According to an article published on The New York Times, Agora Cyber Charter School is failing. The article addresses many issues with the school and cyber schooling in general. We use this cyber school and have for the past three years. I want to address some of the issues they have spoke about and share our success story.
Right away the author of the article, Stephanie Saul, addresses how students are grade levels behind on math and reading. While this statement is true, she failed to mention the reason for this. Students that enroll in Agora Cyber Charter School are usually coming from a regular public school where the child was already behind. The teachers have to get the students back on track and bring them to current grade level. If the author would check how these behind grade level students are doing in a year or so, they would find, more often than not, the student is now ahead.
Several students enrolled at Agora Cyber Charter School have special needs. They could not have their needs met at a regular brick and mortar school. They may come to Agora behind in their classes, but if they stay they improve greatly. At Agora the teachers will work one on one or in small groups with the students until they master whatever lesson they are working on. Students cannot go forward unless they master a lesson. It is very different from a regular school that would just assign an F and move on.
The author from The New York Times also stated that many students quit the school after a few short months. This can be very true. They may find that the cyber school setting is not for them. They may not realize what is expected of them. Some students move out of the state.
Cyber schools are often a catch all for students that would otherwise fall through the cracks. They get students that were on the verge of being expelled from their home school district. Unless these students have parents or caregivers that are making sure they are doing what they are required to do, they will not be successful in a cyber school.
My daughter has been with Agora Cyber Charter School for three years. When she started, she could not add or subtract in the third grade. She was falling behind everyday in a regular school. She is Autistic and has ADHD. The regular school system was not meeting her needs.
She is now on target or ahead in every class. She made proficient on her state tests for the first time this past year. That just shows how if a student sticks with the cyber school they will continue to improve year after year.
There will be issues with any school. I wish the author would have taken the time to see why there were these issues, and all the steps that Agora takes to correct them. They are a great school with many caring teachers and staff members. Without them, my daughter would have been left to slip through the cracks.
Sources:
“Profits and Questions at Online Charter Schools”, Stephanie Saul, The New York Times
