Bipartisan support for cyber charter tuition reform at last? Maybe

(The Center Square) – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, signaled an appetite for additional cyber charter reforms this week.

At least so it appears, according to an op-ed the No. 2-ranking Republican wrote detailing progress that’s been made and work still to be done.

It’s also significant given long-standing disagreements on how tuition for cyber charter schools should be calculated.

Cyber charters have been at the center of controversy in the battle for school choice across the state. Though they offer a flexible alternative to traditional models, poor performance and high revenue have dampened the schools’ esteem in Pennsylvania.

“Cyber charter schools should remain a viable choice for parents to consider as a key part of supporting increased access to educational opportunities,” wrote Pittman. “Ensuring their viability can be achieved while further building on the important reforms we enacted just a year ago.”

Those reforms have made a big difference, according to Pittman. He cited the newly instituted formula that would reduce special education costs for cyber charters by up to $190 million annually, money that stays in the local district’s coffers.

For taxpayers, reducing school costs means staving off property tax increases, which have long been the method through which districts keep afloat. The new basic education funding formula passed last year aims to reduce disparities between districts that have historically been rooted in variability of property taxes between higher and lower income communities.

Some Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, say that the new formula doesn’t go far enough to reign in cyber school costs. His budget proposal includes a flat tuition rate of $8,000 per student for cyber charters. Supporters of the schools have balked at this number, saying it doesn’t account for the full cost of providing a virtual education.

Even if the new rate doesn’t gain traction, members of both parties agree that changes need to be made to ensure cyber charters are a sound investment for the state. Democrats have focused on the low performance and graduation rates of the state’s cyber charters, while Republican Auditor General Tim DeFoor called for funding reform after an audit of five of the schools.

DeFoor made particular mention of the schools’ revenue and massive reserves. From 2020-2023, charters legally increased funding by $425 million and reserves by 144%.

“The cyber charter funding formula needs to change to reflect what is actually being spent to educate students and set reasonable limits to the amount of money these schools can keep in reserve,” said DeFoor.

In light of Pittman’s statement, it seems possible that for the first time since cyber charter funding was established in 2002, that change could be on the horizon.

“Review of cyber charter reserve accounts, more accuracy in calculating tuition costs and meaningful truancy reforms, are all areas worthy of discussion as we debate the 2025-26 budget,” wrote Pittman.

These changes could legitimize an industry that’s lost face for its profit seeking departures from its brick-and-mortar counterparts within the same public school system. For a party whose emphasis of late has been parental oversight into state-funded education, well-run charters could provide a meaningful alternative to districts that aren’t a good fit for every student.

“Empowering parents to have a say in the best educational path for their children must continue to be at the forefront of discussions,” wrote Pittman. “Regardless of the total dollars invested in education, it is parents who have the ultimate responsibility for selecting the most beneficial educational track, to address the unique needs of each child.”