Cyber Charter School Reform

 Dan Truitt has introduced two new bills to reform cyber charter Schools that make sense. HB's 970 and 971. While they would eliminate the double dipping problem in cyber school pensions, they would not cripple the funding of these schools by dictating that their funding will be reduced by local school districts. Instead the cyber schools will demonstrate increased accountability by reporting duplications of funding on a standard reporting form. This form is PDE-363. It will hold cyber schools accountable, and still allow Pennsylvania to lead the nation in  innovation in online education. The opposing bills, HB, 759, 618 and 934 will strip innovation from reform by crippling smaller state wide cyber schools which will allow larger cyber schools to be the only innovators in this type of education reform. Which is better less innovation, or more innovation? I support Dan Truitt's initiative to reform cyber education in a sensible way that reforms funding without stripping innovation or choice. Please contact representatives, Emrick, Reese, Roebuck and their co-sponsors to tell them that we need cyber charter education reform that does not strip innovation or choice from education.  I attended a hearing recently in Harrisburg, and I appreciate how Representative Truitt spoke up for sensible charter school reform. The following summary was given to me by one of my student senators, Matthew Meyerson, in our student government organization. PA Leadership Charter School is one of the schools that would be most effected by the opposing reform bills. As far as I know we are the only cyber charter school that has a virtual student government. Without students like Matthew you would not see the summary below. Without school like Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School there would not be this kind of extra-curricular activity. Matthew asked that I take his summary and get the word out. I am happy to oblige him. Does it make sense to punish smaller cyber schools by giving them the least amount of money to innovate? I am writing this BLOG with my own personal opinions on this subject. I do not represent my school or Representative Truitt. Here is Matthews summary of Mr. Truitt's bill. 

Here are the high lights of house bill #970

The first bill will be the primary vehicle to fix all of the inequities that are built into the PDE-363 and our current charter school funding formula. This bill will make the following changes:

1 – Eliminate the pension reimbursement paid by the state to the charter schools.
2A – Eliminate the lease reimbursement paid by the state to the charter schools.
2B – Delete the category 4000 (facilities) deduction from the PDE-363.
2C – Delete the category 5000 (financing) deduction from the PDE-363.
3A – ADD a deduction to the PDE-363 for money paid to charter schools for basic education only.
3B – Require districts to SUBTRACT charter school students from their “Average Daily Membership” (ADM) on the PDE-363.
4A – ADD a deduction to the PDE-363 for a district’s own cyber programs.
4B – Require districts to SUBTRACT students in their cyber programs from their ADM on the PDE-363.
5A – Allow school districts to deduct ALL pre-K expenses as opposed to just the federal portion.
5B – Require districts to SUBTRACT all pre-K students from their ADM on the PDE-363.
6A – Establish the definition of a “learning center” which is essentially a brick and mortar facility that cyber-charter schools use to enhance the education of cyber school students.
6B – ADD a deduction to the PDE-363 for 30% of category 4000 and category 5000 expenses.This deduction would apply only to payments to cyber-charter schools without learning centers.
6C – ADD a deduction to the PDE-363 for 15% of category 4000 expenses and category 5000 expenses.This deduction would apply only to payments to cyber-charter schools with learning centers.
7 – Require districts to provide transportation for students who attend cyber-charter schools with learning centers.
8 – Prohibit school districts from charging charter schools, including cyber charter schools, for transporting special education students to an IU unit or other facility away from the charter school campus.

This summary is from the Pennsylvania School Boards Web Site

HB 971 includes a direct pay provision, requiring PDE to make deductions from school district subsidies as payments to charter and cyber charter schools instead of allowing the school districts to make the payments directly.  A charter or cyber charter school could decide to have the school district, and not PDE, make the payments.  The bill also caps charter and cyber charter school fund balances at the same limits that apply to school districts.