Cyber school support

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Thank you to former Gov. Ridge for giving us the only choice that we can select other than brick-and-mortar public schools. Cyber charter and charter public schools are the only way we have school choice in Pennsylvania.

Part of that means that the money allotted for our children goes to the charter school rather than the school district in which we live. We all still pay our taxes like everyone else. We choose to take advantage of this great opportunity.

The school districts are accustomed to spending our tax money however they feel without checks and balances. No competition makes them a monopoly to do what they will, regardless how we, the taxpayers, feel. A little competition should make these school districts sharpen their pencils and think about improving what it is about their school district that drives parents to cyber charter.

School districts keep every penny for students/families who home-school under Act 169. The home-schoolers rarely get any return on what is allotted to the school district. Many districts will not even allow the home-schoolers or cyber charter schooler to participate in extracurricular activities even though it is now mandated by law.

So before the district complains about the cyber charter students, check out and see how many Act 169 students offset that number.

We are entitled to make this choice.

Jean Klinedinst

Red Lion

The writer is a cyber charter parent.