A new report issued by Education Voters of PA finds charter school enrollment patterns are consistent with the likelihood that many charter schools are exploiting the state’s special education funding system by cherry picking students with low-cost special education needs and discriminating against students with high-cost needs.

In the report, “Fixing the Flaws in Pennsylvania’s Special Education Funding System for Charter Schools: How an Outdated Law Wastes Public Money, Encourages Gaming of the System, and Limits School Choice,” our analysis finds that charter schools enroll only half as many the students with high-cost special education needs as would be expected in non biased system.

Click HERE to read the executive summary of our report.

Click HERE to read our long report, which includes an appendix that shows student enrollment in district and charter school by tier.

Under the current one-size-fits-all funding system, students whose services cost less than the tuition rate they receive from a school district are a financial gain for the charter school. Those whose services exceed the tuition rate are a financial loss.

“This is like a doctor getting reimbursed for stitching up a small cut at the same rate they’re paid for major surgery and then pocketing the profits,” said Frank Gallagher, superintendent of the Souderton Area School District during a June 30^th press conference about the report.

Given the evidence of selective enrollment and the tremendous excess cost to school districts contending with the higher costs and great uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unconscionable that the General Assembly will continue to turn a blind eye to this issue.

“Charter schools say they welcome in kids with IEPs, but the facts are, they only welcome in some kids with IEPs. Yet they are funded as if they welcome all of them. And, our most vulnerable population, disabled children, are the losers in this unfair game,” stated parent and special education advocate Lisa Lightner stated in the June 30th press conference.

Lawmakers must tackle the issue of special education funding for charter schools and finally provide parity between district and charter schools.

Make no mistake, charter schools are lining up resources right now to fight tooth and nail against any efforts that will limit their profits.

Please consider making a donation to Education Voters of PA today to support this work. We are a small organization and every dollar makes a difference in helping us to reach more advocates and build more momentum for the reforms we need to PA’s charter school law.