Why PAVCS: Mission

An Overview

The Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PAVCS), a public charter school in Pennsylvania, opened its doors on September 4, 2001. PAVCS provides personalized education for more than 4,000 students from diverse ethnic, racial, socio-economic backgrounds, and a variety of geographic regions across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School is a pioneering choice in public education, empowering families through a dynamic partnership between the school and the home, a rich, research-based curriculum, and the innovative use of technology to meet the educational needs of their children.

Our Mission

The mission of the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PAVCS) is to provide Pennsylvania students with an excellent education, grounded in high academic standards, which will help them achieve their full academic and social potential.

Our Vision

PAVCS will serve as an example of how a school's parents, students, and teachers can reach their goal of achieving an excellent education through the effective use of technology. In concept, design, and delivery, the school will be a model of innovation and excellence.

Our Four Core Principles

Four guiding principles govern the core philosophy of the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School

  1. At the heart of the core philosophy is the belief that all young people can achieve academic success, if they are provided rigorous instruction, high standards, informed guidance and individual attention.
  2. Numerous studies have demonstrated that when parents become active and informed partners in their children’s education, test scores rise, drop-out rates and apathy decline, and the active pursuit of learning becomes a compelling focus for each family. Therefore, the absolute necessity of parental engagement and partnership in the education of their children is another essential kernel of the core philosophy of PAVCS.
  3. The PAVCS community believes the content and the quality and rigor of the curriculum directly effects students’ academic performance and achievement.
  4. Technology can be leveraged to be a powerful tool to support an effective education.

The PAVCS Model

The PAVCS instructional model is designed to develop the student's true academic potential. We believe that not only the students, but parents and teacher alike are key components to the instruction. PAVCS provides many opportunities for the learner and helps chart the course of their educational journey . You can read more about our model on in the Academics Section of our website. students working together