Dive Summary:

• This school year, 16 cyber charter schools are trying to attract students from across Pennsylvania, where last year, 13 of the schools drew more than 32,000 students.
• Competition has become fierce between the cyber charters and the state's 500 school districts, some of which are fighting back by adding their own full-time online learning programs and offering a personal contact, a district diploma and a better connection to district activities.
• On the same note, some cyber charter schools are adding additional opportunities for face-to-face instruction.

From the article:

No matter whether he turns left or right driving home from his Homestead, Pa., office, Paul Cindric, curriculum coordinator for the new STREAM Academy Cyber Charter School, is bound to pass a huge billboard advertising a competitor. "The competition is fierce," Cindric said. This might be the most competitive year yet. ...