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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 23, 2023 05:46 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tarah Probst |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Subjecting Cyber Charter Schools to State Audits |
| There are 14 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania that serve over 60,000 students. Although these cyber charter schools are independently managed and operated, they are publicly funded through tuition payments made by school districts. Despite being funded with taxpayer dollars, however, these cyber charter schools are currently not subjected to state audits to ensure that they are properly using state funds to provide a quality education to students. In fact, reports have shown that students enrolled in cyber charter schools lag in academic performance, and there have been instances where these state funds were mismanaged by cyber charters. This is a complete lack of oversight, and we must hold cyber charter schools to the same fiscal accountability that we hold school districts and other state agencies to. It is important that we implement procedures for overseeing the spending of cyber charter schools to ensure that state funds are being used properly and fairly. That is why I am introducing legislation that would subject all cyber charter schools, cyber management companies, and other entities that operate cyber charter schools to audits by the Pennsylvania Auditor General. This legislation will ensure that cyber charter schools responsibly use taxpayer dollars so that all students across Pennsylvania who are enrolled in one of our cyber charters have access to a quality education that will set them up for a lifetime of success. The cyber charter school law has not been significantly updated like this since its enactment in 2002, and it is time that we make this necessary change. I hope you will join me in supporting this important legislation that will protect students, school districts, and taxpayers. |
Introduced as HB673