Commonwealth Charter Academy

Commonwealth Charter Academy (previously named Commonwealth Connections Academy) is a large, public, cyber charter school.^[7] The school serves all school-aged children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regardless of where the child lives. The Academy's headquarters is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of sixteen public cyber charters schools operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.^[8] The School operates seven additional branches, called Family Service Centers, across the Commonwealth: Andreas, Bryn Mawr, Harrisburg, Center City Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton and Williamsport.^[9] When the School was originally approved it served Kindergarten through 8th grade pupils all across Pennsylvania.^[10]

In 2013, enrollment was 6,667 pupils in grades kindergarten through 12th, with 52.7% of pupils eligible for a federal free or reduced price lunch due to the family meeting the federal poverty level.^[11] The school employed 203 teachers yielding a student-teacher ratio of 25:1.^[12] Additionally, 17.5% of the pupils receive special education services and 7.9% of the pupils were identified as gifted. According to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2% of the school's teachers were rated "Non‐Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[13]

In Pennsylvania, public cyber charter schools are initially approved and subsequently overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The charter schools are public schools which are required to meet both state and federal laws governing public schools including providing mandated services and screenings. They make in depth, annual reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In Pennsylvania, charter schools are a public school alternative the local public schools. Students may seek admission to a local charter school or a cyber charter school. The student's home public school district pays the tuition costs on the student's behalf.^[14] Pennsylvania charter schools have the same academic accountability as traditional "bricks and mortar" public schools, including administering the PSSAs to their pupils each year, working to achieve AYP status.^[15]

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit IU15 provides the school with a wide variety of services like specialized education for disabled students and hearing, speech and visual disability services and professional development for staff and faculty.

The School offers several specialty programs including: Science and Technology Academy, Sports Academy and Visual and Performing Arts Academy. These programs give students scheduling and course work flexibility that allows them to pursue their gifts and talents.^[16]

2013 School Performance Profile

Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School achieved 54.6 out of 100. Reflects on grade level reading, mathematics, writing and science achievement on the state PSSAs and Keystone Exams. In reading/literature - 56.5% were on grade level. The third grade has just 61% reading on grade level. In Algebra 1/mathematics - 46.98% showed on grade level mathematics skills. In Biology/science, just 47% showed on grade level science understanding. In 5th and 8th grade writing, 30.7% of pupils showed on grade level writing skills.^[17] According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2,181 public schools (less than 73 percent of Pennsylvania public schools), achieved an academic score of 70 or higher. Pennsylvania 11th grade students no longer take the PSSAs. Instead, they now take the Keystone Exams at the end of the associated course.^[18]

AYP History

In 2012, Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.^[19]

• 2011 - Corrective Action 2 (first year) ^[20]
• 2010 - Corrective Action 1 due to chronic low student achievement.
• 2009 - School Improvement 2
• 2008 - Making Progress School Improvement 1
• 2007 - School Improvement 1
• 2006 - School Improvement 1
• 2005 - School Improvement 1
• 2004 - Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.

PSSA results

Eleventh grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessments are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered from 2003 through 2012. In 2013, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania changed its high school assessments to the Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Reading/literature and Biology1. The exams are given at the end of the course, rather than all in the spring of the student's 11th grade year. Charter school students are required to take the Keystone Exams and PSSAs.

11th Grade Reading:

• 2012 - 53% on grade level, (22% below basic). State - 67% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[21]
• 2011 - 59% (20% below basic). State - 69%^[22]
• 2010 - 51% (28% below basic). State - 66%

11th Grade Math:

• 2012 - 27% on grade level (54% below basic). In Pennsylvania, 59% of 11th graders are on grade level.^[23]
• 2011 - 31% (46% below basic). State - 60%
• 2010 - 23% (57% below basic). State - 59%

11th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 29% on grade level (16% below basic). State - 42% of 11th graders were on grade level.^[24]
• 2011 - 33% (19% below basic). State - 40%
• 2010 - 25% (23% below basic). State - 39%

Sixth and seventh graders are tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. Eighth graders are tested in: reading, writing, mathematics and Science. Beginning in the Spring of 2013, eighth graders, who are enrolled in Algebra I take the Keystone Exam for Algebra I at the end of the course. The testing of 8th grade in reading and mathematics began in 1999. Testing in science began in 2007. The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The standards were first published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.^[25]

