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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 10, 2012 10:10 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Edwin B. Erickson |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Charter School Reimbursement |
| I intend to re-introduce Senate Bill 1343 of 2011, legislation to address an inequity in the reimbursement requirements of public school districts regarding non-mandatory kindergarten programs offered by charter schools. For example, Upper Darby School District offers a non-mandatory, half-day kindergarten program to children who turn five by August 31. Accordingly, the district’s state subsidy formula for the district recognizes these students at the .5 level. The district, however, must reimburse charter schools for the kindergarten program their Trustees have established, whether it is full or part-time. Districts also must reimburse charter schools for kindergarten students under the age of five, if that is provided for under the charter school’s admissions policies. My legislation will not change the right of charter schools to decide on the length or age admission criteria for their kindergarten programs. The legislation will amend Section 17-1725 of the Charter School law to allow for parity in reimbursement whereby charter schools are reimbursed for their kindergarten programs in a manner that conforms with the structure of the school district’s kindergarten program. For example, if a district offers non-mandatory, full-day kindergarten, it would reimburse the charter school at the full-day rate if the charter also offered a full-day program. Similarly, if a district offered a half-day program, it would reimburse the charter school at the half-day rate whether the charter offered a half-day or full-day program. The same parallel standard would apply for age of admission. |
Introduced as SB438