Posted by Howard Richman on May 05 2008 at 08:48:26:
Pennsylvania has the most vibrant cyber-charter school movement in the country. Parents throughout the state have choices between several very innovative schools that offer free public home education over the Internet.
In a commentary in today´s Philadelphia Inquirer, Charles R. Hokanson Jr., president of the Alliance for School Choice in Washington, reports that Pennsylvania is a leader in offering educational options to parents. Here is a selection:
To reform education, more lawmakers must be willing to muster the political courage exhibited in Pennsylvania. Thanks to former Gov. Tom Ridge and Gov. Rendell, Pennsylvania has proved to the nation that improving the public education system while offering private school choice is a smart formula for achieving results.HowardPennsylvania has the largest school-choice program in the country. Pennsylvania´s charter school law is strong. And the state has adopted innovative ways of recruiting career changers into the teaching profession.
The result: Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation in student achievement, and has high school graduation rates that significantly outpace the national average. Of course, the commonwealth has a long way to go to ensure educational opportunity for every student. But thanks to bipartisan support for providing a portfolio of reforms, the state is off to a good start.