The education committee of the state house of representatives this week approved a bill that would reform cyber charter school funding.
Amendments to House Bill 1500 would establish standardized tuition rates for special and regular education students in cyber charter schools across the state. For standard education, the tuition rate would be $8000, while special education students would receive that flat rate plus additional expenses. That rate could increase annually based on the average change in real estate taxes across all school districts or the statewide weekly wage and employment cost index, whichever was lower. No rules are in place to lower tuition if and when the metrics show a decrease.
The bill would also limit unassigned fund balances for cyber charter schools to 12% of its total expenditures, with any additional funding remanded back to local school districts. It also would make sure unassigned balances could not fund bonuses, employment incentives or be transferred to a charter school foundation.
The vote was 14-12 along party lines. Republicans say the bill was rushed and warned the proposed tuition cap could limit access to cyber charter schools for students outside their home districts.
The bill is now headed to the full house for a vote.
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