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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Pat Harkins |
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Harkins’ bill continues school district reimbursements for charter students
ERIE, April 17 – State Rep. Pat Harkins, D-Erie, has introduced legislation that would ensure the state’s public school districts are reimbursed charter school tuition costs at the same level in the 2008-09 state budget as in previous years.
Under Harkins’ bill, H.B. 2479, public school districts would be reimbursed 30 percent for covering the cost of enrollment for children to attend charter and cyber charter schools. He said the bill also would continue to reimburse at 32 percent those schools that spend more than $1 million annually and have a higher concentration of charter enrollment.
"I’m pleased to introduce this bill as part of the budget because it will again ensure the state’s school districts are reimbursed for charter enrollment," Harkins said. "Any student can attend the charter or cyber charter school of their choice within the state. Costs add up for school districts and the reimbursements are a great help for budgeting."
Tuition for children enrolled in charter schools is covered by the public school district where the child resides. Children from any of the state’s 501 school districts can enroll in any of the 117 charter and cyber charter schools currently operating in Pennsylvania.
Harkins said Erie’s 13 school districts received a total of $3.2 million in reimbursements for the 2007-08 school year, putting the cost of enrollment for charter students from Erie County near $10 million. Three charter schools operate in Erie County: Montessori Regional Charter School, Perseus House CS of Excellence, and Robert Benjamin Wiley Community CS.
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