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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 1, 2013 02:37 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Garth D. Everett |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Revision of Cyber Charter School Funding |
| I plan to introduce legislation to revise the cyber charter school funding formula to save taxpayer dollars and to implement appropriate transparency and accountability measures to ensure that charter schools are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. With sixteen cyber charter schools in operation for the 2012-13 school year, it is critical that we examine the cyber charter school funding formula now to alleviate the burden on our school districts and taxpayers. In my legislation, I propose revisions to the cyber charter school funding formula to end the PSERS double dip and to allow school districts to make further deductions for costs that a cyber charter school does not incur, including tax collection and food service costs, as well as deductions for the costs of a school district’s own online program and related technology. I also propose to further reduce the financial burden of cyber charter schools on school districts and taxpayers by requiring cyber charter schools to complete an annual audit and to reconcile their actual regular and special education costs with the dollars received from school districts each year. Since students in all 500 school districts attend cyber charter schools, these changes will not only ensure that school districts are not overpaying for the services cyber charter schools provide, but will also ensure that all school districts sending a student to the same cyber charter school will pay the same amount. Additionally, my legislation tackles important and necessary revisions to the current charter school law to ensure transparency and accountability in the management and governance of charter schools. For example, my legislation requires members of a charter school board of trustees and charter school administrators to comply with the Ethics Act, caps a charter school’s unreserved, undesignated fund balance at the same levels that apply to school districts, and ensures that cyber charter schools are implementing and enforcing their truancy policies. Such changes not only reduce the likelihood of misuse of taxpayer dollars but also ensure that charter schools are operating on an even playing field with school districts when it comes to their responsibilities and use of resources. With limited resources, I believe that these changes are necessary and will result in significant savings and increased transparency for taxpayers and school districts. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. GE/clz |
Introduced as HB984