Pennsylvania charter schools are facing a crisis. Proposed state legislation (HB 2138/SB 1316) and projected reductions in local school district funding would result in a 24% cut for charter schools – or between 55-60% of what traditional local district schools would receive – over the next three years.

The fact is that many charter schools cannot sustain funding cuts of this magnitude and will be forced to close their doors.

The legislation intends to dramatically cut funds for special ed students at Pennsylvania’s public charter schools.
 
Charter schools are public schools, serving nearly one-third of all public school students in Philadelphia. Together, charter schools constitute the second largest public school district in Pennsylvania. The long waiting lists at public charter schools reflect the growing desire of families to take advantage of a high quality and safe education for their children.
 
Make no mistake: if this legislation is enacted, it will devastate charter schools all across Pennsylvania, and likely will cause some of them to close. If enacted, special education funding for Pennsylvania public charter schools will be cut by as much as $10,000 per student annually as a result of a new funding formula being applied to public schools.