Charter schools: Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve better

On Sept. 22, the Daily Local News ran an oped piece from Lowman Henry titled “The Education Establishment targeting Charter Schools.” I suppose that since it was on the op-ed page, I shouldn’t be surprised that the essay was very heavy on the “op” part. However, Mr. Lowman offered no facts to support his argument that Governor Wolf is targeting charter schools with his proposed reforms to “protect the wealth and power of the education establishment.”

I, for one, support Governor Wolf’s reforms, and I see this as a politician (finally!) stepping up and holding charter schools responsible and accountable. Finally, Pennsylvania taxpayers are having their tax money protected instead of some wealthy charter school owners and private interests.

Before one leaps to judgement and agrees with Mr. Lowman, please read the following facts about Charter Schools. I’d also like to remind all taxpayers that school choice does not automatically equal a better option. Statistically, charter schools are not holding their own.

First, Governor Wolf’s proposed actions will save PA taxpayers almost $290 million a year. How? Simple. It costs about $5000 to educate a student using cyber charter schools. However, those cyber charters receive anywhere from $7000 to $11,000 per student of taxpayer money. If the child is a student identified with a disability that makes them eligible for special education, the cyber charter may receive as much as $40,000 to educate that student. Unlike most states, PA school districts pay charter schools (bricks-and-mortar and cyber) per-pupil tuition from their taxpayer levy based not on the school’s instructional costs, but rather on how much the district pays to educate its own students. Because there are little to no costs to maintain buildings or provide transportation, and because class size in some cyber charters is substantially higher, there is an extraordinary opportunity to profit. It’s time for reform.

So, where does the extra money go? It doesn’t matter. They don’t have to tell us. Cyber charter owners and supporters want all the “choice” but there is responsibility that comes with that choice. For starters, some charter school operators have donated almost $400k to PA State GOP legislators. They also spend on average, more than $500 per pupil on advertising. Several charter school operators are in prison for racketeering and fraud. Some own private jets, yachts and luxury homes. And you paid for it.

Why are Charter Schools collecting more than a quarter of PA Public Education Funding, when they only enroll 6% of the students? Why do the people and for-profit entities who run these charters own planes and mansions? Why are they allowed to turn a profit based on public education and taxpayer dollars, and not have to be accountable to that profit?

Cyber Charters (and all charters, actually) do not get results. First, the most basic measure-graduation rate. The graduation rate for PA Cyber Charters is 31% to 70% (Stanford University study, 2018). The PA statewide average is 86%. That’s just one measure but PA Charter Schools have never measured up to the non-charters. Yet, they are allowed to turn a profit and deliverable abysmal results.

Why has this been allowed to occur for two decades?

Public Education is not perfect. We certainly need some change. But in Chester County alone, taxpayers could save almost $10 million annually with Governor Wolf’s proposed changes. Money that could be spent on educating our kids, not buying a new boat for a Charter School operator or funding some legislator’s campaign to keep this racket going.

Protect the wealth and power of the education establishment? C’mon, surely you joke. What was that $360k for then, that was paid to PA GOP legislators? It was to protect the charter school establishment with antiquated laws and loopholes.

It’s time to hold PA Charter Schools accountable, and I applaud Governor Wolf’s efforts. Know the facts before you declare it an “attack” on anyone, as the PA taxpayer has been played as a fool for 20 years by these schools. Party’s over.