Pennsylvania

NCAI Region: Northeast

State Public Education Department: Pennsylvania Department of Education

State Average Per Pupil Funding: $15,291

Charter Support Organizations: Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charters

Year Charter Law Enacted: 1997

2020 Model Law Ranking: 35

Estimated Number of Charter Schools: 186

Estimated Number of Charter Students: 143,201

Pennsylvania law provides that the state department of education must calculate an approved reimbursable rental charge for leases of buildings or portions of buildings for charter school use which have been approved by the state secretary of education on or after July 1, 2001. It provides that this charge is the lesser of the annual rent payable under the provision of the approved lease agreement or the product of the enrollment times $160 for elementary schools, $220 for secondary schools, or $270 for area vocational-technical schools. However, these figures are discounted to 50% or the market value aid ratio, whichever is higher.
Pennsylvania law allows the state secretary of education to allocate grants for planning and startup funding to eligible applicants. The amount of a planning grant may vary depending on the size and scope of the planning needed by the applicant. A grant for startup funding may vary depending on the size and special characteristics of the charter school. A startup grant may be used to meet the expenses of the charter school. The state is not currently providing funding to this program.
Pennsylvania law allows charter schools to apply for tax-exempt financing through the State Public School Building Authority, but its bond intercept law does not include charter schools (which would enhance credit ratings for charter schools).
Pennsylvania law provides that charter school facilities are exempt from public school facility regulations except those pertaining to the health or safety of the pupils.
The law states that all school property, real and personal, owned by any charter school, cyber charter school or an associated nonprofit foundation, or owned by a nonprofit corporation or nonprofit foundation and leased to a charter school, cyber charter school or associated nonprofit foundation at or below fair market value, that is occupied and used by any charter school or cyber charter school for public school, recreation or any other purposes provided for by this act, shall be made exempt from every kind of State, county, city, borough, township or other real estate tax.