Letter to the editor: Cyber school costs must be reined in

Imagine you’re in the grocery checkout with a loaf of bread. Two people behind you have the same loaf.

The cashier says, “You live in Greensburg. Your bread is $3.50.” To the next person, “You live in Ligonier. $4.” To the third, “You’re from Latrobe. $3.74.” Same bread. Same store. Same day. Different costs, depending on where the buyer lives.

Cyber charter schools use this method. Same education. Different per/pupil cost, based on the student’s home district.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget would mandate a flat fee, based on actual costs, for a student to attend any state cyber charter. A bill to accomplish this is in the Senate Education Committee.

The editorial “The fight over cyber charter money” (Feb. 20, TribLive) did not include this information: 1) cyber charter tuition is a primary driver of school district tax increases; 2) in 2021-22 Commonwealth Charter Academy, mentioned in the editorial, spent $75,000-plus to send students and families to Phillies games (This is an educational cost?); and 3) cybers are rarely or never audited.

Cybers are a needed option for parents, but costs must be reined in. Calls to Sens. Joe Pittman and Kim Ward are in order.

Helen Sitler

Ligonier