With new rules, Pa. charter school performance plummets
The percentage of Pennsylvania charter schools that met academic benchmarks plummeted after the state Department of Education was forced to recalculate the performance rates.
Under a new and controversial method the department used last fall, 49 percent of 156 charter schools met benchmarks based on student tests scores in 2011-12.
The rate dropped to 28 percent after the department released a recalculation this week. In Philadelphia, the percentage of the 80 charter schools that met the standards declined from 54 percent to 29 percent.
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None of the 12 cyber charter schools that provide online in-home instruction to students statewide met the benchmarks. Previously, one met the standard.
The state sets the benchmarks to determine if a school has made "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Fifty percent of district-run schools across the state met
Reading School District cuts ties with alternative-education firm in Bala Cynwyd
The Reading School District is cutting its ties with an embattled alternative-education firm in Bala Cynwyd. Reading's school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to terminate a $1.1 million contract with Delaware Valley High School to operate a disciplinary school for troubled students as of Feb. 6.