Charter schools must report to the Pennsylvania Department of Education unexcused absences, but each one has individual enrollment and attendance policies, leading to inconsistent reporting, inaccurate data, and confusion about when a student has left the charter school to return to their home district or been moved to another placement. This leaves the risk of some students falling through the cracks.
 
My legislation will require a board of trustees for every charter school to report annually to the Pennsylvania Department of Education the number of students who leave the charter school, whether returning to their home district or transferring to another placement. This will ensure accountability and accurate tracking of student movements.
 
By addressing reporting inconsistencies, my legislation will improve transparency, reduce the potential for miscommunication between schools and districts, and ensure that all students are properly accounted for. It will also help maintain accurate data that can help inform decisions and improve educational outcomes for all students.
 
The time is now to close this loophole of students between public school districts and charter schools. Please join me in supporting this legislation to keep charter schools accountable and ensure every student is accounted for.