Resources For Schools

Google Platform Users: Did you miss the webinar hosted by PA Distance Learning Charter School on Google Apps for Education? No problem. You can find the recording HERE. Thank you to PA Distance for offering this wonderful opportunity!

You asked for it! Nearpod is an instructional platform that merges formative assessment and dynamic media for collaborative learning experiences. Join PA Distance Learning as they share a tutorial on this popular engagement platform! View the recording here!

Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is offering digital courses, content and support to PA schools struggling to provide online instruction to students during the current statewide closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These services are being offered, and will be provided, regardless of a school’s ability to pay. Schools interested in learning about Lincoln Park’s offerings are asked to send an inquiry to artifact@lppacenter.org.

PCPCS and Charter Choices held a statewide webinar on the present and future impact of COVID-19 on charter school funding. Thank you to the more than 160 registrants representing over 75 charter schools from across the Commonwealth. You can find the recorded presentation and the slide-deck on Charter Choices’ website. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Corcoran or Joe Martin at Charter Choices.

Resources For Teachers

Resources From Our Business Partners

Charter School Capital launched the free COVID-19 Relief Financing program, providing eligible charter schools in PA with free financing through 2020 to cover immediate funding needs and create a cash reserve safety net for what’s to come in the 2020-21 school year. Free COVID-19 Relief Financing is available to all qualifying charter schools actively serving 150 or more students. For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, please visit this link.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Charter Schools in the Commonwealth are facing uncertainties and potential financial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PCPCS and Charter Choices recently led a discussion on 2020-2021 preparations and presented information from prior economic downturns in an effort to help you prepare for the upcoming school year and beyond. Click here to view a recording of the webinar.

NEW! Has your school been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis? Can your teachers effectively collaborate and communicate with your students? Does your school have the right tools to operate 100% remotely?Join Nate Kline, Senior Account Executive of Infradapt, a Managed IT Service Provider, in partnership with Brian Maloomian of Smoothwall Classroom Manager Solutions as they take a deep dive into the current state of the crisis and what it will mean for the future of the educational landscape.

The presentation will first begin with reviewing a current lay of the land and outlook of COVID-19 in the region. It will then explore the many technical challenges that schools are faced with to transition to eLearning while managing the environment in a cost efficient manner. We will then conclude by providing exposure to unique remote learning tools available to help enhance teacher/student collaboration.

If you missed it, check out the recording of the live webinar by clicking here and enter the password 5z#0#6H7.

From our Business Partner, Infradapt: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis with Remote Learning Technology

During these trying times, charter school administrations across the Commonwealth are quickly understanding the necessary shift to operate in a remote teleworking and eLearning environment. For those schools that find themselves deficient in these areas and seeking out the right technology toolset to enable operations as if they were in school, Infradapt is here to help!

Our team of dedicated technologists will provide custom and tailored remote teleworking solutions based on the unique requirements of your charter school’s environment. Have an internal technology team? Together, Infradapt will work to co-manage the right blend of technology tools to take your charter school to the next level! Please contact us today!

Did You Know?

  • High profile medical experts in the United States are recommending that lockdowns continue throughout the remainder of the school year, and possibly into the beginning of the summer.
  • Many cloud technologies and tools are available to enable remote learning in varying capacities.

As a Charter School Administrator, What Happens Next?

It is no secret: COVID-19 has and will continue to change the educational landscape as we know. While there is light at the end of the tunnel, it is still unclear what the future will hold, and what the new “status quo” will be for delivering a quality education in the post-pandemic era of the Charter community. However, one concept is certain: the ability for schools to operate and educate their students remotely will become the new standard.

“Going remote” is no minor task. There are many moving parts involved to properly implement the technology infrastructure, remote learning tools, and cyber security protocols in a manner that is necessary to securely operate in a vastly distributed environment, while upholding the compliance requirements for remote and online collaboration with students.

Our Support for the Charter School Community

During these trying times, charter school administrations across the Commonwealth are quickly understanding the necessary shift to operate in a remote teleworking and eLearning environment. For those schools that find themselves deficient in these areas and seeking out the right technology toolset to enable operations as if they were in school, Infradapt is here to help!

Our team of dedicated technologists will provide custom and tailored remote teleworking solutions based on the unique requirements of your charter school’s environment.

Have an internal technology team? Together, Infradapt will work to co-manage the right blend of technology tools to take your charter school to the next level!

Please contact us today! We are in the office (home office to be exact) and online!

Our business partner, Lincoln Learning Solutions, can help schools transition to an online platform and is now offering their complete package of core courses for $25 per student. Schools can find more information HERE.

Please explore their Resources Page for free educational resources pulled from their curriculum. They’ve added about 50 new resources in the past two weeks and plan to add more soon.

Their YouTube page contains hundreds of free educational videos. They’re adding more each week, so please subscribe to keep up with what’s new.

Finally, their team is writing blogs with information to help you with topics including distance learning, working from home, and coping with the COVID-19 crisis. If you’re looking for a topic they haven’t covered yet, feel free to send suggestions to communications@lincolnlearningsolutions.org.

Therapy Source is a nationwide provider of staffing solutions for schools since 2001. In 2008, they added online therapy and tutoring services, delivered through their interactive web-based and HIPAA and FERPA-compliant platform, TheraWeb®. The platform works from a computer, OR from a cell phone or tablet…so even children without dedicated internet access can access it.Currently, their team has been assisting numerous schools in transitioning their in-person services to TheraWeb, and are eager to help even more schools to service students virtually via our user-friendly, ready-to-go platform. They can also provide additional therapists or teachers to fill any gaps you may have.To learn more or schedule a demo, just complete this short form.

Interstate Tax Services, is available to answer any unemployment compensation benefit questions you may have during the COVID-19 crisis.
For questions, please contact Geoff Moomaw at geoff@interstatetaxserviceinc.com.

PCPCS works closely with GDC IT Solutions and we encourage our schools to reach out to them with any IT needs as they work through their continuity of education plans. GDC IT Solutions already works with over 120 PA school districts and several cyber charter schools including two of the largest in the state on their annual hardware device refresh. GDC solutions are designed to enable all users to gain greater benefits from your investment in technology — by utilizing the right resource at the right time to transform the learning environment for students, faculty, and administration alike. With innovative technology solutions, you can securely connect users to critical resources for collaborative learning—on campus and off.

To learn more, email BrettMiller@gdcit.com or speak with your GDC Account Manager.

Edmentum: To help districts and educators navigate school closures and e-learning days, we’ve been rolling out a variety of resources including tools for schools & educators during school closures. Check out our latest offerings below!