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Board reauthorizes ACE cyber program and asks administration to draft resolution criticizing cyber‑charter costs and oversight
Summary
The board approved a one‑year ACE agreement with Chester County IU/Brandywine Virtual Academy while directing the administration to draft a resolution on cyber‑charter funding, oversight and truancy concerns; public commenters also pressed the board on transparency for the $285M middle‑school project and bullying in schools.
At the June 9 meeting the Abington Board of School Directors authorized a one‑year contract for the district’s Abington Cyber Education (ACE) program with Chester County Intermediate Unit / Brandywine Virtual Academy, with per‑student rates capped at $9,658 for non‑special education students and $10,810 for special education students.
Administration said ACE serves students who need a virtual pathway to an Abington diploma and is significantly less costly than most outside cyber charters. Officials told the board that the district paid roughly $2.7 million this school year for outside cyber charter placements, with per‑student tuition cited at approximately $16,768 for non‑special education and $31,691 for special education when students attend cyber charter operators.
Board members criticized the high tuition charged by some cyber charter schools and asked the administration to prepare a formal resolution for the next board meeting that would state the board’s concerns and could be shared with state legislators. A member said cyber charter spending appears ‘‘twice as much’’ as educating students in district and that public oversight of charter operators is insufficient; administration agreed to draft a resolution outlining concerns about funding and oversight.
Public commenters also raised separate but related issues: Gianna Spec (senior at Abington Senior High School) described repeated bullying incidents and alleged staff responses were insufficient; she presented photos of restroom graffiti and urged stronger enforcement of the district’s bullying policy. Another commenter (Briggs) urged greater transparency on the $285 million middle‑school project, saying Act 34 documentation and alternatives had not been adequately shared and asking whether ‘‘cost control’’ language addresses long‑term operating costs. District leaders responded that they conducted a multi‑year planning process, presented materials during a referendum campaign and will continue community engagement during the design and implementation phases.
Board members and administrators flagged new state rules that limit enrollment of habitually truant students in cyber charters and discussed the practical challenges of verifying enrollment and attendance across charter operators. Administration noted the state has an appeal mechanism and districts must watch subsidy invoices and enrollment verification processes.
The ACE authorization passed on a roll‑call vote; the board also requested the administration provide a public‑facing comparison and outreach materials to help families weigh ACE against external cyber options.
