This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to create a Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council tasked with developing recommendations on funding processes, amounts, and restrictions for cyber charter schools. The council will also address policies related to governance, assessment, enrollment, and student wellness, and is required to hold public hearings and submit recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by April 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill modifies existing provisions regarding advertising and sponsorships, mandating public school entities to report their expenditures in these areas as part of their annual financial reporting. It introduces new definitions for special education funding and establishes specific funding rates for cyber charter schools, emphasizing accountability in the funding process.

Moreover, the bill implements new accountability measures for cyber charter schools, including the requirement to submit detailed financial statements and pay a calculated amount to the Commonwealth based on their unassigned fund balance. It also introduces a moratorium on new cyber charter school applications from the 2025-2026 school year through the 2029-2030 school year, enhances enrollment notification requirements, and mandates wellness checks for students. The bill increases the percentage of special education appropriations allocated for extraordinary expenses from 1% to 2% starting in the 2025-2026 school year, and sets limits on funding for school districts and charter schools, capping annual funding at $150,000 for most districts and $300,000 for first-class districts. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1795 (May 30, 2025): P.L.30, No.14, P.L. 343, No.176
Printer's No. 1807 (Jun 02, 2025): P.L.30, No.14, P.L. 343, No.176
Printer's No. 1829 (Jun 03, 2025): P.L.30, No.14, P.L. 343, No.176