Family Chose PA Cyber

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) came highly regarded during their search for non-traditional school options. The Thomas family enrolled Fletcher as a kindergarten student and have never looked back on that decision.

Now 13 years old, Fletcher is currently in eighth grade. His brother, Charlie, 10, is in fifth grade, also at PA Cyber. The Thomas boys are thriving both academically and socially. Charlie and Fletcher are straight-A students and both participate in PA Cyber’s Gifted and Talented team, which identifies gifted students and provides them with individualized educational programs.

Fletcher participates in student council and National Junior Honor Society, while Charlie is involved in Boy Scouts and gymnastics.

“There are countless PA Cyber clubs that the boys can become involved in,” says Lisa. “They have access to all the resources of a traditional public school without having to be in a traditional classroom setting.”

25 Years of Online Education Excellence

Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing flexible, high-quality learning options to students across Pennsylvania. PA Cyber is the most experienced, longest-operating cyber charter school in the state.

As an online school for grades K-12, PA Cyber has nine regional offices throughout Pennsylvania supporting 11,000 students. At these regional offices, PA Cyber welcomes students in-house to participate in enrichment activities throughout the year. These include STEM programs, book fairs, creative arts initiatives, and writing workshops.

Social Opportunities and Field Trips

PA Cyber runs both virtual and in-person field trips to places including zoos throughout the state and historic areas like the battlegrounds of Gettysburg.

“My sons recently participated in a field trip to Philadelphia where they saw the Liberty Bell and they learned all about the Constitution,” says Lisa. “We’ve gone on field trips to the zoo and even to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair. We’re never lacking for opportunities to socialize.”

All PA Cyber families also have access to a member directory where they can connect with other families in their geographic area. This encourages easy setup of playdates and meet-ups.

Flexible Learning Options That Work for Every Student

Academically, PA Cyber offers students the option of either virtual learning where they log in daily for classes, or a blended classroom option where students complete the state-approved curriculum through a mix of live and self-paced coursework. Fletcher and Charlie participate in the blended classroom option.

“Our sons have to log in daily and once a week they have to attend a live session with a teacher who basically touches base with them about their subjects,” explains Lisa. “Last year, Fletcher started Spanish and I don’t speak Spanish, so we opted for him to take this course with a teacher. I appreciate the option of having a teacher take over a course, especially as we head into the higher grades with more complicated subject matters.”

Lisa works with each of her sons individually at their own pace through their assigned subjects. “If Fletcher or Charlie picks up on something quickly, we can go through it quickly,” says Lisa. “If it’s something that one of them struggles with, we can take extra time to go over it.”

PA Cyber assigns each student an Academic Advisor who acts as a mentor, guiding students and families to success. “If I ever have questions or concerns, there’s always someone who I can reach out to at PA Cyber,” says Lisa. “They are partners with us in our sons’ education.”

Every week, PA Cyber students have a mandatory virtual student discussion group, based on grade level, where they can chat with one another and get to know each other better in a relaxed way. Some weeks they’ll have brain teasers they work through together or specific topics they discuss. “It’s time that both of my sons look forward to,” says Lisa.

A Rewarding Choice for Committed Families

Committing to the cyber school path for your child’s education is one that’s not always going to be easy, Lisa candidly admits, but she guarantees it’s well worth it.

“I’m actively involved in every step of my child’s education,” says Lisa. “I get to really know their teachers and academic advisors, more so than what I think I would in a traditional public school. We can all work together if my child is struggling with a particular lesson or celebrate together when they succeed in a certain subject. Although it’s a cyber school, as a parent and a student you aren’t in it alone.”

As a mom, Lisa also appreciates having the opportunity to know exactly what her children are learning so she can incorporate it in real-world experiences. “I love pointing out examples from our lessons in everyday life,” she says.

The choice that the Thomas family made for their sons is an option they wish to normalize for all families. “We all know that all children don’t learn the same and that every environment isn’t the best for every child,” Lisa says. “Let’s make it acceptable for families to choose what’s right for their own children, because we are so happy with the choice that we have made.”

Photos courtesy of TheThomas Family. PA Cyber supports the Philadelphia Family Community’s Fall Education Guide.
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