Derry Area board affirms Act 1 limit; cites cyber‑charter tuition savings in updated PDE‑363

The Derry Area School District board voted to adopt a resolution stating the district will not raise the millage rate beyond the state’s Act 1 index for the 2026–27 fiscal year, a formality tied to the district’s acceptance of adequacy dollars, the finance chair said.

During the finance committee report, district staff said the adjusted Act 1 index is 4.7%, which the chair said translates to a cap of about 4.31 mills. The chair noted one mill for the district represents roughly $140,000 in revenue; at the stated cap that could represent just over $600,000 in potential revenue if the district had chosen to raise to that limit.

The committee also summarized state changes to cyber‑charter funding and said revised PDE‑363 reporting and calculation guidance lowered cyber‑charter tuition rates: for regular education students the rate fell from about $14,000 to $12,376 per student, and for special‑education cyber students the figure dropped from roughly $28,000 to $23,391. The district currently has 46 regular‑education students enrolled in cyber charters; staff estimated the 2025–26 change would result in net savings and noted the district budgeted a cyber‑charter reimbursement line.

The board approved the revised PDE‑363 form as presented, and also approved the 2025–26 IDEA 611 special‑education funding agreement with the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, which the finance chair said allocates $443,000 toward special‑education salaries and benefits.

Finance officials said they will continue to monitor cyber‑charter reimbursement rules and advocate for further reforms.

The Act 1 resolution, PDE‑363 submission and IDEA 611 agreement were all approved by voice votes during the meeting.