COATESVILLE - The Coatesville Area School District passed a lengthy resolution Monday in support of legislation that would require greater accountability from cyber-charter schools and provide relief to taxpayers. Between the school years 2001-2002 and 2006-2007, Coatesville's school district expenditures for students enrolled at cyber-charter schools was $3,560,222. But the school district only received $817,594 reimbursement from the commonwealth. "While a number of expenses rise each year and contribute to overall increases in school districts' budgets, the dollars required for cyber-charter school payments represents (one of the fastest growing line-items in our district's budget and) money of which my fellow board members, superintendent and I have no oversight," said school board President Donna Urban in a statement. "We are simply expected to pay this bill with local tax dollars, while the Pennsylvania Department of Education has oversight over the schools and the education they are providing to our resident students." There are 124 Coatesville students enrolled cyber-charter schools in 13 different grade levels. "We cannot close a classroom or a school or eliminate a bus route, teaching position or reduce utility expenses," Urban said. "Even without these students, our costs remain the same. Therefore, cyber-charter school payments are one more item that local taxpayers must finance. Our district has never received full reimbursement from the state for these expenses." The prime sponsor of House Bill 446 is state Rep. Karen Beyer, R-131, of Lower Saucon, in Northampton County. The bill will amend the act of March 10, 1949, of the public school code, which calls for the commonwealth to reimburse up to 30 percent of the school district's charter-school payments. If the law is amended through House Bill 446, it would establish a statewide cyber-charter school tuition rate based on the most efficient and effective cyber-charter school's actual expenditures. Although Beyer could not speculate on how many of the state's 501 school districts support the bill, she said many favor it because of the rising costs of cyber-charter schools. "I've not talked to a school district that is opposed to (the bill)," Beyer said. Michael Race, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, said House Bill 446 includes language for a new funding formula for cyber-charter schools as well as providing for greater accountability of these schools, both of which the department supports. "The department believes that in too many cases Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars are not going for their intended use. Simply put, charter schools should be investing their resources in students - not building up massive balances," said Tom Gluck, executive deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, in a testimony before the House Education Committee on Sept. 19, 2007. "That is why we support legislation that creates a rational and equitable system for funding cyber-charter schools." Under the law, the school district of residence for each cyber-charter student is responsible for providing payment to the cyber-charter school. "One-fifth of Pennsylvania school districts have to spend less per student than the cyber-charter schools collect in per pupil revenue - although cyber schools do not face the same costs as brick-and-mortar schools," Gluck said. House Bill 446 was introduced to the state's House Education Committee on Feb. 22, 2007, and it received approval from the Education Committee in November. It was later referred to the state's House Appropriations Committee on Dec. 7, 2007. The bill is still with the Appropriations Committee. According to Barbara Fellencer, a spokeswoman for state Rep. Dwight Evans, D-203, of Philadelphia, who is the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, the bill will not be considered on its own because of funding issues that are involved. "Education funding is a big budget issue," Fellencer said. "Anytime you have large funding issues, it gets rolled into the budget." Coatesville's resolution states not only does the school board support House Bill 446, it also encourages local elected officials to become a sponsor and vote favorably for this bill. The resolution tasks Urban to contact the school district's state legislators about its position. There are no Chester County legislators listed as sponsors of the bill. In addition, the board will encourage parents and teachers to contact the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support the bill. "If we, that is taxpayers, school board members and legislators are serious about local-tax reform, then we must start looking at the costs that drive school boards to increase local property taxes," Urban said. "Cyber-charter school payments are one of those costs, and House Bill 446 is a responsible first step to help our local school districts and taxpayers." To contact staff writer Danielle Lynch, send an e-mail to dlynch@dailylocal.com. | 
