Portage Area Cyber Education

Portage Area Cyber Education (PACE)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

Portage Area Cyber Education (PACE) provides an online learning environment for those students who wish to be part of Portage Area School District but require or request to complete their classes outside of our district buildings. 

PACE affords students benefits not otherwise available if attending other cyber charter schools.  Students who successfully fulfill all graduation requirements will earn a Portage Area School District diploma and the right to walk at graduation with their senior class.  PACE students may attend Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School as part of their educational programming and have access to Portage Area extracurricular activities including sports and clubs.  In addition, Portage Area Cyber Education students can access resources like guidance and mental health services. 

Participation in cyber education differs from traditional face-to-face instruction in many ways.  Students wishing to participate in PACE should consider factors such as self-motivation, organization, and responsibility before committing to online education.  Parental involvement and family-school communication are also key to success in PACE.

ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT

Any student in the Portage Area School District can participate in Portage Area Cyber Education.  The student, family, and district personnel will meet to discuss options and decide whether PACE is the best educational option for that student.  Students may only register for cyber education at the beginning of the school year or a new semester.  If a PACE student wishes to return to district buildings and classes, we suggest making that transition at the end of the semester.  A student may not enroll or request to return to in person learning at Portage during the last marking period of the school year.

Please contact the following individuals to begin the registration process:

• Mrs. Jennifer Pisarski – Grades K through 6 – (814) 736-9636 

• Mrs. Kim Hutsky – Grades 7 through 12 – (814) 736-9636

To begin the registration process, each student wishing to attend PACE must attend an in-person meeting at the respective Portage Area SD building (Elementary or Jr Sr High School).  The student, their family, and the school principal and/or guidance counselor will meet to review PACE including coursework, expectations, attendance, grading, and technology. Students new to the district must complete a new student registration packet prior to enrolling in PACE.  If students wish to continue PACE the following school year, they must re-enroll at the beginning of the new school year.