Governor’s proposed Charter School Entities Funding Advisory Committee: We could save a lot of time and effort if we just let Mr. Gureghian and K12’s CEO Ron Packard set the charter funding formula….

Governor’s proposed Charter School Entities Funding Advisory Committee: 

We could save a lot of time and effort if we just let Mr. Gureghian and K12’s CEO Ron Packard set the charter funding formula….

Here is the section of SB1115 (a special education bill that was amended to include charter school reform provisions) as amended defining the composition, powers and duties of the Governor’s proposed Charter School Entities Funding Advisory Committee.  

Take a good look at the composition of the committee. Of the 17 members, most are either political appointees or charter school representatives.  Only 3 represent the school districts and taxpayers responsible for paying the bills.  Did the 120 House members who voted for this read this bill?

(1)  THE GOVERNOR SHALL CONVENE A STATEWIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES FUNDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO EXAMINE THE FINANCING OF CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE COMMITTEE SHALL EXAMINE HOW CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY FINANCES AFFECT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS, PUPILS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SCHOOLS THAT OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE EXISTING SCHOOL DISTRICT STRUCTURE AS A METHOD TO ACCOMPLISH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1702-A. THE OFFICE OF THE BUDGET AND THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, MEETING SPACE AND ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION.

(2)  THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:

(I)  ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE.

(II)  ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE APPOINTED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.

(III)  ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.

(IV)  ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(V)  ONE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

(VI)  ONE MEMBER OF THE MINORITY PARTY OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(VII)  THE SECRETARY OR A DESIGNEE.

(VIII)  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE BOARD OR A DESIGNEE.

(IX)  THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR:

(A)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT CHARTER SCHOOLS.

(B)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

(C)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS.

(D)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT TEACHERS, WHO MAY BE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, A CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER, A REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER, A CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER OR A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

(E)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

(F)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

(G)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT A BUSINESS MANAGER OF ASCHOOL DISTRICT.

(H)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT A PARENT OF A CHILD ATTENDING A CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY.

(I)  ONE MEMBER WHO SHALL REPRESENT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WITH EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING A CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY.

(3)  MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED WITHIN TWENTY (20) DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. ANY VACANCY ON THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE FILLED BY THE ORIGINAL APPOINTING OFFICER OR AGENCY. THE COMMITTEE SHALL SELECT A CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERSHIP AT AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING MUST TAKE PLACE NO LATER THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.

(4)  THE COMMITTEE SHALL HOLD MEETINGS AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIRMAN. THE COMMITTEE MAY HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THIS COMMONWEALTH. ALL MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE DEEMED PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 65 PA.C.S. CH. 7 (RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS). NINE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AT ANY MEETING. EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE MAY DESIGNATE ANOTHER PERSON TO REPRESENT THAT MEMBER AT MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE.

(5)  COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL NECESSARY TRAVEL AND OTHER REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AS MEMBERS. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, THE COMMITTEE SHALL UTILIZE THE SERVICES AND EXPERTISE OF EXISTING PERSONNEL AND STAFF OF STATE GOVERNMENT. THE DEPARTMENT MAY UTILIZE UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS NOT EXPENDED, ENCUMBERED OR COMMITTED FROM APPROPRIATIONS FOR GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT, NOT TO EXCEED $300,000, TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION.

(6)  THE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:

(I)  MEET WITH CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY OPERATORS WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS WITH BLENDED PROGRAMS.

(II)  REVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY FINANCING LAWS IN OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

(III)  EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FOLLOWING:

(A)  POWERS AND DUTIES EXTENDED TO CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES AS THEY RELATE TO FINANCING.

(B)  FUNDING FORMULAS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES, INCLUDING REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES AND FUNDING UNDER TITLE I OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 (PUBLIC LAW 89-10, 20 U.S.C. CH. 63 ET SEQ.).

(C)  THE PROCESS BY WHICH CHARTER SCHOOLS ENTITIES ARE FUNDED UNDER SECTION 1725-A.

(D)  STUDENT RESIDENCY AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING.

(E)  SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAM FUNDING.

(F)  CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY TRANSPORTATION.

(G)  CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITY ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE GRANTS AND FUNDING.

(H)  APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT FEES ON CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES.

(I)  CONSIDERATION OF RECOGNIZING CHARTER SCHOOL ENTITIES FOR ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS AS A LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY.

(IV)  THE COMMITTEE SHALL, NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2012, ISSUE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.