Executive Director's Report - Summer 2010
Posted August 21, 2010
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A School Where Everyone Performs
Posted June 2, 2010
At Philadelphia's Performing Arts Charter School, all the kindergartners get to perform. In fact, they have to - with weekly violin, ballet, and singing lessons. It's the beginning of their voyage to discover their strengths.
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"The Lottery", A New Film About Public School Choice
Posted June 2, 2010
PCPCS has been approached by the producers of "The Lottery," a new film about public school choice, asking our help to get the word out about next week's screening to members.
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Dr. Walter D. Palmer Awards Twelve Students The John Hope Franklin Combating Racism Award
Posted May 24, 2010
Dr. Walter D. Palmer, President and Founder, The Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School, and the University of Pennsylvania, Black Men at Penn, Graduate School of Social Work, awarded twelve students the John Hope Franklin Combating Racism Award, through the Black Men at Penn, which he founded in 2000.
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Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School Recognized As Top Student Support Services Program In The State
Posted May 21, 2010
The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School today received the 2010 Award of Excellence in Student Services from the Pennsylvania Association of Pupil Services Administrators, in coordination with Pennsylvania Department of Education at the Fifth Annual Student Services Symposium.
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Pennsylvania Coalition Of Public Charter Schools Responds To Senate Education Committee's Passage Of Charter School Accountability Legislation
Posted May 5, 2010
The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee today unanimously approved SB 1314-legislation that aims to strengthen charter schools and honor taxpayer trust by sensibly increasing charter school accountability, transparency, and compliance.
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Act One To Perform "Honk" For Students Of Cyber Charter Schools
Posted April 15, 2010
In a special show for students of cyber charter schools, Act One, (www.actonetheatreschool.com) an independent theater school in Pittsburgh, will present its production of the musical "Honk!"
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Dr. Trombetta, Lincoln Park Performing Arts invited to Intel Education Visionary Conference
Posted April 15, 2010
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, (www.lppacs.org) an arts-in-education leader in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and nationally, will be featured at the prestigious 9th annual Intel Education Visionary Conference April 14-16 at the Hotel Sofitel in Washington, D.C.
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Guy Ciarrocchi, PCCS Executive Director, participates in WHYY radio discussion regarding recent attacks on charter schools.
Posted April 13, 2010
Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz released a report on the Philadelphia School District's oversight of charter schools last week. On WHYY's "Radio Times", the show host Marty Moss-Coane interviews Alan Butkovitz and Guy Ciarrocchi in regard to these attacks.
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22 Charter Schools Receive National Recognition for Student Achievement Gains
Posted April 12, 2010
The Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC), a national initiative of New Leaders for New Schools, today announced the conclusion of the third year of a major, cross-state analysis of charter school achievement. Using a value-added model to analyze performance data from 179 high-need charter schools across the country during the 2008-2009 school year, EPIC identified 22 schools that have made the most dramatic gains in student achievement. Individual principals, assistant principals, teachers and instructional aides at these schools will be given awards totaling an estimated $2,300,000.
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Epic National Charter School Consortium Award-Winning Schools 2009-10
Posted April 12, 2010
Propel McKeesport, Mastery Charter School Shoemaker Campus, and Mastery Charter School Lenfest Campus receive Epic National Charter School Consortium Award.
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Lawrence F. Jones, Jr., M.Ed Testimony to Senate Education Committee
Posted April 9, 2010
PCCS President Lawrence F. Jones, Jr. addresses Chairman Piccola, Chairman Dinniman and Members of the Senate Education committee.
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Imani School Wins National Award
Posted March 29, 2010
Imani Education Circle Charter School has planned a celebration for today because the school has won a national award for boosting students' academic achievement.
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PCCS Letter to House Education Committee
Posted March 23, 2010
A letter from PCCS President Lawrence F. Jones, Jr. to the House Education Committee in regard to House Bills HB 483(PN535), HB 2320 (PN 3345), HB 2328 (PN 3353)
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Charter Schools Serve All Students
Posted March 18, 2010
Sunday letter writer Don Ayers' concerns about Baden Academy Charter School are unwarranted. With regard to funding, less than 80 percent of the per-pupil education dollars follow a student to a public charter school.
