DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Cyber Charter School Application Hearing [33 Pa.B. 5829] The Department of Education (Department) has scheduled a public hearing regarding the cyber charter school application received on September 30, 2003. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2004, at 1 p.m. in the Honors Suite, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA. The hearing pertains to the Anchorage Cyber Charter School, which is seeking a charter to operate a cyber charter school. The purpose of the hearing is to receive information from the applicant about the cyber charter school and to receive comments from interested persons regarding the application. The application can be viewed on the Department's website at www.pde.state.pa.us.
The charter applicant will have 30 minutes to present information about the cyber charter school. Individuals who wish to provide comments at the hearing must send the Department and the applicant a copy of the comments on or before December, 22, 2003. Failure to comply with this deadline will preclude the respective individual from providing verbal comments at the hearing. Verbal comments may be limited based on the number of individuals requesting time to provide comments and may also be limited if the comments are duplicative or repetitive of other individual's comments. The hearing will be conducted by a panel of individuals who have reviewed the application. The panel members may question the applicant regarding issues identified during their review, as well as issues raised in the written comments filed before the hearing date. Panel members may also question individuals who offer verbal comments. Commentators will not be permitted to question either the applicant or the panel members.
Individuals who are unable to attend the hearing may also provide the Department and the applicant with written comments on or before December 31, 2003. Written comments provided to the Department by this deadline will become part of the certified record.
Comments should be addressed to Betsy Becker, School Services Unit, 333 Market Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126.
An agenda will be prepared after December 31, 2003, when the Department is aware of the number of individuals who wish to provide verbal comments at the hearing. The agenda will provide the order of presentation, as well as specify the amount of time allotted to each commentator. Individuals wanting a copy of the agenda should call Betsy Becker, (717) 346-3356.
VICKI L. PHILLIPS, Ed.D.,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-2268. Filed for public inspection November 26, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
