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Today, the House passed charter reform legislation (HB97), updating PA’s law governing brick-and-mortar and cyber charter schools, which has been called “the worst in the nation” from our own Auditor General. Below is a statement from Jonathan Cetel, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Campaign for Achievement Now (PennCAN) on the House’s action:
“After five years of working towards the passage of a piece of charter reform legislation, we are pleased to see House Bill 97 make it out of the House of Representatives and move to the Senate for consideration.
As strong advocates for meaningful charter reform, PennCAN acknowledges that HB97 is not perfect but it is an essential first-step towards modernizing Pennsylvania’s outdated charter law and ensuring high-quality options for students. We are pleased that HB97 contained provisions to provide high-performing charters with the opportunity for 10-year renewals and the creation of a bipartisan commission to study charter funding.
HB97 is product of ongoing collaboration and compromise between the General Assembly and interest groups representing school districts and charter schools. We look forward to continued conversations with the Senate as they work to pass HB97 and send a meaningful charter bill to Governor Wolf’s desk.”
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