Why Families Are Choosing Cyber Schools Over Traditional Ones

Families in Pennsylvania are 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. Some people argue that cyber schools spend too much money. But let's look at the facts. CCA's budget is used to educate tens of thousands of students across the state. Meanwhile, 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. There's also a lot of talk about cyber schools not being transparent. But CCA is subject to public audits, open board meetings, and state oversight. They also invest a lot of money 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.Some people also claim that cyber schools avoid state testing. But CCA fully supports mandated testing. They even invest over $3 million each year to administer these tests. The real issue is that many people, including families, school districts, and policymakers, question whether these outdated assessments actually measure learning. Traditional school districts often have problems like bullying, classroom violence, and 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. 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. 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.