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We are not only educating our students in the traditional sense, but also giving them the ability to develop real-world skills and earn industry recognized credentials that prepare them to enter the workforce.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (PRWEB) April 15, 2020
Reach Cyber Charter School, a Pennsylvania statewide online public charter school, is making career development a top priority and is preparing students for the future by partnering with Credly. Credly, the digital credential leader, offers a digital badging platform that recognizes knowledge, skills, and achievements as digital credentials that enables individuals to capture future opportunities, whether it be schooling or joining the workforce.
Through this digital platform, Reach Cyber students will have the opportunity to build a digital portfolio of their experiences and certifications by earning badges in six pathways: Arts and Communications, Business Administration, STEM, Health Science, Human Services, and Information Technology. Digital badging will begin during the 2020-21 school year and will give students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials through the completion of select courses such as Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Technology Associate, Microsoft Programming with Java, Microsoft Programming with Python, and Microsoft Programming using HTML and CSS. Additional course offerings such as Communication Skills for Business, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and more will allow students to earn certifications and gain practical skills to increase their employability.
“We want to help close the skills gap in Pennsylvania,” said JD Smith, Director of Career Pathways at Reach Cyber Charter School. “We are not only educating our students in the traditional sense, but also giving them the ability to develop real-world skills and earn industry recognized credentials that prepare them to enter the workforce. For example, students who complete the Business Administration pathway have earned three badges, completed relevant courses and are knowledgeable on the topics of fundamental business concepts. They can create business plans, evaluate elements of effective communication and much more.”
Reach Cyber is integrating digital badging through Credly’s Acclaim platform into its high school career pathways development program. The program already allows students to gain in-person professional trade experience with local partner businesses. Credly’s Acclaim platform is the world’s largest network of individuals and organizations using verified achievements to unlock opportunities.
“We are dedicated to equipping our students with the tools they need to achieve professional success,” said Jane Swan, CEO of Reach Cyber Charter School. “That’s why we have partnered with Credly. It can be difficult to articulate your skills in a series of bullet points on a resume. This new service will provide students with a web-enabled, verifiable version of industry certifications, which will help them enhance their resumes, digital portfolios, and LinkedIn pages.”
The goal of Reach Cyber’s new digital badging program is to prepare students to reach professional status prior to graduation, allowing them to begin their professional careers earlier than some of their brick-and-mortar counterparts. This skill-based training will also allow students to find their passion and hone in on skills and interests as they look to join the workforce.
"We are seeing companies across a variety of industries turn to skills-based hiring as a way to more readily identify and connect with qualified candidates," said Jonathan Finkelstein, CEO of Credly. "Reach Cyber Charter School is providing an invaluable tool in the form of a verified record of their students' knowledge and skills. These early digital credentials will serve Reach Cyber students over the course of their burgeoning careers."
Serving students virtually across the state of Pennsylvania, Reach Cyber Charter School delivers an award-winning curriculum with STEM enrichment opportunities, engaging electives, technology tools, and online and in-person social experiences for families who want an individualized approach to education. Reach Cyber’s flexible pacing options allow students to choose from a traditional calendar option, year-round option, or for high school students, an accelerated schedule, to best meet their academic and scheduling needs.
Reach Cyber is currently enrolling for the 2020-21 school year. Families interested in Reach Cyber Charter School are highly encouraged to attend an upcoming online information session. These information sessions give families the opportunity to speak with current teachers and staff, learn more about the school’s curriculum and program, and help them find out if a cyber school is the right fit for their student.
For more information about Reach Cyber or to begin the enrollment process, visit http://www.ReachCyberCharter.com.
About Reach Cyber Charter School
Reach Cyber Charter School is Pennsylvania’s school for students in grades K-12. Reach Cyber, a Pennsylvania Connections Academy school, provides students with the flexibility to learn from anywhere there is an Internet connection and with an innovative, online school curriculum that meets rigorous state education standards. The combination of certified Pennsylvania-based teachers, an award-winning curriculum, engaging electives, technology tools, and social experiences provides a supportive online learning opportunity for students who want an individualized approach to education. Reach Cyber incorporates 21st century learning and STEM-enrichment opportunities, as well as flexible pacing options that allow students to choose from a traditional calendar option, year-round option, or for high school students, an accelerated schedule. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.ReachCyberCharter.com.
About Credly
Credly is helping the world speak a common language about people’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Thousands of employers, training organizations, associations, certification programs, and workforce development initiatives use Credly to help individuals translate their learning experiences into professional opportunities using trusted, portable, digital credentials. Credly empowers organizations to attract, engage, develop, and retain talent with enterprise-class tools that generate data-driven insights to address skills gaps and highlight opportunities through an unmatched global network of credential issuers. http://www.Credly.com.