A need for comprehensive virtual learning for students

The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in Gov. Tom Wolf closing schools, proved the need for comprehensive virtual learning and the value of Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools.

Cyber charter schools, which have been educating children online for years, continued to teach more than 35,000 students without missing a step. Yet that didn’t stop those in the traditional education system from deriding families for choosing public cyber charters and claiming district schools can do it better. That has proved false. The pandemic showed that district schools were not prepared to instruct a large number of students online. They also struggled with ensuring equity in education for students who did not have resources to learn virtually.

In contrast, the Charter School Law requires public cyber charter schools to provide the technology, curriculum materials and support students need. Cyber schools must provide a computer, printer, scanner and internet service to all families.

As CEO of a statewide public cyber charter school, I travel the state visiting our students and their families. I have gotten to know them on a personal level, and I know what educational opportunity means to them.

I believe one of the biggest responsibilities parents face in life is to find the best education for their children so they can go on to lead meaningful lives. Therefore, I firmly believe parents — not school administrators — know what is best for their children.

Unfortunately, there are school officials who want to take that power away from families and force them to return to a district school they chose to leave.

For the sake of thousands of Pennsylvania families, we cannot let that happen.

BRIAN HAYDEN

CEO Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

Midland

The writer is a board member of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools.