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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith
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McIlvaine Smith receives Cyber Families Leadership Award
HARRISBURG, May 14 – It was a sea of orange at the state Capitol Tuesday as hundreds of cyber charter school students and parents wearing bright orange T-shirts gathered to honor state lawmakers who support public cyber schools in Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, was among the first recipients of the "Cyber Families Leadership Award" from the Pennsylvania Families for Public Cyber Schools.
"As a former teacher and a parent, I know that learning does not come as 'one size fits all,'" McIlvaine Smith said. "Everyone learns differently. Cyber charter schools embrace our differences rather than try to force round pegs into square holes. They customize the learning experience so that each student has the best chance for success."
As chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Special Education, McIlvaine Smith has held a series of hearings across the state regarding the funding and regulation of cyber charter schools. She noted that Pennsylvania is a leader in the development of online charter public schools. The state's first cyber public charter school began in 1998 and now more than 20,000 students are enrolled in cyber public charter schools.
"Parents of cyber charter school students are involved in their child's education," McIlvaine Smith said. "They are the on-site educational mentors who supervise learning, encourage and challenge some of our leaders of tomorrow. Making parents educational mentors creates an opportunity to strengthen family ties. I will continue working to ensure the future of cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania."
Also receiving Cyber Families Leadership Awards today were House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington; state Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks; and state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin/York.
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