Cyber Charters in Rural Pennsylvania: Fiscal Impacts, Parent Response, and School Leader Experiences

• In Event: Rurality in Educational Research and Policy

Abstract

This mixed methods study investigated the financial impact of cyber charters in Pennsylvania, parents’ decision-making about cyber enrollment, and rural school district and cyber leader responses to increasing cyber enrollments. The data suggest that cyber charter enrollments and costs to rural districts have dramatically increased over time and cyber charter achievement data lag behind both brick-and-mortar charters and traditional public schools. Rural district leaders are experiencing increasing financial pressure due to cyber charter enrollment. Cyber charter leaders, on the other hand, describe their cyber charter schools as uniquely responsive to families and students, a perspective confirmed by parent survey data. Collectively, the data describes how charter policy is being experienced by parents, cyber directors, and rural school district leaders.

Authors

• Annie Maselli, U.S. Department of Education

• Karen Eppley, Pennsylvania State University

• Matthew G. Kelly, University of Washington