CAOLA was founded in 2009 by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15, a Pennsylvania Education Service Agency. It was created to address the need in Pennsylvania for a challenging and flexible education option for students who want or need something different from traditional learning but want to stay enrolled in their local school.
CAOLA serves over 140 districts, schools, and programs across PA. Any district, school, program, or Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania can join CAOLA and reap the rewards of cost-effective, high-quality online learning options for students. CAOLA proudly serves not only traditional schools but also charter schools, day treatment facilities, adjudicated youth, and Career Technology Centers.
Our program is designed to work in partnership with these entities so they have autonomy and can locally manage their virtual program to tailor coursework to match curriculum and student needs. CAOLA is a true strategic partner. Students can engage in online learning while participating in extracurricular activities provided by their school and remain with their friends and classmates.
One key value of CAOLA is the 400+ high-quality courses aligned with Pennsylvania state standards and Common Core. These courses range from AP courses, core curriculum, and electives to career and technology pathways. Instructors can be contracted, online teachers, or school-employed teachers. Both are PA state certified. As a result, our schools have the essential building blocks to create a quality, customizable program. Flexibility and adaptability are the core strengths of being a CAOLA partner.
Another unique characteristic of CAOLA is the online system that enables each school to provide reports on attendance, course progress, and completion. It also allows parents to stay engaged through our Parent Portal. Technical support, on-site training, and professional development are also available to our schools and partners. CAOLA assists schools and students by assisting with marketing tools and events and providing annual student scholarships. The program has proven students’ success since its inception and now educates over 15,000 students annually–making it the largest consortium of virtual programs in Pennsylvania.