8th Grade Science:

• 2012 - 50% on grade level (24% below basic). State - 59%
• 2011 - 51% (25% below basic). State – 58.3%
• 2010 - % (% below basic). State – 57% ^[30]

Each year, in the Spring, the 3rd graders take the PSSAs in math and reading. The fourth grade is tested in reading, math and science. The fifth grade is evaluated in reading, mathematics and writing. Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are No Child Left Behind Act related examinations which were administered beginning 2003 to all Pennsylvania public school students in grades 3rd-8th.^[31] The goal was for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014.^[32][33][34] The tests focused on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, mathematics and science. The Science exam is given to 4th grades and includes content in science, technology, ecology and the environmental studies.^[35]

4th Grade Science

• 2012 - 77%, (12% below basic). State - 82%
• 2011 - 80%, (7% below basic). State - 82.9%
• 2010 - %, (% below basic). State - 81%

SAT scores

In 2013, Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 506. The Math average score was 462. The Writing average score was 469. The College Board reported that statewide scores were: 494 in reading, 504 in math and 482 in writing. The nationwide SAT results were the same as in 2012.^[37]

In 2012, 116 Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 512. The Math average score was 462. The Writing average score was 476. The statewide Verbal SAT exams results were: Verbal 491, Math 501, Writing 480. In the USA, 1.65 million students took the exams achieving scores: Verbal 496, Math 514, Writing 488. According to the College Board the maximum score on each section was 800, and 360 students nationwide scored a perfect 2,400.

In 2011, 87 Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School students took the SAT exams. The District's Verbal Average Score was 529. The Math average score was 481. The Writing average score was 491.^[38] Pennsylvania ranked 40th among states with SAT scores: Verbal - 493, Math - 501, Writing - 479.^[39] In the United States, 1.65 million students took the exam in 2011. They averaged 497 (out of 800) verbal, 514 math and 489 in writing.^[40]

Gifted education

The School Administration reported that less than 10 of its students were gifted in 2009. The highest percentage of gifted students reported among all 500 school districts and 100 public charter schools in Pennsylvania was North Allegheny School District with 15.5% of its students identified as gifted.^[41] By law, the district must provide mentally gifted programs at all grade levels. The referral process for a gifted evaluation can be initiated by teachers or parents by contacting the student’s building principal and requesting an evaluation. All requests must be made in writing. To be eligible for mentally gifted programs in Pennsylvania, a student must have a cognitive ability of at least 130 as measured on a standardized ability test by a certified school psychologist. Other factors that indicate giftedness will also be considered for eligibility.^[42][43]

Race to the Top grant

Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School officials applied for the federal Race to the Top grant which would have provided over one million dollars, in additional federal funding, to improve student academic achievement.^[44] Participation required the administration, the school board and the local teachers' union to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate.^[45] Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. The failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved.^[46][47][48]

Extracurriculars

Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School offers students a variety of clubs and activities. Eligibility to participate are determined by the Board's policies. The School also provides social activities for pupils throughout the school year.^[49]

By Pennsylvania law, all K-12 students residing in a public school district, including those who attend a private nonpublic school, cyber charter school, charter school and those homeschooled, are eligible to participate in the extracurricular programs including all athletics. They must meet the same eligibility rules as the students enrolled in the district's schools.^[50]

References

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts Big Spring Big Spring High School Camp Hill Camp Hill High School Carlisle Area Carlisle High School Cumberland Valley Cumberland Valley High School East Pennsboro Area East Pennsboro High School Mechanicsburg Area Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School South Middleton Boiling Springs High School
Other Schools Charter schools Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School Private schools Bible Baptist School Faith Tabernacle School Harrisburg Academy Heritage Christian Academy Yellow Breeches Education Center Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg Trinity High School Shippensburg Area (partially located in Franklin County) Shippensburg Area High School West Shore (partially located in York County) Cedar Cliff High School Red Land High School Career and Technology School (VoTech) Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School

Coordinates: 40°18′42″N 76°49′44″W / 40.31179°N 76.82884°W / 40.31179; -76.82884