Why should I send my child to DVA rather than an outside charter school? It might seem like it doesn't matter which you choose; they're both on-line learning schools. But there are some marked differences to take into consideration before choosing a charter school over the Dutchmen Virtual Academy.

Teacher Certification

Only 75% of charter school teachers are required to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and vocational class instructors do not even need a bachelor's degree. Also, out of state teachers may be exempt from Pennsylvania's PDE Certification requirements.
All Dutchmen Virtual Academy staff are Annville-Cleona School District staff, and therefore are all required to conform to the PA Department of Education certification requirements.

School Resources

DVA students are still part of the Annville-Cleona School District student population, and therefore have access to the same resources as an in-person student. This includes district issued Chromebooks and technology support, as well as mobile hotspots provided by the district for students who qualify. Students can also come into a classroom designated for DVA for cooperative learning and in-person instructional help.
Because school resources are available at any time during regular school hours to DVA students, they are able to get instruction directly from teachers rather than requiring parents to attempt to assist in understanding the material.

Flexibility between in-person and virtual

Students who are in the DVA program are enrolled as Annville-Cleona School District students, and therefore have seamless transitions between virtual and in-person. Students can choose how many classes they want to take virtually, whether it be just one or two classes online and have the rest be in-person, or be entirely online, creating unparalleled flexibility for scheduling and access to resources.
Learning styles can vary greatly between students, and having flexibility to switch between virtual and in-person at any time ensures that they are receiving instruction that best fits their needs. If students are struggling in a class based on the style of instruction, they are able to easily switch to another format to better suit their needs.

Performance Ratings

Based on PSSA and Keystone testing, Annville-Cleona School District consistently outperforms the average cyber charter school scores.