Agora Cyber Charter School — a Pennsylvania public school of choice focused on supporting lifelong learning for students in kindergarten through 12th grade — is one of only 24 charter schools in the U.S. recognized as a 2024 National Association of Special Education Teachers Exceptional Charter School in Special Education.
Dedicated to promoting standards of excellence and innovation in special education research, practice and policy, NASET hosts its annual awards to shine the spotlight on select charter schools that demonstrate exceptional dedication and achievement in the field of special education.
Agora successfully met program requirements — which included a set of criteria ranging from how well it provides a multicultural, least-restrictive learning environment to professional certifications and licensing.
About 36% of students enrolled at Agora are identified as special education and are taught by certified and licensed special education professionals who ensure student success by focusing on individual education programs integrated with the teaching and support opportunities afforded by a cyber learning model.
“Given the nature of how we achieve educational excellence — that is, by leveraging the flexible cyber learning environment and ability to individualize teaching plans — Agora draws a high population of special education students,” said Erinn Slacktish, director of high school special education at Agora. “We take great pride in providing solutions for parents whose children were consistently left behind by traditional brick-and-mortar schools. At Agora we wrap our arms around these exceptional children, getting creative and innovative with all the tools at our disposal to support them on a continuum that helps them achieve their short-term goals, graduate and even go beyond that. We’re honored to have our efforts recognized by an association with NASET’s integrity.”
Agora has nearly two decades of incorporating special education into its educational model; a curriculum for special education students that provides social and emotional support for multiple disabilities as part of the learning experience; a culture that promotes continual troubleshooting for individual challenges; synchronous live instruction that includes life skills; ability to educate nonverbal students; and collaboration between in-home providers and Agora teachers.
“NASET’s mission to ensure all children and adolescents with special needs receive the best education possible is fully aligned with Agora,” said Jennifer Fisher-Clark, director of special education, K-8 at Agora. “These students deserve the same opportunities as everyone else to learn, dream and succeed in life and it is our privilege to open those doors and support them as lifelong learners. This honor is proof positive that our teachers enjoy what they do and are given the tools and technology they and our students need to succeed. We are thrilled to be receiving NASET’s highest level of achievement for a charter school for the first time and we will strive to make this a tradition from here on out”
The set of criteria Agora met to be selected as a NASET Exceptional Charter School in Special Education included: being a state-approved charter school; licensure of professionals; educating a diverse population of students consisting of individuals with diagnosed disabilities and disorders (autism, developmental delays, learning disabilities, speech/language/visual/hearing impairments, etc.); serving students 3 to 21 years of age; providing a least restrictive environment that provides appropriate educational placements; ensuring students receive required related services set forth in their IEPs (transportation, counseling, physical therapy, etc.); ensuring a well-rounded curriculum; being in existence for at least three years; being open for a minimum of 10 months out of the calendar year; and seeking to provide a multicultural environment. ••
