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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 24, 2023 04:27 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jesse Topper |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Updating the Charter School Renewal Process |
| Questions surrounding the consistency in which charter schools are evaluated by their authorizers and renewed have been a major component of the debate about the transparency and accountability in public education in Pennsylvania. Fair and reasonable charter reform that is consistent with good operating practices is necessary to ensure that charter school entities are held to high standards and able to continue serving some of our Commonwealth’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable students. To that end, this bill focuses on uniform processes, procedures and standards for charter school renewals. The bill creates a standard process for brick-and-mortar charter school renewals that is predictable and fair. Current law contains little guidance on how charter renewals should take place and what it does include is so vague that authorizers have used it as a means to create a process that is burdensome, inconsistent, inequitable, and sometimes punitive. It also addresses the vague language in the Charter School Law around student performance being a basis for nonrenewal by adding parameters for the evaluation of student achievement and how that information may be used in a renewal. Finally, the bill prevents authorizers from forcing charter school operators to sign agreements (“surrender clauses”) that run counter to the Charter School Law or are illegal, and addresses current charter agreements that include this type of language. It will stop school districts from forcing charter schools into enrollment caps or otherwise limiting enrollment from specific geographic catchment areas. The goal is to create a simplified process for both school district authorizers and charter schools, while ensuring high standards of accountability and transparency are in place to create quality learning environments for every public school student. |