Benefits of Spring-Ford Area School District Cyber Learning include:

• Instruction by Pennsylvania state-certified teachers, including Special Education teachers.
• Fully accredited NCAA courses.
• Engaging, high-quality, district-aligned curriculum, integrated with multimedia lessons incorporated into each lesson.
• A personalized education facilitated by a SFASD school counselor.
• Access to the SFASD college and career planning services.
• Eligibility to participate in SFASD extra-curricular activities. For example:
  • Aevidum Club
  • Art Enrichment
  • National Honor Society
  • Interact Club
  • Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
• A full-time public school alternative to charter schools.
• Attend Class Dances, Prom and participate in Graduation activities.
• Earn a Spring-Ford Area School District diploma.

Understanding the difference between Cyber School, Homeschool, and In-Person School

Unfortunately, some Cyber School businesses have used the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to capitalize on the fears of families when considering returning to school. Some Cyber Schools advertising false information as a way to build their business model through your children. We encourage families to research what Cyber Schools are, and what they are not, and have a thorough understanding of what your child’s cyber school education will provide.

What is Cyber School? Historically, Cyber Schools offer individualized instruction and flexibility so that students can find a schedule that works best for them and their families. This approach allows for day-to-day schedules that are unique for each student. Cyber School curriculum should follow Pennsylvania Core Standards and teach the core subject classes and most electives, though some privately run Cyber Schools do not follow state guidelines.

It is important for families to pay attention to catch phrases like:

• Customized education
• Learning Coach
• Flexibility to learn
• Individual instruction
• Learn at your own pace
• Educational Adviser
• Built around the entire family
• One-on-one sessions if necessary
• Supplemented by Virtual Content
• Parents or guardians serve as their child’s Learning Coach

These phrases imply asynchronous teaching, a teaching style that Cyber Schools have found to be successful for their model.

What is Homeschooling? Homeschooling is model in which parents educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional in-person. Homeschooling programs where the education of the student is directed by the parent or guardian. In Pennsylvania, the child is taught by their parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian. The person teaching the child is called the “Supervisor” of the child's home education program. This individual must have a high school diploma or GED certificate. In addition, annual requirements include submitting a legal Affidavit detailing the Homeschool program, an overview of instruction totaling 180 days or 900 hours of instruction, a Student Portfolio of Records and Materials, and an annual written evaluation.

Why choose Spring-Ford Cyber learning? Spring-Ford Area School District has offered a cyber program to students since 2012. SFCL has been developed by the Spring-Ford Curriculum and Instruction Department in association with Edgenuity and is taught by the Spring-Ford teachers your child already knows. SFCL offers students the opportunity to engage in personalized education from home, with the added benefit of being eligible to participate in many SFASD extra-curricular activities.

As with most cyber school programs, Spring-Ford Cyber Learning offers individualized instruction and flexibility so that students and families can find a schedule that works best for them. This approach makes for day-to-day schedules that are unique for each student, so it’s difficult to pin down exactly what a day in the life of your student is truly like.

The goal of SFCL is ultimately to provide a seamless blending of online and brick-and-mortar offerings for all students. The expansion to include all grades gives families an alternative to brick-and-mortar schools, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.