A tuition-free, K-12 cyber school.

1. Welcome toWelcome to
PA Distance Learning Charter SchoolPA Distance Learning Charter School
2013-20142013-2014
Welcome to
PDLCS

2. Discussion Objectives
 PA Distance Learning
Overview
 PA Distance Learning
Benefits
 Curriculum
 Admissions Process
 Contact Information

3. School Overview
Making an Educated Decision for Your Child
 Public school operating under the PA Department of Education
 Instruction for students in grades kindergarten through twelfth
 PA Distance Learning opened in the fall of 2004
 Class sizes are approximately 15-25 students
 Interactive online curriculum aligned to PA state standards
 Live learning and instruction (Angel Learning)
 Courses are taught by highly qualified teachers

4. Connect
Students will:
 Join our state-wide virtual learning
community with their provided
computer system
 Learn using high-quality curriculum,
 Attend online real-time classes
taught by highly qualified teachers
 Maintain regular communication with
teachers via phone and e-mail
 Enjoy peer interaction during online
classes, in clubs, or through
discussion boards
 Learn in a safe, familiar, comfortable
environment
The face of education is changing.
PA Distance Learning helps students connect to academic
success in a vibrant online environment.

5. Engage
 A mix of independent work and virtual classrooms
address different learning styles.
 Students apply and extend their
learning through:
The flexibility and dynamic interaction of an online school
allows for many innovative learning opportunities.
• Projects
• Experiments
• Writing Activities
• Presentations
• Exams
• Purposeful Discussions
• Group Tasks
• High quality curriculum

6. Engage
 Students engage with teachers:
 In a group
 Individually
 Via online classes
 By phone
 Through email

7. Engage
 Students engage with peers:
 Through supervised chat rooms
 By writing for the school newspapers
 Becoming involved in various clubs
 Through working on a literary
magazine
 By participating in field trips
 In class group work
 By joining discussion boards
 By volunteering for peer tutoring

8. Succeed
 The first step to success is providing a comprehensive orientation
to learning in an online environment.
 Next, we provide strategies for effective study.
The best practice of curriculum and instruction is to help
learners make sense of and master skills and ideas.
 The school and teachers
continuously help students by
clearly communicating:
Expectations
Assignment guidelines
Grading Criteria
 Throughout the year a mix of independent work and virtual
classrooms address different learning styles.
 Students learn differently and we support them throughout the
year.

9. Succeed
 We prepare all students for
continuing and higher
education.
 Our unique environment gives
students 21st
Century skills:
 Communication
competence
 Technological proficiency
 The ability to work
independently as well as
with others
 Self motivation
Our ultimate goal is for our students’ success to continue
beyond graduation.

10. PA Distance Frequently
Asked Questions
 Our school calendar follows the traditional school year
 Attendance is taken each day and recorded by the
parent/guardian logging hours. The daily hours logged must be
substantiated by completion of course assignments.
 Students are required to attend school
 2.5 hours/day for kindergarten
 5 hours/day for grades 1-6
 5.5 hours/day for grades 7-12
 Flexibility in scheduling the school day at home is available,
with the exception of scheduled live
learning sessions, which are
mandatory for all students.

11.  Pennsylvania System of Schools Assessment
The Pennsylvania System of Schools Assessment (or PSSA) is
a mandatory standardized test administered in all Pennsylvania
public schools. Students take the Writing PSSA while enrolled
in grades 5, 8 and 11. Math and Reading are administered
during grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. The Science PSSA test is
also given to students in grades 4, 8 and 11. Testing locations
are generally within 45 minutes of student’s home. Travel to
testing is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
PA Distance Standardized
Testing Requirements

12.  Scantron Testing – Grades 2-12
Scantron's Performance Series provides students with
individualized tests. The online test adjusts automatically to
each student's ability level, generating questions that will
appropriately challenge each student. Scantron tests provide
results immediately so that teachers can impact instruction and
properly asses the enrichment and remediation needs of a
student. The test will be administered at least two times per year
to provide teachers with the data necessary to provide
individualized data driven instruction. Students complete the
Scantron tests at home by accessing the Scantron testing
website from their school computer.
PA Distance Standardized
Testing Requirements

13. PA Distance Benefits
Why Choose Our Public Cyber
Charter School?
 Safety – working in the comfort of
your home
 Highly qualified staff members
 High technology instruction
 Increased family involvement
 Remediation opportunities
 Acceleration opportunities

14. PA Distance Benefits
Why Choose PA
Distance?
 Staff
 Certified, highly qualified
teachers
 Special Education
teachers
 Academic Advisors
 Administration
 Support Staff
 Technical Support
 Family Outreach
Coordinator
 And more!

15. PA Distance Benefits
Why Choose PA Distance
Learning?
 Equipment – Students are loaned the
materials necessary to be successful in our
online learning environment!
 Computer
 Printer/scanner/fax
 Microphone
 Graphing calculator for students in 8th
grade and
up
 Online textbooks, novels and workbooks
 Supplemental resources and curriculum
 FLEx Funds: Money supplied to supplement
additional educational opportunities

16. PA Distance Benefits
Why Choose PA Distance Learning?
 Family involvement
 We actively encourage parents to be involved with every aspect of
the learning experience.
 We believe that a successful student is the product of a strong
curriculum and highly engaged parents and teachers.
 Training
 Students and parents are provided training on all curricula and
instructional programs used by PA Distance via our course delivery
system Angel Learning
 Support
 Teachers, technical support, and student service staff are available
by phone or e-mail
 Help is at your fingertips!

