Capitolwire: Former auditor general joins efforts to lobby for charter school funding reform.
Capitolwire.com by John Finnerty, December 21, 2021 HARRISBURG — As auditor general, Eugene DePasquale repeatedly took aim at what he and others have described as Pennsylvania’s “worst in the nation” charter school law. Now out…
Continue ReadingDenied: Delaware County Military Academy Cyber Charter School Decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Department of Education Based on a review of the written application received on August 11, 2021, questions and responses recorded at the November 18 Hearing, and public comments concerning the Application, the Department denies DCMA’s…
Continue ReadingCharter costs force districts to make cuts
Altoona Mirror by Andrew Mollenauer, December 15, 2021 Rising charter school tuition costs for school districts are increasingly taking away resources and opportunities for traditional public school students, local school officials say. According to data from…
Continue ReadingDirector note: Another year without substantive charter funding reform by the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Despite 409 locally elected school boards passing resolutions calling upon the General Assembly to meaningfully reform the existing flawed charter school funding system to ensure that school districts and taxpayers are no longer overpaying or reimbursing charter…
Continue ReadingDoes the state help school districts with their charter school costs?
Keystone Center for Charter Change No. Until 2010-11, the state would reimburse school districts for some of their charter school tuition costs. This reimbursement provided roughly $225 million to school districts which was intended to pay…
Continue ReadingGroup with at least $20M to spend looks for candidate for Pennsylvania governor to endorse
Morning Call by Marc Levy, December 8, 2021 HARRISBURG, PA. — The biggest single campaign donor in this year’s race for a seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is now aiming to endorse a candidate for governor…
Continue ReadingPSBA Legislative Priority Issue: Enact Meaningful Charter School Reforms
Pennsylvania School Boards Association PSBA believes that the state must enact comprehensive reforms to address areas of charter school operations, accountability and funding. The average Pennsylvania school district spends millions of dollars in taxpayer money annually…
Continue ReadingPhilly board hires firm to investigate racial bias in charter school authorizations
Chalkbeat Philly by Johann Callhoun, December 1, 2021 Months after the Philadelphia school board vowed to look into allegations that Black-led charter schools have been targeted for closure, the board announced Wednesday that it’s hiring a…
Continue ReadingCapitolwire: School superintendents describe intensifying challenges of skyrocketing cyber school tuition bills
Capitolwire by John Finnerty, November 26, 2021 (Republished with permission) State lawmakers ended their fall legislative session without confronting the budget-busting crisis for local school districts faced with skyrocketing cyber school bills. A group of school…
Continue ReadingBlue Mountain officials lament cyber charter costs
Republican Herald by Emily Graham, October 22, 2021 ORWIGSBURG — The Blue Mountain school board discussed updates on enrollment and concerns about the cost of cyber charter schools. Across the elementary schools, there are 1,073 students…
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