What is PA LEARNERS Online?
PA LEARNERS (Learners Everywhere Accessing Resources, Networking Electronically and Realizing Success) Online Regional Cyber Charter School is a nonprofit, online, web-based school for learners across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, comprised of students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 from within the 501 school districts in the state.
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What is the mission of PA LEARNERS Online?
PA LEARNERS (Learners Everywhere Accessing Resources, Networking Electronically and Realizing Success) Online promotes student achievement using electronic resources in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
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Why is it needed?
PA LEARNERS Online Regional Cyber Charter School is needed:
to provide a high quality alternative educational
program for Pennsylvania learners of all ages. |
to create alternative instructional delivery systems
through the use of relevant technology. |
| to offer an interactive, self-paced technology-based curriculum. |
to ensure equitable, standards-based educational opportunities
for all students. |
to invite, inform and include parents, guardians and families
in the decision-making process related to their
children's education. |
to extend lifelong learning opportunities to professional staff
and other adults who wish to improve their knowledge
and skills; advance their careers or pursue avocational studies. |
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Why is it an appropriate model?
PA LEARNERS Online Regional Cyber Charter School is an appropriate model because:
| every place can be a learning place |
| every learner can be a lifelong learner |
| learning can occur at the student's own pace and own place |
| learning activities can be available at all times, year round, 24/7 |
| learners can profit from individualized guidance in their studies |
| learners, families and districts of residence can work together as educational partners to make a difference for learners |
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What is the vision of PALO?
PA LEARNERS Online will be the cyber school of choice for accessing electronic resources in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
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Who is the target audience?
The PALO target audience includes students:
| who need an alternative educational placement |
| who are at risk |
| who are incarcerated |
| who wish to accelerate their studies |
| who want to earn college credit in high school |
| who are pregnant or parenting |
| who are homebound |
| who are home schooled |
| who are diagnosed as school phobic |
who are employed for portions of the day and want to
pursue studies after traditional school hours |
who have dropped out and want to pursue self-paced
studies for a diploma |
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Who are the founding member school districts?
Ten public school districts in Allegheny County hold the Charter for PA LEARNERS Online Regional Cyber Charter School. Those founding member school districts are:
| Allegheny Valley School District |
| Baldwin Whitehall School District |
| Bethel Park School District |
| Chartiers Valley School District |
| Deer Lakes School District |
| Moon Area School District |
| Shaler Area School District |
| South Allegheny School District |
| West Allegheny School District |
| Woodland Hills School District |
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Who comprises the Board of Trustees?
The Superintendents of the founding member school districts comprise the PALO Board of Trustees:
| Dr. Charles Territo - Allegheny Valley School District |
| Dr. Charles H. Faust - Baldwin Whitehall School District |
| Dr. Victor C. Morrone - Bethel Park School District |
| Dr. Bernard A. Sulkowski - Chartiers Valley School District |
| Mark W. King - Deer Lakes School District |
| Dr. Alex Meta - Moon Area School District |
| Dr. Donald A. Lee - Shaler Area School District |
| Patrick A. Risha - South Allegheny School District |
| Dr. Charles D. Hughey - West Allegheny School District |
| Dr. Stanley J.Herman - Woodland Hills School District |
| Dr. Paula A. Calabrese - Assistant Education Director, Allegheny Intermediate Unit - chair |
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What is the AIU ?
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) is an education service agency and regional partner, providing customized programs and services to students and school districts throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, visit www.aiu3.net.
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What is PA-Educator ?
PA-Educator.net is a clearinghouse created to assist school districts in identifying, interviewing and hiring qualified teacher applicants by accessing and reviewing their credentials electronically.
Visit PaEducator.net at www.paeducator.net for more information.
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Who can I contact for more information ?
You may contact the PALO office at 412-394-5796, by fax to 412-394-5969, or by email to PALO@aiu3.net
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How can I enroll my child ?
Because PALO enrollment has reached the enrollment cap for the coming year, PALO is accepting applications for the waiting list only for the 2002-2003 school year. Waiting list applications may be completed on the Enrollment Application section of the PALO website. In the event that enrollment is reopened for 2002-2003, applications will be selected from among those which are current on the PALO waiting list.
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How can I apply for employment ?
Visit the PaEducator.net at www.pa-educator.net
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What grade levels will be available ?
PA LEARNERS Online Regional Cyber Charter School serves grades K-12.
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Who is eligible for applying to PALO ?
Any resident child of Pennsylvania between the ages of 5 - 21 is eligible to apply for PALO enrollment. Essentially, any Pennsylvania student who is eligible for a free public education is also eligible for a free charter school education, provided there is a space available in the charter school.
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A student wants to attend a charter school specializing in foreign language but wants to concentrate on Egyptian hieroglyphics. Must the charter school accommodate him?
No, the charter school does not have to design such a program.
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A student lives with father for two weeks per month and mother for two weeks per month under a court order granting both parents joint legal and physical custody. Although they live only three blocks from each other, they are not in the same school district. The student wants to attend a charter school in the father's district. There is only one space available and there are two applicants. The other applicant lives in the school district full time. Do they draw lots or does the full-time resident get the spot ?
The decision would be left to the discretion of the charter school Board of Trustees.
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A charter school has 100 available spots; 105 children want to attend and they are all residents of the sponsoring school district. May the school pick the first 100 names out of a hat to fill the spots?
Yes, picking names out of a hat qualifies as a random selection method, because all names in the hat have an equal chance of being selected.
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How do I get internet access?
PALO has a partnership with Millenicom. Please check the following link: http://www.millenicom.com/palo/
We provide an account for students free of charge through this partnership. Parents are encouraged to verify that a local access number is available to avoid long-distance phone charges which would be the parent's responsibility.
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