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Cyber Charter School Funding Under Attack: Hearings Scheduled
Posted March 16, 2010
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools is urging the House Education Committee to reject a package of bills that aim to thwart Pennsylvania families' legal right to exercise public school choice. Proposed House Bills 483, 1362, and 2036 each seek to cut off vital public cyber charter school funding in their own regard.
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Charters Broaden School Options
Posted March 16, 2010
More than 200 charter schools are educating tens of thousands of public school students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware during the 2009-2010 school year, and these numbers are growing.
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Charter School Would Make District Stronger
Posted March 1, 2010
Would greater Hazleton be better off with a charter high school? While all would logically agree that it would, it is important to note that a charter high school would give the families of greater Hazleton the opportunity to exercise a legal right they do not presently have in the form of a bricks-and-mortar charter school: the right to public school choice.
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York Board Approves Charter School
Posted February 24, 2010
The York City school board voted 9-0 Monday night to approve the York Academy Regional Charter School.
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Cyber school officials disagree with Southmoreland's assessment
Posted February 22, 2010
Cyber school officials don't agree with Southmoreland School District Superintendent John Halfhill's assessment that the organizations drain local public school district funding and aren't making the grade in regards to state testing. At a recent school board meeting, Halfhill presented findings from the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Web site that showed several cyber schools missed Adequate Yearly Progress and still others were under corrective action for not making AYP for several years.
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Sen. Piccola Tours the Pocono Mountain Charter School
Posted February 11, 2010
Senate Education Chairman Jeffrey Piccola recently toured the Pocono Mountain Charter School as he prepares for the upcoming charter school law revision hearings.
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Charting a course: Parents head for alternative schools
Posted January 28, 2010
The fact that 14-year-old Jasmine Brooks spent five years on a waiting list for the Manchester Academic Charter School didn't discourage her mom. "I wanted Jasmine in the charter school since fourth grade, because I wasn't satisfied with the public school system," said Joyce Brooks. "But I couldn't get Jasmine in (a charter school) until this year, when she was accepted to City Charter High School."
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Proposed Charter School Topic Of Discussion On Web Site
Posted January 8, 2010
For a few days last month, the Ambridge Area School District Web site was filled with arguments against the proposed Baden Academy Charter School and an online petition for those opposed to the school. That material has since disappeared, and district Superintendent Erv Weischedel declined to comment this week on why it was posted or why it was taken down.
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Take Pennsylvania Charter School Oversight Away From School Districts
Posted December 9, 2009
Charter schools have injected energy and enthusiasm into American public education during the last two decades. One reason is that everyone involved with a charter school wants to be there. The founders and board members are committed to the school's particular vision; teachers have made a conscious decision to pursue working in that type of school; and students enroll by choice, not by district assignment.
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Sen. Piccola Cuts Ribbon for Expanded PA Cyber Charter School Center, Harrisburg
Posted December 7, 2009
Piccola (R-Dauphin) cut the ribbon for PA Cyber's new Harrisburg Support Center in the TecPort Business Center Dec. 2. The school moved into new, larger offices in response to enrollment growth.
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K-8 Charter School Proposed For Baden
Posted November 19, 2009
In an effort to expand parental choice and offer enhanced educational opportunities for public school students in Beaver County and the surrounding region, a group of parents, educators, and community members are planning to launch a new charter school beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.
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Comprehensive Charter School Reforms In The Works
Posted November 11, 2009
The chairmen of the state Senate Education Committee are proposing reforms to charter school law they say would make the schools easier to create and also easier to monitor and regulate.
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Green Woods Team Awarded Pennsylvania Council of Social Studies Program of The Year Award!
Posted November 6, 2009
On October 28, 2009 Juli Vitello, Kathleen Geist, and Jean Wallace of Green Woods Charter School were awarded the Pennsylvania Council of Social Studies 2009 Program of Excellence Award.
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"Why Charter Schools? Because competition makes schools better"
Posted October 19, 2009
Charter schools, it seems, are in the news every day. President Obama says he'd like to create thousands more across the U.S. Every year, more of them open, and more than 1.4 million students in the U.S. now attend a charter school. Yet for all the chatter about charters, many still know very little about what charter schools actually are.
