|
LAW |
|
Year Passed |
1997; last amended in 2008.
|
|
Rank |
12th strongest of the nation's 41 charter laws. |
|
Grade |
B |
|
GENERAL DATA |
|
|
• School boards are inconsistent in their approval and oversight
• Reform-minded governor and proposed legislation to create an independent authorizer would strengthen law
• Charters suffer from inequitable funding
• Impact aid requirement provides disincentives for districts to approve charters |
|
INDEPENDENT OR MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - YES (3) |
|
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 (but not SRC) may be appealed
to the state Charter Schools Appeals Board and their decision is final. |
|
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED |
|
Cap |
No cap. While not a formal cap, Philadelphia has instituted a moratorium
on charter approval. |
|
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.
"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 |
Charter School Lease Reimbursement Program worth up to $270 per pupil.
[Section 2574.3 of the Public School Code of 1949] |
