The 2021 State of Education report focuses solely on the impact of COVID-19 on public education in Pennsylvania. Some key findings from this year’s report include:

• Biggest challenge: 69% of school districts said that the most challenging part of navigating the pandemic was the inadequate and consistently changing guidance from state, federal and local authorities.
• Cyber migration: More than 22,000 students left their home school districts for cyber charter schools at the start of the 2020-21 school year taking with them at least $335 million dollars in funding.
• Finance: The migration to cyber charter schools contributed to charter school tuition costs being the overwhelming budget pressure facing school districts.
• Instruction: Since the start of the 2020-21 school year, 85% of school districts were forced to change their instructional plans due to COVID-19, forcing teachers and students to adjust.