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"CHARTER SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT" - Heinz Endowments Spotlights Manchester Academic Charter School
Posted October 12, 2009
The Heinz Endowments is showcasing the history and achievements of Pittsburgh's Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS) on the "In the Spotlight" section of the foundation's Web site.
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Plan would limit charter schools' independence
Posted October 9, 2009
If a proposed amendment to the charter-school policy is approved by the School Reform Commission this fall, the city's charter schools will be one step closer to losing their independence, a charter-school official said yesterday at a public hearing.
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Visit to schools leaves Sharpton 'really inspired'
Posted October 9, 2009
"I am really inspired," Sharpton told reporters at a news conference at the McDaniel Elementary School, on 22nd Street near McClellan, in South Philadelphia.
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Cyber Charter Schools: An Educational Alternative For The 21st Century
Posted October 9, 2009
"Any Time, Any Place, Any Path, Any Pace." The title of a 2001 National Association of State Boards of Education report on the future of e-learning still says it all. Cyber charter schools offer students unparalleled opportunities to design their own school programs.
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PAVCS Recognized for Publications Excellence
Posted October 6, 2009
The Communications Department at the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School recently was notified that three PAVCS publications were all deemed "Award of Excellence" selections in the Special-Purpose Publications category of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association 40th Annual Educational Publications Contest.
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Nurse Cheryl Cantwell of New Foundations Appears on "Good Day Philadelphia"
Posted September 8, 2009
New Foundations Charter School Nurse Cheryl Cantwell, R.N., rang in the 2009-2010 school year with helpful medical tips on FOX Philadelphia's "Good Day Philadelphia".
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Imani Education Circle Charter School Watches Obama Speech
Posted September 8, 2009
"While some schools across the nation said "no we won't," the Imani Education Circle Charter School stood up and said, "Yes we will" to allowing students to watch the Back to School Presidential Address." The local FOX affiliate was onsite to join the event.
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Start a Charter School Workshop Video
Posted September 8, 2009
If you missed this year's Start a Charter School Workshop or you attended and would like to review the workshop again, you're in luck. The video of the workshop is now available online.
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Teacher of Italian for Midland cyber school gives students the real thing
Posted August 5, 2009
Daniel Mancini wanted his young son to learn proper pronunciation and grammar when speaking Italian, the language of his ancestors. What he didn't anticipate was learning alongside his son from a teacher across an ocean.
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PA Cyber 2nd grader granted Make-a-Wish trip to Disney World
Posted June 16, 2009
A PA Cyber Charter School student has been granted an official Make-A-Wish for a birthday celebration in Disney World.
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Pa Cyber Student Leaps Three Math Grade Levels
Posted June 16, 2009
Samantha Ostrander, a junior from Troy, Pa., made the academic leap in one semester through study in the Academy of Math, a web-based program designed to help students quickly master math skills in which they are deficient.
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The Nine Members Of Lehigh Valley Academy's Class Of 2009 Are Moving On To College
Posted June 16, 2009
Ali, Donald, Tajera, Sarah, Asia, Samantha, Cinnamon, Shannon, Ana; They are the inaugural graduating class of the Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School.
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PCCS President Lawrence Jones, Jr. Issues Statement On The Pa Senate's Passage Of Legislation To Protect Public Charter Schools' Tax Exempt Status
Posted June 11, 2009
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools (PCCS) applauds the State Senate's passage of SB 687, legislation to protect the tax-exempt status of public charter schools.
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Lehigh Valley Academy - Only School In Region To Offer Full International Baccalaureate Continuum
Posted June 10, 2009
Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School (LVA) received official notification that it has earned Middle Years Programme authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB). LVA is now one of only 13 schools in the United States and the only school in the Lehigh Valley to offer all three IB programmes.
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Lehigh Valley Academy To Graduate Its First Class
Posted June 10, 2009
Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School will be graduating the first class in the history of the school. The school is in its seventh year of operation and was established to provide a quality choice in education built on a global foundation of academic excellence, active parental involvement, and applied character development, by integrating technology into innovative teaching strategies and best learning practices.
