PRINTER'S NO. 178
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
218
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, CIRESI, FLEMING, FRANKEL, HANBIDGE,
HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KINKEAD, MADDEN, PASHINSKI, RABB,
SANCHEZ AND SCHLOSSBERG, MARCH 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 8, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in charter schools, providing for
study of charter school academic and financial practices.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1705-A. Study of Charter School A cademic and
Financial Practices.--(a) The State board shall conduct a
comprehensive study outlining the best academic and financial
practices of high-performing charter schools currently operating
in this Commonwealth and the unsuccessful academic and financial
practices of low-performing charter schools currently or
previously operating in this Commonwealth. The study shall
include a detailed assessment of the following:
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(1) High-performing charter schools that have a proven
success record of providing improved opportunities to teachers,
parents, students and community members for establishing and
maintaining schools that operate independently from existing
school district structure, including how the schools
accomplished the following:
(i) improved student learning, including student growth
measures;
(ii) increased learning opportunities for all students,
including students with disabilities;
(iii) used different and innovative teaching methods;
(iv) identified new professional opportunities for teachers;
(v) expanded choices that improve the types of educational
opportunities that are available within the public school
system; and
(vi) met or exceeded measurable academic standards.
(2) Low-performing charter schools that continue to operate
or have closed and the lessons that can be learned from the
schools' academic or financial failures, including any fraud,
waste and mismanagement that occurred.
(b) The State board, in conducting the study, shall give
consideration to an examination of the factors associated with
high-performing charter schools and low-performing charter
schools, such as:
(1) the demographics of the students that the schools
educate;
(2) the schools' records of operating with integrity and any
conflicts of interest; and
(3) governance structure and local creation and oversight.
(c) The State board, based on the comprehensive assessment
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of high-performing charter schools and low-performing charter
schools conducted, shall identify policies, regulations and
legislative changes needed to improve the academic and learning
success of charter school students.
(d) No later than twelve (12) months after the effective
date of this section, the State board shall issue a report of
its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.
(e) As used in this section:
"High-performing charter school" includes, at a minimum, a
charter school that achieved an SPP score of eighty (80) or
higher in any year.
"Low-performing charter school" includes a charter school
that obtained an SPP score of sixty (60) or lower in any year or
has closed due to fraud, waste or mismanagement.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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