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Public comment urges support for House Bill 1500 to curb cyber-charter tuition costs
Summary
A resident urged the board and community to support House Bill 1500, saying reform could save the district about $1.1 million annually by changing how cyber-charter schools are funded.
A public commenter urged the Souderton board to press state lawmakers for cyber-charter funding reform, saying passage of House Bill 1500 would reduce district payments to cyber-charter schools and could save the district about $1.1 million a year.
Alex Wisser, an Upper Salford Township resident, told the board the current cyber-charter funding formula is "outdated" and forces local districts to overpay virtual schools, drawing funds away from special education, mental-health services and classroom needs. He said the bill does not eliminate school choice but would limit excessive tuition rates and require greater accountability from cyber charters.
Wisser named state representatives and senators whose votes he said were decisive: he said Representative Sharon (formerly a district board member) and Representative Mackenzie voted against HB 1500, while Representative Malagari voted in favor. The speaker urged residents to contact Senators (named in the meeting) to support analogous bipartisan bills under consideration in the state Senate.
Board members said the district continues to advocate for cyber-charter reform and that the topic is being tracked at the state level. The board did not take a formal position on HB 1500 during the meeting.
Why it matters: The current funding formula can divert local tax dollars to cyber-charter tuition; reform could free local funds for district programs.
What to watch: Legislation in the state Senate and continued local advocacy by school boards and residents.