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Charter School Group Has Grown To 1,500 Students In Six Years
Posted April 26, 2009
In fall 2003, the first Propel charter school opened with just 173 elementary students in the basement of the former Homestead Hospital building. Six years later, the Propel organization has grown to the size of a small school district with five schools, an enrollment of 1,500, a staff of 200, an annual budget of $19 million and an administrative office on the South Side.
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Senate Bill 687 And Senate Bill 88 Pass Unanimously
Posted April 21, 2009
Senate Bill 687, which exempts charter schools from real estate taxes, and Senate Bill 88 which allows for military families who get called up and leave PA to continue to attend PA schools both passed the Senate Education committee unanimously.
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The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education goes to Independence Charter School
Posted March 30, 2009
The Asia Society announces Independence Charter School as the 2008 Elementary School/Middle School Category winner of The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prize for Excellence in International Education.
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Lincoln Park to Host "Pennsylvania Summer School of the Arts"
Posted March 28, 2009
The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is planning a two-week "Pennsylvania Summer School of the Arts" to fill the void left by the cancellation of the Pennsylvania Governor's School of the Arts.
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Lehigh Valley Academy was featured on WLVT, Channel 39 TEMPO Program
Posted March 23, 2009
Channel 39 TEMPO (WLVT) came to Lehigh Valley Academy to do a segment on the school. The news feature contains brief interviews with students, teachers, and administrators; mainly showing the staff and students in action.
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Ensure Recovery Act Stabilization Funding Flows to Public Charter Schools
Posted March 15, 2009
The US Department of Education is currently crafting guidance around the distribution and usage of funds from the newly authorized American Recovery and Relief Act (ARRA).
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Testimony of Lawrence F. Jones, Jr., President of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools
Posted March 14, 2009
A testimony from Lawrence F. Jones, Jr.on how the charter school movement could provide viable alternatives to the Scotland School or the closing of the Scotland School.
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Charting success: These Schools Of Choice Make The Grade
Posted March 11, 2009
While the charter movement's school-by-school results are mixed (as they are for all U.S. schools), two local charters were recognized last week for outstanding work. City Charter High School in Downtown and Propel McKeesport are among 21 charters around the country that will receive cash awards from EPIC, the Effective Practice Incentive Community program.
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Two Charter Schools In Region Listed Among U.S. Best
Posted March 10, 2009
Western Pennsylvania is home to two of the nation's top 21 charter schools, say officials from a New York-based nonprofit that focuses on elevating achievement in urban schools.
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Charter Schools Honored With Cash Awards - City Charter, Propel leaders lauded for student success
Posted March 10, 2009
Teachers and principals at City Charter High School and Propel McKeesport are among 21 charter schools nationwide who will receive monetary awards for their success in increasing student achievement.
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Philadelphia Charter Schools Honored
Posted March 10, 2009
Two Mastery Charter Schools in Philadelphia are among 21 charters across the country that have won national honors for dramatic academic gains among low-income students.
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School Lane Students Settle Into New $11 Million Wing
Posted March 4, 2009
School Lane Charter School students and staff didn't waste any time in putting their new $11 million middle school wing to use.
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Seven Philadelphia Charter Schools To Open
Posted February 12, 2009
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission yesterday approved seven Philadelphia region charter schools. Six will open their doors in September 2009. The seventh anticipates a 2010 opening.
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Pennsylvania Budget Proposal Puts Charter School Students' Education in Harm's Way
Posted February 5, 2009
More than 70,000 Pennsylvania students are caught in the crosshairs of two dangerous budget proposals that threaten equal access to public education. Only the more affluent school districts stand to benefit.
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Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School Named Parents' Choice Best Public School In Pa In Businessweek And Greatschools
Posted February 2, 2009
The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School today announces that it has been named "Parents' Choice, Best Public School in Pennsylvania" according to the latest edition of BusinessWeek and GreatSchools.
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Masterman Chosen As A Top Pa School
Posted January 20, 2009
The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School. based in Norristown, was named the parents' choice winner in BusinessWeek's public school category. The charter school provides online education to 3,700 students from across the state in their homes.
