CCA Statement to PennLive – Board Transparency Articles

November 10, 2025

Below is the full statement CCA sent to a PennLive reporter on November 3, 2025, for inclusion in two articles published by PennLive on November 10, 2025: How Pa.’s largest public cyber charter school discourages public participation and Which Pa. cyber charter school boards are most and least transparent?

“First and foremost, CCA is not a school district; as required by the Charter School Law, it is a public cyber charter school established as a public, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. As a statewide public school serving more than 36,000 students from all 67 counties, CCA’s governance structure differs from that of a traditional school district.

“CCA’s Board of Trustees operates with full transparency and accountability to the students, families, and the public we serve. The Board strictly complies with the Pennsylvania Charter School Law, the Sunshine Act, the Right-to-Know Law, and all related reporting and disclosure requirements. In addition, CCA undergoes annual independent financial audits, is subject to compliance reviews by the Pennsylvania Auditor General’s office, and is overseen by its authorizer, the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“Board meetings are open to the public and accessible virtually, allowing families from all corners of the Commonwealth to attend without travel barriers. Requiring participants to request a meeting link ensures both accessibility and security, much like school districts that require sign-ins for in-person attendance. The Board’s meeting schedules, agendas, and approved minutes are available to the public on our website. The Board regularly reviews these and other practices to ensure they remain clear, compliant, and reflective of best practices.

“The time of board meetings has nothing to do with transparency. Regardless of the day or time a meeting is scheduled, it will be inconvenient for someone.

“CCA fully complies with the statutory requirement to maintain an independent audit committee that annually reviews a certified audit; however, the Board does not operate through other standing committees, instead functioning as a committee of the whole. This structure promotes direct engagement and accountability by ensuring every trustee is equally informed and involved in all aspects of governance. Committees often bog down organizations in redundant processes, excessive meetings, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that distract from what truly matters – the education of students.

“Beyond board meetings, CCA’s administration and Board engage students, families, and the broader CCA community through events, meetings, and advisory panels. These forums provide meaningful opportunities for students, parents, and staff to share feedback that directly influences programs, policies, and operations – reinforcing CCA’s longstanding commitment to openness and collaboration. As a school of choice, family feedback and engagement are of high importance for CCA.

“We are unable to respond directly to statements regarding former Board Chairman Ralph Dyer, as he passed away in January 2024 following a valiant battle with cancer. Mr. Dyer was a decorated retired Army Officer, an accomplished businessman, educator and leader, a loving husband and father, a former school district board member, and a trustee of a public cyber charter school. He was an individual who gave far more of himself to his community and the world than he ever expected in return. During his service as a trustee and chairman, he helped lead CCA through its transition away from a management company to a fully independent public school, the development of CCA’s proprietary relationship management system and courses, and an unprecedented expansion that now serves tens of thousands of students across Pennsylvania. Mr. Dyer respectfully exercised his prerogative as board chairman, fulfilling his duty to maintain order and decorum during public meetings in accordance with established school policy and parliamentary procedure.

“Although not surprising and entirely consistent with your pattern of reporting, it is unfortunate that you and PennLive would attempt to cast Mr. Dyer’s reputation and the Board of Trustees in a false light in your pursuit of sensationalism and to continue maligning and perpetuating misinformation about CCA. Your attempts to cast aspersions on CCA and its Board of Trustees through uninformed and subjective assertions are without merit and, quite simply, disgraceful. You have received overwhelmingly positive comments about CCA, its leadership, and the Board of Trustees, but instead, you seek out a few disgruntled individuals from years ago.

“CCA will continue to focus on what truly matters – transparency, accountability, and ensuring that every Pennsylvania student has access to a high-quality, flexible, and individualized public education.”