Attorney John E. Freund, III Speaks Before House Education Committee

Attorney John E. Freund, III was invited to speak before the House Education Committee on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 about Cyber Charter School Legislation. In the State Museum Auditorium in Harrisburg, Mr. Freund spoke in support of House Bill 446, sponsored by Representative Karen Beyer.

HB 446, or the Beyer Bill, calls for full state funding of cyber school education and the establishment of a cost-based formula for determining the amount of per-pupil payment. The Beyer Bill presents the most comprehensive and appropriate framework ultimately for the Legislature to continue its re-examination and refinement of the Cyber Charter School alternative to public education.

The Beyer Bill provides for the Secretary of Education to determine the amount of funding for regular education students based upon the cyber charter’s actual cost of operation or by regulation to establish a uniform annual payment for cyber charter schools based on a statewide average cost of cyber charter schools operating within the Commonwealth. Cyber charter schools would be entitled to an administrative appeal to the Secretary of Education for additional payment based on exceptional circumstances. Funding would be by appropriation by the general assembly. In exchange, students enrolled in cyber charter schools would not be included in the average daily membership of the students, district or residents for purposes of providing basic education funding payments or special education funding. A compromise appears in the works, and the Beyer Bill will likely be approved in some form with less than 100 percent funding.

Read Mr. Freund's testimony

Contact: John E. Freund, III