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Legislative council report flags special-education and cyber-charter funding concerns
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Summary
The board's legislative representative reported that special-education enrollment growth and fixed cyber-charter reimbursements are straining district finances; council members discussed tort reform and potential reductions to charter transportation radius as cost-saving options.
Mr. Fox, the board's legislative representative, briefed the board on recent Chester County School Boards Legislative Council activity and a legislative breakfast held April 17. He said the council highlighted rising special-education enrollment and structural funding issues at the state level and urged systemic change.
"One topic was on special ed funding. The number of students that are served or in need is increasing," Mr. Fox said, adding that the current state funding structure constrains districts. He also said cyber charter reimbursements are fixed "despite often being above the actual cost to serve the students, and the taxpayers lose as they pay more than the provider incurs." He described a tort-reform discussion that raised concerns about settlement incentives and reported that reducing the charter transportation requirement from 10 to 5 miles was raised as a possible way to save costs, though there appeared to be little interest among legislators at the session to pursue that change.
Mr. Fox closed by noting the council meets monthly and will meet again on April 22. Board members did not take formal action on any legislative proposals during the meeting.
