US EditionCyber Charter School Fights PA Law on Student Wellness Checks
PENNSYLVANIA, JUL 2 – Commonwealth Charter Academy disputes feasibility of weekly real-time wellness checks for 35,000 students, while lawmakers seek stricter rules and penalties to ensure student safety.
- In May 2024, 12-year-old Malinda Hoagland, a student at Commonwealth Charter Academy, died in Pennsylvania after reportedly suffering abuse and neglect at the hands of her guardians.
- The death and concerns about student safety spurred legislative efforts to update the decades-old cyber charter law requiring weekly student wellness checks, though CCA disputes the law's interpretation.
- CCA, with over 35,000 students by the last school year making it Pennsylvania's largest cyber charter, argues it is impossible to see and hear every student weekly as mandated by the Department of Education .
- Last month, State Rep. Pete Schweyer circulated a memo recommending uniform wellness checks and a clear crisis escalation protocol for cyber charter schools, while legislation addressing cyber charter reforms advanced through the state House but has yet to progress in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.
- These ongoing disputes and legislative actions highlight challenges in enforcing student welfare remotely, possibly leading to penalties including charter revocation if schools fail compliance.
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CNHI News
CNHI NewsState cyber charter schools group pushes back against new Westmont Hilltop initiative
The Pennsylvania Association of Public Cyber Charter Schools pushed back in a statement this week against a new Westmont Hilltop School District initiative to draw students back to the traditional institution from outside cyber charter schools.
·Johnstown, United States
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Cyber charter school fights PA law on student wellness checks
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter school says it is “unreasonable” to expect its staff to see and hear from all students weekly, despite the Shapiro administration’s contention that it must do so to comply with state law. Now, state lawmakers are pushing to update the statute’s language to ensure these wellness checks happen. The law, passed as part of last year’s budget, says cyber charter schools must weekly “ensure that each e…
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 44%
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