PBS39 News Reports
CHARTER REFORM
Clip: Season 2019 | 4m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Pa. schools superintendents demanding changes to the state's charter school laws
CHARTER REFORM: Presser by Pa. schools superintendents demanding changes to the state's charter school laws and funding formulas. STACI
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PBS39 News Reports is a local public television program presented by PBS39
PBS39 News Reports
CHARTER REFORM
Clip: Season 2019 | 4m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
CHARTER REFORM: Presser by Pa. schools superintendents demanding changes to the state's charter school laws and funding formulas. STACI
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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>>> A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN HEAVILY DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA.
CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THE MONEY TAXPAYERS ARE FORCED TO PAY.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD PRESS CONFERENCES TO URGED LAWMAKERS AND OFFICIALS TO CHANGE THE WAY THE SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED.
>> MY MARK IS IMPORTANT.
SHE IS STANDING UP FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SHE IS A SENIOR AT LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THOUGH SHE IS OFF TO COLLEGE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VOICE.
>> I AND POTENTIALLY WILL HAVE KIDS.
I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE BEST SYSTEM.
IT COULD BE AND IT STARTS NOW .
>> Reporter: THAT IS WHY THE BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT ALONG WITH 16 OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD A CALL TO ACTION ON REFORMING EDUCATION.
>> THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAVE TO GIVE TO A CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDENT THAT IS NOW ENROLLED IN A CHARTER SCHOOL IS EXCESSIVE.
>> Reporter: OFFICIALS SAY THAT FUNDING IS DISPROPORTIONATE FOR POORER DISTRICTS AND DISTRICTS WITH A LARGE POPULATION OF MINORITY STUDENTS.
CHARTER IS HURTING THAT POPULATION EVEN MORE.
43% OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMPARED TO 15.3% IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS STATEWIDE.
>> YOU MIGHT EDUCATE 43% OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUT YOU WERE BEING PAID TOO MUCH TO DO SO.
>> RIGHT NOW UNDER THE LAW PUBLIC DISTRICT 2 STUDENTS CHOOSE TO ATTEND AND CHARTER SCHOOL PAY THE PER PUPIL COST WHICH WILL COST HIM SCHOOLS $30 MILLION THIS YEAR AND ALLENTOWN $60 MILLION.
A BIG PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAVE SPENT VERSUS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN CHARTER SCHOOLS.
ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS IN 2018 TUITION FOR CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH $25,527.
THEIR DATA SHOWS THAT CHARTERS ARE SPENDING MUCH LESS THAN THAT.
AT THE CIRCLE OF SEASONS CHARTER SCHOOL IN COSTS $4800 TO EDUCATE A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT.
THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE OTHER $20,000?
>> PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE TO SEND ALL THAT MONEY TO CYBER CHARTERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.
THAT MEANS THE PROPERTY TAXES GO HIGHER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT COMPLEX OF MONEY WITHOUT IT IMPACTING THE DOLLARS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS , THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHEN THAT MONEY IS GOING OUT TO CHARTERS, DISTAL DISTRICT HAS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON IF TEACHERS GET CUT OR PROGRAMS GET CUT >> WHAT THE PRIMARY REASON FOR SCHOOL IS TO LEARN IS HARD TO KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE IT GIVES CHILDREN MORE DESIRE TO GET AN EDUCATION >> THE SPORTS, THE BAND, STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
IF ALL OF MY MONEY IS GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU WILL LOSE THE KIDS WANTING TO GO TO SCHOOL .
>> SHE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MONEY THAT COULD BE USED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> I THINK IF WANTS THAT IS FOUND LIKE DR.
ROHIT SAID THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO HAVE MORE THINGS IN THE SCHOOL LIKE ELECTIVES WE ONCE HAD >> THE COALITION ALSO SAID IN THE STATEMENT THEY AGREED TO SCHOOL FUNDING SHOULD BE PERFORMED BUT THEY DO NOT THINK MONEY SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.
CHARTER SCHOOLS RECEIVE 80% OF WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND ON STUDENTS.
SCHOOL DISTRICT KEEP MONEY FOR FACILITIES AND DEBT SERVICE.
THEY SPENT 12.4% OF THEIR BUDGETS AND GROWING PENSION COSTS WHICH IS TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY SPEND ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.
PARENTS SHOULD HAVE OTHER OPTIONS IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL SAYING THEY SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO GO TO A FEELING SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THEIR ZIP CODE.
>> THE PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING INTO THE BAD AND I WISH IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> Reporter: THEY WILL KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL CHANGES ARE MADE IN HARRISBURG FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE TAXPAYERS.
FOR NOW, PBS 39 NEWS TONIGHT.
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