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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	April 8, 2015 11:38 AM
From:	Senator Dominic Pileggi
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Charter School Reforms

I plan to introduce legislation which will enact comprehensive charter school reforms. This legislation will be substantially similar to Senator Smucker’s Senate Bill 1085 (pn 2212) of last session, which passed the Senate 37 to 13 on July 1, 2014. Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 1085 were: Smucker, Williams, Baker, Folmer, Waugh, Alloway, Vance, and Eichelberger. Key provisions include: Provides that charter school trustees and administrators are subject to the Ethics Act. Prohibits conflicts of interest by charter school trustees and administrators. Places a limit on unassigned fund balances for charter schools. Requires all applications for a charter and renewal to include an evaluation system for educators. Requires the Department of Education to develop a performance matrix to evaluate charter school entity performance. Increases the initial term of a charter school entity’s charter from three to five years. Allows for a charter school entity to receive a ten year charter renewal subject to meeting the academic quality benchmark established in the performance matrix. Establishes a process for a charter school entity to amend its existing charter agreement. Requires cyber charter schools to satisfy requirements of compulsory attendance. Please join me in sponsoring these important reforms.

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