A RESOLUTION

 

1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2conduct a comprehensive Statewide costing-out study of
3charter schools and cyber charter schools in this
4Commonwealth.

5WHEREAS, Questions are frequently raised regarding inequities
6in tuition rates and State funding for charter and cyber charter
7education; and

8WHEREAS, The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is
9authorized to conduct and oversee a wide range of research
10activities pertaining to the operation and performance of State-
11funded programs and agencies; and

12WHEREAS, The Department of the Auditor General provides
13oversight of how Pennsylvania's tax dollars are spent and has
14done extensive work on the expenditure of public funds on
15charter and cyber charter education; and

16WHEREAS, The costs associated with education have an impact
17on the taxpayers throughout this Commonwealth; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

1conduct a comprehensive Statewide costing-out study of charter
2schools and cyber charter schools in this Commonwealth; and be
3it further

4RESOLVED, That in furtherance of its study, the Legislative
5Budget and Finance Committee, at a minimum, shall:

6(1) determine the basic actual cost per nonspecial
7education students and special education students in a
8charter and cyber charter school setting that provides an
9education that will permit each student to meet the
10Commonwealth's academic standards and assessments;

11(2) provide a Statewide tuition rate for both charter
12schools and cyber charter schools that provides both
13equitable and accountable funding to both entities;

14and be it further

15RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
16consult with the Department of the Auditor General in the
17development of this study; and be it further

18RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
19prepare a report of all its findings and recommendations of the
20costing-out study and submit the report to the Governor, the
21President pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the
22Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the chairman and
23minority chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate
24and the chairman and minority chairman of the Education
25Committee of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
26Representatives, the Majority Leader of the House of
27Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of
28Representatives, the chairman and minority chairman of the
29Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives and the
30chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the

1House of Representatives no later than November 30, 2013.