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| Authorizer |
Charter funding policies and reporting practices within each state may vary depending on the entity that authorized the charter school. Charter schools in Pennsylvania may be authorized by local school districts, and virtual charter schools may be authorized by the state Department of Education. References:
“Charter Schools: What organizations may authorize charter schools, and is there a statewide authorizing body?” Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison, January 2018.
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| Funding Formula |
Funding for charter schools in Pennsylvania is calculated based on local school district expenditures. Charter schools receive payments based on the per student expenditures in the charter students’ district(s) of residence, including funding raised from local taxes. The per student expenditure includes all general fund expenditures, excluding expenditures for special education, adult education, transportation, facilities acquisition, construction or improvement, and other costs. For students with disabilities, the charter school receives the per student payment for non-students with disabilities, plus an additional amount based on the district’s special education expenditure. References:
24 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 17-1725-A (Lexis 2019) 24 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 25-2501 (Lexis 2019)
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| Funding Distribution | |||||
| Funding Distribution |
Charter schools in Pennsylvania receive all funding through local school districts. Charter schools receive funding from the local school district(s) where charter students reside. References:
24 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 17-1725-A (Lexis 2019)
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| Withholdings |
State law in Pennsylvania does not specify that a share of charter funding is withheld. References:
24 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 17-1725-A (Lexis 2019).
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| Local Taxes |
All charter schools in Pennsylvania receive a share of local tax revenue. Charter schools are funded based on local school district expenditures, including funding raised through local taxes. References:
24 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 17-1725-A (Lexis 2019) |
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| Data and Reporting | |||||
| Legal Status |
Charter schools in Pennsylvania constitute their own local education agencies. References:
pers. comm. Charter Schools Office, Pennsylvania Department of Education, email, January 2, 2019.
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| Student Count |
Charter school students in Pennsylvania are counted as students of the school district(s) where the students reside for most state reporting purposes. Charter school students are counted as students of the charter, but are then attributed to the district(s) where they reside. References:
pers. comm. Charter Schools Office, Pennsylvania Department of Education, email, January 2, 2019
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| Funding |
State funding for charter schools in Pennsylvania is reported as part of state funding for the school district(s) where charter students reside. References:
pers. comm. Charter Schools Office, Pennsylvania Department of Education, email, January 2, 2019.
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| Expenditures |
Charter school expenditures in Pennsylvania are reported separately from expenditures of any school district. References:
pers. comm. Charter Schools Office, Pennsylvania Department of Education, email, January 2, 2019.
Click here for Pennsylvania's traditional district funding information. |
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Funded: Charters
A Detailed Look at Each State's Charter School Funding Policies
Below, see summaries of the state’s education funding policy in each issue area. Click the Expand icon next to any summary to see more detail, if available, about that state’s policy regarding that issue area. Click the Citation icon
next to any summary to see the sources of the information regarding that issue area.