A Day in the Life: Special Education at CPDLF

Every Learner Deserves a Custom-Built Education

At CPDLF, we know that every learner’s path is unique. Our Special Education program is designed around the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally. We don’t fit students into a system; we build the system around them.

“We cover everything and everyone. We’re creative and we customize. We meet the kids where they are.” — CPDLF Instructor

Each learner receives individualized support aligned with their IEP goals. Whether the focus is reading comprehension, math fluency, executive functioning, self-advocacy, or independence, our team collaborates to find what works best for each student.

Morning Check-In: Connection and Confidence

Every day begins with a 9:00 a.m. morning meeting where learners and their Learning Guides review the day’s schedule, assignments, and goals. Some learners dive right into independent work, while others stay in the group chat or move into a breakout room for personalized support.

“One of the biggest highlights is the Learning Guide. These are devoted people. The amount of time the Learning Guide puts into making sure we have access to all the resources makes them the biggest assets of CPDLF. I can see where my son stands on all his assignments and my son can manage all the platforms needed for his classes thanks to his Learning Guide.” — Michele Curay-Cramer (CPDLF Parent)

Our approach empowers learners to choose how much support they need and when. That flexibility builds confidence and ownership over their education—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Customized Learning Throughout the Day

Special Education learners participate in Direct Instruction—one-on-one sessions that are custom-tailored to their learning goals. These sessions look different for every learner:

• Working on reading fluency and comprehension

• Building math skills and number sense

• Strengthening executive functioning skills like time management and task completion

• Developing self-advocacy, communication, and independence

Our educators have the freedom to be creative and go the extra mile to meet learners’ needs. That’s why progress monitoring happens all year long—not just at report card time.

Learning in Comfort, Growing in Confidence

For many learners, being able to learn from home removes distractions and anxiety that can disrupt learning in traditional classrooms. Learners who struggle with sensory overload or auditory distractions thrive in a calm, familiar environment where they can focus. One of our parents (who works in a brick-and-mortar special education department and chose to enroll her son a CPDLF) mentioned that the comfort of being at home allows her son, currently a senior, to approach his work with independence and curiosity. "He's shy and doesn't want to see or talk to other people, but he does log on to see his Learning Guide," says mom, Michele Curay-Cramer.

“The ability to stay home avoids dysregulation. Learners find comfort being with us, and that allows them to focus.” — CPDLF Instructor

Families as Partners

Parental involvement is key to every learner’s success. CPDLF educators communicate with families daily—often multiple times a day—to share progress, celebrate wins, and adjust strategies. We call parents and guardians supporting their learner "Learning Coaches" and offer specific resources to help them at home.

“I don’t go a day without communicating with my parents! A parent will never go a week without hearing from me.” — CPDLF Instructor

Parents consistently describe CPDLF as a true partnership—one where their insights are valued and their voices matter. "CPDLF is always thinking about what they can improve and adjust for the current generation and their families," says Michele Curay-Cramer. "It's not that teachers don't care everywhere, but CPDLF puts in the work to show it to each student and customize to fit both the child's needs and the state requirements. Kids are provided with alternative ways to show they are meeting their milestones. They clearly take an interest in each student as an individual."

Meet the Porcano Family

Len and Marie Porcano enrolled their children, Blake and Sophia, at CPDLF after realizing that traditional classrooms didn’t fit their kids’ learning styles. 

Blake, who is on the autism spectrum, struggled in large classroom settings. At CPDLF, he flourished—developing verbal language, creative interests, and self-confidence. He now makes instructional technology videos and recently sang on stage with the In2YouArts Choir.

Sophia, a bright and active learner, needed room to move and create. At CPDLF, she works at her own pace academically and takes dance and art classes through the Arts & Academics program in partnership with Fusia Center for the Arts. You can learn more about the Porcano family's experiences in our article that does a deep-dive on their CPDLF story.

What Parents & Guardians Need to Know About Cyber School

Learning Without Limits

The Porcanos say the partnership with CPDLF allows their family to balance work, learning, and life seamlessly—even while traveling for weeks at a time. Their children attend classes from anywhere—turning travel into an opportunity for cultural exploration and applied learning.

“We now have the ability to travel for work and bring the kids. They get a 2–4 week field trip without missing school.” - Len & Marie Porcano

Why Families Choose CPDLF

• Individualized instruction built around IEP goals

• Daily communication between educators and families

• Flexible schedules and learning environments

• Integration of arts, academics, and real-world learning

• A creative, growth-minded team that truly cares

At CPDLF, we believe what’s best for your child is what’s best for us. There are no competing priorities—only the shared goal of helping every learner thrive.

“A lot of people come to us at their wit’s end. They’re upset with the education system and need to know we’re not like everyone else. Give us a chance and we’ll show you that we can get your child where they need to be.” — CPDLF Instructor

What About Socialization?

CPDLF encourages all Learning Coaches to get their child involved in activities outside of the school setting. We do have virtual clubs, like Art Club and Gaming Club, as well as “Snack Pack,” which is an informal time to gather for conversations and take virtual tours with instructors while enjoying snack time. As your child gets older, you may want to explore options to join the school on trips abroad over summer break. These activities do not replace the need for regular in-person socialization. We recommend exploring options in your community and home district for on-going activities and options for continuing education, like your local library, sports clubs, theatre programs, volunteering, and more.

CPDLF’s Expectations for Learners

People often have a misconception about cyber school being “easy” or perhaps they mean easy to fake participation and that kids can skate through. For CPDLF, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we have high expectations for learners - from attendance to participation to subject mastery. Learners and families who come to CPDLF with the expectation that they can sail through or skate by will normally end up being unenrolled and sent back to their brick-and-mortar district due to lack of attendance. 

No matter how young our learners are, we have similar high expectations for participation and engagement with their school work. We track attendance for each live session and keep an eye on homework completion to catch families that may be struggling with this expectation. Once we have noticed a pattern, we work with the Learning Coach and learner to ensure we have an empathetic understanding of anything that might be going on at home or ways we can adjust to fit your child’s needs. Most attendance and participation issues can be resolved and learners go on to have a successful experience with CPDLF and remain on-track to receive their Pennsylvania diplomas with us. 

Ready to Enroll?

At CPDLF, we believe that cyber school can be a powerful and effective option for early education when built on structure, support, and engagement. Our program is designed not only to teach academic fundamentals but also to help young learners develop the skills they need for lifelong success. With small group learning, flexible scheduling, and strong parental involvement, CPDLF provides an educational experience that is both rigorous and rewarding. Whether families are looking for a safe learning environment, a more customized approach, or the flexibility to explore the world beyond the classroom, our cyber school model offers a pathway to success for every child. Let’s start the conversation to explore enrollment for your child!