Bearcat Cyber Academy reports enrollment gains, new mentor model and uptick in attendance

Leah Hilliard, principal of Bearcat Cyber Academy, told the School District of the City of York committee that the program has increased enrollment and is instituting a mentor model aimed at improving student attendance and course completion.

Hilliard said enrollment in materials rose from 310 at the time of the presentation to "as of today" 330 students. She described weekly one-to-one mentoring (a minimum of 30 minutes per week), one-hour open Zoom office hours for student support, and the Bearcat Cyber Cafe — an in-person space where students can receive individualized help from teachers.

The presentation cited specific targets and recent results. Hilliard said the academy’s average-daily-attendance score on the district scorecard was 82.89% and stated a goal to increase average monthly student attendance to at least 80% by the end of the academic year. She said chronic absenteeism has decreased by 8 percentage points to 56% and reported zero suspensions and one expulsion for the program period described.

On instruction, Hilliard described a goal to improve course completion to a 78% rate by semester 2. She noted historical course-completion data (70% at the end of the 2024–25 school year) and said the program was currently tracking toward interim measures shown in the presentation.

Hilliard also described recruitment activity: the program has "recovered" 40 students from outside cyber charter schools and is aiming to recruit a total of 50 students back to the district from charters through targeted marketing and outreach. She described tools the program uses to coordinate communication and outreach, including the district’s SchoolStatus Connect app and automated absence alerts that began in October.

Assistant Principal Jess Kesey described student supports: a full-time counselor, a part-time social worker, home visits to secure IEP signatures, partnerships with behavioral service providers for group supports, and the use of session logs and progress data from Edgenuity to monitor asynchronous middle- and high-school engagement.

The board asked about how the program tracks students who enter with academic challenges. Hilliard said the district reviews attendance and academic records before onboarding and that students who do not meet initial criteria are placed on a 30-day trial; the school’s data and anecdotal evidence show many students improve during that period.

A student, Savion, spoke at the meeting about his path to graduation and credited the program staff and mentors for helping him return to school and complete requirements. Hilliard and board members recognized the student’s achievement and thanked his family and staff who supported him.

The presentation closed with Hilliard noting staffing and program needs if the academy continues to grow: a dedicated MTSS specialist and additional attendance officers, along with continued support from district partners such as William Penn Senior High School for shared services.