Cyber Charter Reform Could Finally Be Coming To Pennsylvania

Over at Forbes, looking at the latest attempt to psh through some badly needed cyber charter reforms.

The marquee item is the creation of a single tuition cost for all districts in the state. Instead of a tuition rate can currently vary from $9,000 to $22,000 per student, the bill sets a standard rate of $8,000 per “regular” student.

It also closes a longstanding loophole for special ed students; Pennsylvania public schools fund students with special needs based on separate tiers of spending levels based on the student’s needs. Charter schools get a single high tuition payment for all students with special needs, even if the student’s needs are a simple as one hour a week with a speech therapist. Under the bill, cyber charters would be paid using the same method of tiers used by public schools.

The Democratic House Caucus estimates that the new payment system would send $455 million back to public school districts.

But beyond the issues of money, the bill also creates more accountability and transparency in cyber charter operation, bringing them in line with the rules governing public schools.

Cyber charters may not advertise themselves as “free,” but must acknowledge that costs are “covered by taxpayer dollars.” Also, a cyber charter won’t be allowed to sponsor a public event, which is perhaps a reaction to Commonwealth Charter Academy’s sponsorship of a float for the 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade, part of a larger pattern of cyber charter marketing by sponsoring community events. Education Voters of PA has determined that cyber charters spent a grand total of $52 million of taxpayer funds on marketing over just three years.

Probably with an eye on Oklahoma’s Catholic cyber charter, the bill explicitly forbids religious instruction and requires that the school will be “nonsectarian in all operations.”

Read the full piece here.