Letter to the editor: Cyber charter money, accountability

Your editorial “The fight over cyber charter money” (Feb. 20, TribLive) wrongly implies public cyber charter schools receive the same per-pupil funding. In Pennsylvania, only 75% of a family’s tax dollars follows a student to their cyber. When you do the math, that means Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts get to keep millions of dollars each year for doing nothing. That’s a pretty good deal.

You also claim public cybers aren’t as accountable as districts. Every Pennsylvania charter school is required to have its charter renewed — or it is closed. When was the last time a failing traditional public school was closed? The answer is never. Pennsylvania just keeps throwing money at the problem with no accountability.

Accounting for the fact that school districts have $5.2 billion in budget reserves and received billions more in pandemic relief, it’s fair to ask: How much is enough for districts? Especially when public cybers are already receiving so much less.

Letrisha Weber

Indianapolis, Ind.

The writer is president of Parents for School Options.