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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 1, 2020 04:24 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kathleen C. Tomlinson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Charter School Funding Reform |
| In the near future I plan on introducing legislation to implement the recommendations of the Special Education Funding Commission pertaining to charter schools, regional charter schools and cyber charter schools. This legislation would implement the recommendation of the Special Education Funding Commission to apply the same funding principles used in the formula for school districts to determine a school district’s payment for a special education student enrolled in a charter school. In most cases, the charter school special education tuition rate exceeds the actual special education costs the charter school spends on individual students. Under that formula, increases in special education funding over 2013-2014 levels are distributed using three cost categories for students receiving special education services, ranging from least intensive to most intensive services. The formula also reflects community levels of relative wealth, tax effort, and school district size and population density in order to help ensure a fair and accurate distribution of funds. While there is little doubt that Charter Schools play a large role in educating students across the Commonwealth, we believe that the playing field between public and charter schools must be leveled. This legislation is a step in that direction. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. |