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Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Schools in Pennsylvania
Charter schools embody a new approach to public education. Since 1991, forty-three states and the District of Columbia have authorized the creation of charter schools in response to public demands for more effective and more accountable public schools. Many view charter schools as exciting and innovative initiatives that are changing and improving the educational landscape across America. Some argue that charter schools introduce a competitive dynamic into the public school system. Others prefer to think of charter schools as the research and development division of the public school system by providing a new stimulus and vehicle for innovation. There are those who see charter schools as a threat to the conventional public school system. The fact is charter schools are increasing in number. More than 7,400 charter schools are already operating in the United States. In Pennsylvania, 163 charter schools have been approved since 1997, serving more than 169,000 students.
Q: What is a charter school?
A: A charter school is an independent public school, custom-designed by local citizens. It is typically endorsed or “chartered” by a public agency and has more freedom and flexibility than it would have as a magnet school or through waivers. A charter school may not charge tuition and it may not discriminate. Charter schools typically focus on a special curriculum approach, a new school organization approach or some other feature that sets them apart from regular public school offerings.
Q: What is the difference between a charter school and school vouchers?
A: Most proposed voucher systems would give tax dollars allocated for public education directly to parents to spend at whatever educational institution they choose. This would include private and parochial school. A charter school receives tax dollars allocated for public education from the local school district for each child it serves. A charter school is still a public school, accountable to district, state and federal regulations.
Q: Are charter schools religious schools?
A: No, charter schools are public schools. They cannot be sectarian, nor can they provide any religious instruction.
Q: Who may apply for a charter?
A: In Pennsylvania, a charter school may be established by an individual; one or more teachers who will teach at the proposed charter school; parents or guardians of students who will attend the charter school; any nonsectarian college, university or museum located in the Commonwealth; any nonsectarian corporation not-for-profit; any corporation; association, partnership; or any combination thereof.
Q: Can an existing public school become a charter school?
A: Yes, an existing public school may be converted to a charter school with the approval of more than 50 percent of parents and teaching staff.
Q: Who grants the charter for a school?
A: In Pennsylvania, the local school board grants the charter.
Q: How long does a charter last?
A: A charter school may be approved for no less than three and not more than five years. At the end of this time period, it may be renewed for five years.
Q: What are the costs for my child to attend the charter school?
A: Charter schools are public schools and, as such, may not charge tuition.
Q: How are charter schools funded?
A: A charter school receives tax dollars allocated for public education from the local school district for each child it serves. This is its primary source of income.
Tax dollars designated for education are distributed on a per pupil basis. If the child attends the regular public school, that money goes to the existing school district. If the child attends a charter school, that money goes to the charter school. These funds are expended regardless of whether the student attends the regular public school or the charter public school. However, some funding is held back from the charter school for special education programs, nonpublic school programs, adult education programs, community college programs, student transportation services, facilities acquisitions, construction and improvement services, debt services and fund transfers and federal programs.
Start-up funding grants are available for approved charter schools. A one-time payment from Federal and State funds is allocated to the new charter school based on student enrollment.
Q: Will my child be assigned to a charter school?
A: No, charter schools are schools of choice. Enrollment is voluntary. No student is assigned to a charter school.
Q: Can my child attend the charter school if we don’t live in the district?
A: The students of the school district that grants the charter receive first preference. Non-resident students may attend on a space-available basis.
Q: What happens if there are more applicants than space available in the charter school?
A: Students will be selected by lottery.
Q: Can I withdraw my child from a charter school?
A: Yes. If you are not satisfied with the match between the charter school and your child’s educational needs, your child may return to his or her assigned school within your district of residence.
Q: Is transportation to the charter school provided?
A: Students who reside in the school district, in which the charter school is located, shall be provided transportation to the charter school on the same terms and condition as transportation is provided to students attending other public schools in the district.
Nonresident students shall be provided transportation under Section 1361 of the Public School Code. The school district of student residence must provide transportation to a charter school up to ten miles from its border.
Q: Are the teachers in a charter school certified?
A: In Pennsylvania, 75% of the charter school’s teaching staff must be state-certified. The remaining 25% do not have to be, although they may be.
Q: Are charter schools accountable?
A: Charter schools remain accountable to the public through their contract with a local school board or other public authority. Charter schools must file annual reports regarding their academic and financial health and how well they are meeting their goals. If a charter school does not attract and keep students, it will go out of business.
Q: Do safeguards exist to protect the students in a charter school?
A: Yes, the charter school must adhere to all laws and regulations protecting the health, safety and civil rights of its students. The charter school must also adhere to other sections of the Public School Code and state regulations specifically enumerated in Act 22 of 1997. All employees of the charter school who have direct contact with the students must pass a criminal history record and child abuse clearance.
Q: Why should school boards support the creation of charter schools?
A: Charter schools enable communities to provide new and vibrant opportunities for their students and allow schools to operate without many of the costly and stifling mandates that hinder creativity and innovation in public education.
School boards can see firsthand how further mandate relief can benefit all public schools in Pennsylvania. Charter schools also foster innovation and serve as models for traditional public schools. Finally, through expanded community and parental involvement, charter schools increase support for public education in Pennsylvania.
Q: What happens once the charter application is submitted?
A: Within 45 days of receipt of an application, the local School Board shall hold at least one public hearing. The Board must either grant or deny the charter application between 45 and 75 days after the public hearing.
Q: What happens if the local school district doesn’t approve the charter application?
A: There is a State Charter Appeals Board (CAB) that hears appeals from groups that have been denied a charter, have had their charter revoked or have not had their charter renewed. In order to file an appeal, charter applicants must obtain the signatures of at least 2% of the adult residents of the school district or of 1,000 residents, whichever is less.
Q: How will local taxes be affected by the creation of the charter school?
A: Successful, well-managed charter schools can actually save taxpayers money. These schools may operate more efficiently with less money per student than regular public schools. The charter school may serve as a model of efficiency that the regular public schools can emulate, thus resulting in additional savings to taxpayers.
Q: Will the charter school adversely affect the finances of the district?
A: It shouldn’t. Funds allocated to educate a child follow the child to the charter school. The district no longer has those funds, but it also is no longer responsible for educating that child.
Q: Can employees of the regular public school system take a leave of absence to teach in a charter school?
A: Yes. Any public school employee of a school entity may request a leave of absence for up to five years in order to work in a charter school located in the district.
They shall have the right to return to a comparable position for which they are properly certified in the school entity which granted the leave.
Professional employees on leave from a school district shall retain their tenure rights in the school entity from which they came.
Q: What are the health care benefits for charter school employees?
A: Every employee of the charter school shall be provided the same health care benefits as the employee would be provided if he or she were an employee of the local district.
Q: What are the retirement benefits for charter school employees?
A: All employees of a charter school shall be enrolled in the public school employee’s retirement system or will be covered by another retirement plan offered by the local district or by the charter school.
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