17. PA Distance Benefits
Remediation
 Our priority is having each student reach his/her potential.
 Sometimes a little extra help is required for a student to be
successful. PA Distance Learning is committed to providing the
extra help for students to be successful including:
 Extra tutoring opportunities by our teachers
 Individualized study sessions
 Classes or curriculum designed to build skill levels
 Intervention programs
 Recorded classes for review

18. PA Distance Benefits
Acceleration
 Our priority is having each student
reach his/her potential.
 Part of individualized education is
catering to advanced learners.
 PA Distance offers a wide range of
academic acceleration including:
 A variety of course choices
 Honors level options for high
school students
 Curriculum availability 24/7
 Extended learning opportunities
for students to explore material in
greater depth

19. PA Distance Benefits
 Field Trips
 Honors Courses
 24/7 Online Curriculum
 Student based clubs
(Spanish, Literary,
Recorder)
 FLEx Funds: Parent
Supplemental Education
Account
 PA Accredited Diploma
 Graduation Ceremony
 Student Assistance Program
Other PA Distance Learning Services:

20. PA Distance Benefits
 The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program
(SAP) is designed to assist school personnel in identifying issues,
including problems with alcohol and other drugs, which pose a barrier to
a student’s learning and success in school. SAP is not a treatment
program; rather, it is a systematic process using effective and
accountable professional techniques to mobilize school resources to
remove those barriers to learning, and where the problems are beyond
the scope of the school, to assist the student and their parents with
information so they may access services in the community. The SAP
team does not diagnose, treat or refer for treatment but they may refer
for an assessment for treatment.
Student Assistance Program

21. PDLCS Mission
MISSION
PA Distance Learning ’s mission is to offer a valuable educational alternative;
to practice and promote academic integrity; to present quality curriculum,
technology, and support; and to foster academic excellence in our
students.
To help us carry out our mission, the University of Pittsburgh Tri-State Study
Council, an independent team of auditors, is working with our staff to
conduct a three-tier curriculum audit of our school. Well renowned in the
field of education, Tri-State was hired by our Board of Trustees to ensure
every student in PA Distance receives the quality education they deserve.
Tri-State has commended PA Distance Learning for the course delivery
system (Angel Learning), the consistent template used for all courses, the
use of discussion boards to enhance instruction and informal assessment,
and for integrating study aide resources into the courses.

22. Angel Homepage
This sample homepage shows how easy it is to access
current grades, course curriculum, and email.

23. Kindergarten
 Math
 hands-on activities to support learned skills
 Language Arts
 Leveled reading material to build letter/sound recognition
 Daily live interactive classes with peers
 HeadSprout/Star Fall
 Highly interactive Internet based program that encourages and
supports emerging readers
 Online lesson plans and activities

24. Curriculum – Elementary (1st
-6th
)
 Think Central – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
http://www-k6.thinkcentral.com

25. Curriculum – Elementary (1st
-6th
)
 Creativity Express Online Art Courses (grades 3, 5, 7)
http://www.madcaplogic.com
 Tritone Online Music Courses (grades 2, 4, 6)
http://www.tritonemusic.com

26. Curriculum Supplementals - Elementary
Brain Pop Jr. (Study Aid)
 http://www.brainpop.com
Study Island (Standardized Test Prep Aid)
 http://www.studyisland.com

27. Children’s Progress Academic Assessment
 The Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA) is an
early childhood assessment system that helps teachers focus
classroom instruction to achieve the greatest learning gains for
each child.
 The software is linked immediately to generated reports and
helps teachers, parents and administrators gain essential
insights about each child’s understanding of Language Arts
and Mathematics concepts.
 Best of all, our assessments are independently completed by
students, allowing educators to spend more time teaching
instead of grading and administering tests!
Students in
Kindergarten through
2nd grade will take the
CPAA in the Fall,
Winter, and Spring.

28. Title I Program
(3rd – 6th Grade)
What is Title I?
 Title I is a federal assistance
program that was enacted in 1965.
 It is intended to help ensure that
all children have the opportunity
to obtain a high quality education
and reach proficiency on
challenging state academic
standards and assessments.
 Title I provides funding that is
used to provide extra help to the
students who need it most.
As the largest federal program
supporting elementary education,
Title I is designed to:
1. Help children learn better in
school.
2. Help teachers better understand
the needs of your student.
3. Help parents become more
involved with their children’s
education.
4. Help schools purchase the
training supplies and equipment
necessary to reach its academic
goals.

29. Curriculum – Middle School (7th
& 8th
)
 Holt Online
http://my.hrw.com
 Creativity Express Art
http://www.madcaplogic.com

30. Curriculum – High School
 Holt Online
http://my.hrw.com
 Creativity Express (Art)
http://www.madcaplogic.com/

31. Admissions Process
How to Apply
1. Log into www.padistance.org
2. Click on the Enroll Now link (as seen below).
3. Create an account
4. Compile all required documentation as specified
5. Submit all forms to Admissions Department

32. Admissions
Required Documentation
 In addition to the forms you will print from the Online Application, you
will need to provide the following documents:
 Immunization Records for every child no exceptions
 Private Dentist Form (K, 1, 3, 7) and ALL new students
 Private Physician Form (K, 1, 6, 11) and ALL new students
 Student Birth Certificate
 Proof of Guardian Residence
 Complete Academic and Testing Records (Report Card K-8, Transcript 9-12 and
PSSA scores if applicable)
 Custodial Papers

33. Contact Information
Questions?

34. Contact Information
PA Distance Learning Charter School
2100 Corporate Drive, Suite 500
Wexford, PA 15090
www.padistance.org
888-997-3352
Call us anytime with questions!
Our staff is committed to helping parent/guardians make an informed decision!