Option for beleaguered cyber charter's students

A cyber school based in Allegheny County is offering a special enrollment window for families displaced by the foundering Education Plus Academy Cyber Charter School.

PA Distance Learning, a K-12 cyber with 550 students statewide, said it decided to offer a special start date of Monday for families affected by the Education Plus decision to lay off its staff because of financial problems.

"We were saddened to hear of this happening to a fellow cyber school," Patricia Rossetti, CEO of PA Distance, said in a statement. "Fortunately, we are able to be of assistance to these families, and we immediately wanted to offer them a place to continue their educational journey with minimal interruption."

As does Ed Plus, PA Distance uses Chromebooks and Google Apps for Education to deliver its online instruction.

Enrollment specialists at Rossetti's school will be available to answer questions and help Ed Plus families interested in transferring.

Last week, 540 K-8 students were enrolled at Ed Plus, based in Wayne. Some already have transferred to other schools.

PA Leadership said it was opening the enrollment option due to last week's news that Ed Plus had closed its six learning and tutoring centers and laid off staff amid questions about its ability to continue to operate.

Information about PA Distance Learning can be found at its website: http://www.padistance.org/

martha.woodall@phillynews.com 215-854-2789 @marwooda