[complete report]

LAW

Year Passed

1997; last amended in 2008.

Rank

11th strongest of the nation's 40 charter laws.

Grade

B

GENERAL DATA

• School boards are inconsistent in their approval and oversight, making multiple authorizers a hot topic

• Charters suffer from inequitable funding

• Impact aid requirement provides disincentives to districts to approve charters

MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - YES (2)

Approval

School boards, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education for virtual schools. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) is an independent city board.

Appeal

Yes. Applications denied by the school board may be appealed to the state Charter Schools Appeals Board and their decision is final.

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED

Cap

No cap

OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY

State

Yes. Blanket waiver from public school rules and regulations. Virtual schools are allowed. Management contracts with ESPs are not restricted.

Local

Yes. Blanket waiver from district regulations. Some additional restrictions and red tape on charter schools.

Teacher Freedom

Yes. Teachers may negotiate as a separate unit with governing board. Charter schools must participate in the state's retirement system.

EQUITY

Student Funding

• Charter funding based on expenditures, not revenue, and is typically 70-82 percent of revenue, depending on the district.

• Districts receive impact aid from the state for the first year a student attends a charter school.

• Funds pass through district.

• Average per pupil revenue - $8,663

"For non-special education students, the charter school shall receive for each student enrolled no less than the budgeted total expenditure per average daily membership of the prior school year, as defined in section 2501(20), minus the budgeted expenditures of the district of residence for nonpublic school programs; adult education programs; community/junior college programs; student transportation services; for special education programs; facilities acquisition, construction and improvement services; and other financing uses, including debt service and fund transfers as provided in the Manual of Accounting and Related Financial Procedures for Pennsylvania School Systems established by the department. This amount shall be paid by the district of residence of each student." [24 P.S. § 17-1725-A(2)]

Facilities Funding

None