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Singapore Math Makes A Difference
Posted December 11, 2008
With a click of a stopwatch, 24 sixth graders were off - racing down a worksheet, figuring out as many basic subtraction problems as they could in 60 seconds.
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Manchester Academic Charter School Awarded 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon
Posted November 6, 2008
Congratulations to Manchester Academic Charter School in Pittsburgh for being named a 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education!
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Ruby Bridges Visits Imani Education Circle Charter School
Posted November 6, 2008
Ruby Bridges, the 1st grader from 1960 who had U S Marshalls escort her to school during the first days of integration in New Orleans was invited to Imani Education Circle Charter School.
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"I Choose to Stay"
Posted November 6, 2008
Salome Thomas-EL grew up in the inner city of Philadelphia to become a teacher and principal with an unwavering commitment to the mentoring and education of inner-city youth.
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House Bill 1067 Summary
Posted September 29, 2008
On July 4, 2008, Pennsylvania's General Assembly amended the Public School Code of 1949 through House Bill 1067. The House Bill 1067 amendments have been approved by Governor Rendell as part of the 2008-2009 budget package.
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Wissahickon Charter School Given Philadelphia Sustainability Award.
Posted June 11, 2008
Wissahickon Charter School was honored as a winner of the 2008 Philadelphia Sustainability Award, presented earlier this spring at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
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Charter Schools Grow Stronger In PA.
Posted April 28, 2008
More than a decade after charter schools became legal in Pennsylvania, it is safe to say the schools, once considered experimental and still sometimes controversial, are here to stay.
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House Education Committee Moves In Support Of Charter School Families:
Posted April 4, 2008
The House Education Committee today voted down a bill that could have shut down charter schools that are progressing toward improving test scores.
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PCCS Response to Pennsylvania House Bill 1833.
Posted April 1, 2008
PCCS President, Lawrence F. Jones, Jr., replies with a letter to all Pennsylvania House of Representatives Education Committee members in response to HB 1833.
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Schools That Attended The First ERIP in Philadelphia:
Posted November 12, 2007
PCCS Executive Director, Timothy H. Daniels, Ed.D, comments on the first ERIP in Philadelphia.
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PCCS Response to Pennsylvania Auditor General Report.
Posted June 29, 2007
PCCS President, Lawrence F. Jones, Jr., replies with a letter to all Pennsylvania Legislators in response to a recent report from the Auditor General of Pennsylvania.
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Pennsylvania's Eleven Public Cyber Charter Schools Met 42 Of 45 AYP Academic Performance Targets.
Posted June 11, 2007
Whether or not a school makes the federally-mandated Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) mark does not give a complete account of the school's overall academic performance. Yet opponents of Pennsylvania's cyber charter schools have charged that these public schools are academic failures based solely on this single overall AYP mark.
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On Cyber School Reform, The Devil Is In The Details.
Posted June 5, 2007
A reply from Dr. Timothy Daniels in response to the PSBA's allegations that Pennsylvania's Cyber Charter Schools are overreacting to legislation that would destroy Pennsylvania's leadership position in cyber education.
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Senator Pileggi Wins "Trailblazer Award" for Support of Charter Schools
Posted May 12, 2007
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) recently received the 2007 Trailblazer Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools. The Trailblazer Award is presented each year to a leader in the charter school movement, according to PCCS.
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PCCS Co-Sponsors The 2007 PAEE Conference In Wilkes-Barre, April 12 through April 15
Posted February 22, 2007
PCCS is proud to serve as a cosponsor of the 2007 Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators Conference to be held in Wilkes-Barre, April 12-15! PAEE is reaching out to environmental educators, classroom teachers, school administrators, and everyone who knows that children need the outdoors and natural areas for playing and learning.
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PCCS User IDs & Passwords and User Account Management on the PCCS Web Site
Posted February 9, 2007
Your PCCS User ID and Password will grant you access to the Members Only section on the PCCS web site. It will also allow you to register for the upcoming annual conference at significantly discounted rates. This information is provided to answer any questions that you may have with regard to obtaining a new PCCS user account and the management of those accounts.
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