Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed changes to the state’s charter school law.

That law has changed little in over 20 years.

And, COVID-19 is driving many more people to cyber charter schools — and sending tax dollars with them.

“The urgent need to hold charter schools and cyber charter schools accountable has increased as enrollment and taxpayer costs have swelled during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wolf said.

His proposal “holds low-performing charter schools accountable to improve the quality of education, protects taxpayers by reining in skyrocketing charter school costs and increases the transparency of for-profit companies that run many charter schools.”

Charter schools do not charge tuition. They receive most of their funding on a per-pupil basis from their students’ districts of residence.

In general, Tidioute Community Charter School officials do not oppose targeted reform.

They see some problems with the proposal, though.

“Gov. Wolf’s charter school reform proposal has flaws in our view, but reform is acceptable in some areas,” CEO Dr. Doug Allen said.

According to a release from the governor’s office, “The state’s flawed and outdated charter school law is regarded as one of the worst in the nation. The uncontrolled cost of charter schools is draining funding from traditional neighborhood public schools, forcing school districts to cut educational programs and hike local property taxes. Last year, taxpayers spent $2.1 billion on charter schools, including more than $600 million on cyber schools. This year, the burden on taxpayers will increase by more than $400 million. Between 2013 and 2019, 44 cents of every $1 of new property taxes went to charter schools, according to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.”

The proposal “saves $99 million a year by applying the special education funding formula for traditional public schools to charter schools as recommended by the Bipartisan Special Education Funding Commission,” according to the release. “The current flawed process requires school districts to pay charter schools using the outdated assumption that 16 percent of students get special education. As a result, some charters are vastly overpaid for services they do not provide, leaving special education students in school districts and other charter schools with less funding.”

At Tidioute, those services are provided and ‘saving’ those dollars would be at the expense of students, according to Allen.

“To simply say that charter schools do not need special education funding is wrong,” Allen said. “At TCCS we hire special education aides, provide all or any legally required IEP services by state or federal law and have all required programs.”

“Special needs students require expenses beyond what a non-special education requires,” he said. “The governor wishes to clarify that funding. We do not disagree that possible reforms may be worthwhile, however special needs students require additional expenditures.

Allen also acknowledges the differences between brick-and-mortar charter schools like TCCS and cyber charter schools.

“In Pennsylvania cyber charter schools are funded the same way that brick-and-mortar charters are funded,” he said. “That can be studied. Gov. Wolf wants to review that formula.”

“TCCS has a gym, sports, heating bills, etc. while cybers do not have those expenses,” Allen said. “But, they have other, different types of expenses.”

The governor also wants to hold low-performing charter schools accountable.

“Charter schools with very low achievement scores may be held to stricter standards under Gov. Wolf’s plan for reform,” At TCCS we would not have any issues with that reform.”