Flawed, Wasteful, and Broken.
That’s how local superintendents are describing the Pennsylvania Charter School system.
Reporter Baylee Wojcik spoke with them and tells us what changes they’re pushing lawmakers to make.
While our local schools have struggled to balance budgets cutting programs, raising taxes, and increasing class sizes to stay afloat superintendents in the Greater Johnstown area say cyber charter schools are taking in millions in taxpayer dollars through public schools each year.
“Pennsylvania’s Cyber Charter School funding system is so broken that taxpayers are footing a bill of nearly $900 million each year. That’s $900 million that could be used for our resources for our students in our communities”
Superintendents say they’re frustrated with the fact that student performance at cyber schools is drastically lower than those at local brick and mortar schools.
Meanwhile, they point out that cyber schools don’t have to pay for many items necessary for in person schools.
“They’re not paying for transportation. They’re not paying to build a cafeteria. They don’t have the same staffing requirements that we have”
“Our numbers on our school performance profile and assessments from the state come in at the top end at $73.6, When you start looking at the performance of all these schools, they’re all failing levels. And it’s just not a good
return on investment.”
So, besides tuition, where do the millions of dollars go? In a 2023 report conducted by the Pennsylvania Auditor General of one Pennsylvania Cyber Charter, it was found that in a three year period, over $23 million was spent on employee bonuses, fuel stipends, vehicle fleets, and a $70,000 family fun festival.
I’ve reached out to 8 cyber charter schools in the state for comment but have not gotten a response from any.
“I can’t use tax dollars for that. It’s just not permitted, it’s not a prudent use of taxpayers’ dollars.”
Local Superintendents say they’re looking for a solution to this issue. They say it might lie in a proposal by Governor Josh Shapiro, which asks for a flat rate of $8,000 in tuition per cyber charter student.
“Right now, every school district pays a different tuition rate for the same Cyber education. That just makes no sense to us.”
“That’s long overdue for fixing.”