Pennsylvania

With new data centers expected to drastically increase power consumption in the coming years, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission proposed a tariff model for electricity providers to impose on large-load customers.

An analysis by PennLive found that the state's two largest cyber schools are substantially less transparent than similarly sized traditional school districts, while some smaller cyber charters are even more transparent.

Inundated with parent interest in a virtual schooling option, Commonwealth Charter Academy hasn't been too concerned about transparency or responsiveness in its board meetings, according to some parents and staff.

Cyber criminals who stole data from the University of Pennsylvania wrote an email crudely criticizing its admissions, alleging the university "love[s] legacies, donors, and unqualified affirmative action admits."

The Cooperative Agreement for Artificial Intelligence Advising Services enables collaboration between the state and the University of Pennsylvania, with the latter advising the government on AI.

Some former employees of Commonwealth Charter Academy say they were asked to develop online curricula that could be sold to other states rather than focusing on Pennsylvania's standards and history.

Some current and former staff at Commonwealth Charter Academy said it started to feel more like a business focused on convincing parents to enroll new students than a school focused on their academic performance.

An independent monitor has asked federal officials to ensure consumers don’t get stuck with the bill if the electric grid can’t handle power needs of a massive data center planned for Bucks County, Pa.

Officials from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, formerly opposed to any top-down mandate from the state, were among those who gave testimony in support of a “bell-to-bell” ban, with limited exceptions.

At a recent AI summit, Shapiro said Pennsylvania is taking a leading role in the country and around the world when it comes to AI and fostering collaborations between academia, industry and government.

As technology has increasingly affected nearly every part of daily life, the Scranton Police Department has kept up, using tools to facilitate training, improve public safety and hasten communication.

The public water utility serving Middlesex Township said Thursday night it has the headroom to serve a major data center, which checks a significant box for the proposal’s developers.

The editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette argues for Pennsylvania joining at least 27 other states in restricting student use of cellphones during the school day, given the effects of such policies elsewhere.

At its annual conference, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers recognized Ohio’s Holly Drake for her cybersecurity leadership, while also doling out other tech awards.

By 2015, for-profit management companies ran a large share of the cyber schools across the U.S., but for Commonwealth Charter Academy, separating from them brought in more money, independence and control over curricula.

Even after the initial pandemic-era rush to cyber charter schools subsided, Commonwealth Charter Academy has continued to grow because many parents are dissatisfied with their local public schools.

The Pennsylvania Office of Administration’s Language Access Management Program is working to ensure government services are accessible to all residents, regardless of the language they speak.

Pennsylvania only renews charters of cyber schools that agree to enrollment caps, but those schools can continue to operate without a charter. Some cyber leaders say this approach gives those schools more freedom to grow.