Pottstown School District’s misguided attack on charter schools

The Pottstown School District Board of Education and superintendent have their hands full, having just made the important transition from “enrichment and review” to formal virtual learning on April 27 — for high schoolers. The rest of the students should formally resume new learning material on May 4, seven weeks after the statewide shutdown.

Why, then, are the board and Superintendent Rodriguez wasting time bashing cyber charter schools, who are leaders in virtual learning?

The board’s recentlypassed resolution levels two main charges:

1. “Overfunded” charter schools take funds away from underfunded district schools.

2. Cyber charter schools perform poorly on test scores.

Let’s look at the latest data.

Per Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania public schools spent an average of $17,600 per student — $3,900 more than the national average.

But what about Pottstown schools?

Pottstown around $18,400.

But what about the charter schools?

On average, $15,400 follows Pottstown kids from the district to charter schools — $3,000 less than kids in the district.

In terms of school performance, we know there are numerous educational factors — such as safety spends and flexibility — parents care about more than test scores. I assume Pottstown School District wouldn’t want to be judged solely on assessment results, as they lag 20 points behind state averages on PSSA ELA and Math.

Some 180 (5%) Pottstown kids attend charter schools, because that’s what their parents think is best. They get 4% of district revenue. Superintendent Rodriguez, you call these schools “overfunded” — do the math and explain why you’re attacking charter school families.

Marc LeBlond is a senior policy analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free market think tank in Harrisburg.