The school year is wrapping up, and for many students that means saying good-bye to their classrooms but not for some students in the Poconos. They never had classrooms to begin with.
When asked what grade she's in, Gwenn Strasser, 6, from Stroudsburg said, "I'm in second, first and third." That's right. She is in all three grades in different subjects. Her mother, Caroline Strasser said, "She's in third grade reading, or language arts and she's in second grade history and second grade math."
But Strasser's quick learning abilities aren't the only reason she's enrolled in Agora Cyber Charter School. Her father is a pilot. Attending school through the internet allows her family to travel whenever they want.
"We were just in Tennessee this weekend and we brought the computer with us. We brought lessons with us, and we learned about the civil war," Strasser said.
Teachers said students turn to cyber school for many reasons, from special needs to accelerated classes. Each student has a lesson plan, and must "attend" school. Attendance is taken, lessons are graded, and questions are answered, all through the internet.
Kristin Walters-Seidel is a middle school history teacher at Agora. "I go in and teach a lesson," she explained. "We use a program called Illuminate, where I have the opportunity to speak back and forth with our students."
While most of their lessons are done on the computer, students do get some face time with their classmates. The school organizes events or field trips twice a month, so the students can get to know each other.
Staff members said enrollment is on the rise. Five thousand students in Pennsylvania attend Agora. Compare that with 400 students three years ago.
Student Joseph Moore, 11, said "I've been brought closer to my family and my friends because I have so much more time. I can learn from nature, and hike."
Teachers said it's a state-wide phenomenon they hope will get even bigger next school year. Agora is tuition-free for almost any student in Pennsylvania. The school provides students with computers, text books and supplies. Staff members said enrollment is now open for the 2009-2010 school year.
When asked what grade she's in, Gwenn Strasser, 6, from Stroudsburg said, "I'm in second, first and third." That's right. She is in all three grades in different subjects. Her mother, Caroline Strasser said, "She's in third grade reading, or language arts and she's in second grade history and second grade math."
But Strasser's quick learning abilities aren't the only reason she's enrolled in Agora Cyber Charter School. Her father is a pilot. Attending school through the internet allows her family to travel whenever they want.
"We were just in Tennessee this weekend and we brought the computer with us. We brought lessons with us, and we learned about the civil war," Strasser said.
Teachers said students turn to cyber school for many reasons, from special needs to accelerated classes. Each student has a lesson plan, and must "attend" school. Attendance is taken, lessons are graded, and questions are answered, all through the internet.
Kristin Walters-Seidel is a middle school history teacher at Agora. "I go in and teach a lesson," she explained. "We use a program called Illuminate, where I have the opportunity to speak back and forth with our students."
While most of their lessons are done on the computer, students do get some face time with their classmates. The school organizes events or field trips twice a month, so the students can get to know each other.
Staff members said enrollment is on the rise. Five thousand students in Pennsylvania attend Agora. Compare that with 400 students three years ago.
Student Joseph Moore, 11, said "I've been brought closer to my family and my friends because I have so much more time. I can learn from nature, and hike."
Teachers said it's a state-wide phenomenon they hope will get even bigger next school year. Agora is tuition-free for almost any student in Pennsylvania. The school provides students with computers, text books and supplies. Staff members said enrollment is now open for the 2009-2010 school year.
