HARRISBURG, PA — State Representative Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery) has unveiled a legislative proposal aimed at restructuring Pennsylvania’s cyber charter school system to enhance financial transparency, curb spending unrelated to education, and align funding more closely with the actual costs of online education. The bill, H.B. 1372, seeks to address longstanding concerns surrounding accountability and financial inefficiencies tied to cyber charter operations.
“Auditor General Timothy DeFoor is the third auditor general who has called for reform of cyber charter schools, and it is long past time that the legislature made cyber charter schools as accountable as any entity receiving public funds,” Ciresi said.
Under the bill, a single statewide tuition rate of $8,000 for non-special education students would be established, reflecting a more accurate cost structure for online education. This mirrors a proposal included in Governor Josh Shapiro’s recent budget address. Additionally, the legislation would implement a special education funding model for cyber charter schools, aligning with the three-tier formula currently applied to traditional public school districts.
Ciresi’s proposal also includes provisions to cap cyber charter schools’ unassigned fund balances to ensure taxpayer dollars are directed toward education. Restrictions would be placed on public spending for event sponsorships, advertising, and other non-educational activities. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to enhance accountability by expanding conflict of interest rules, ethics standards, and public reporting requirements for cyber charter schools and their affiliated organizations.
The bill introduces standardized procedures for applications, charter renewals, amendments, and creates a comprehensive review process involving academic performance, financial governance, and management prior to charter renewal. Summing up the intent behind the legislation, Ciresi stated, “This legislation preserves school choice and puts students and their education at the center of every dollar taxpayers send to cyber charter schools.”
H.B. 1372 represents a broader effort to address discrepancies that have persisted since the introduction of Pennsylvania’s current education funding formula in 2015. The formula, which aimed to equalize funding for traditional school districts based on student enrollment and cost factors, excluded cyber charter schools, allowing them to retain funding that critics argue exceeds their operational costs.
By advocating reforms grounded in fiscal responsibility and student-focused priorities, Ciresi’s proposal signals a significant shift in approach to cyber charter school funding. If enacted, the legislation could provide long-term financial relief to taxpayers while reinforcing accountability and prioritizing educational outcomes for Pennsylvania’s students.
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