Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) has issued a statement following a letter sent by nine Pennsylvania-based cyber charter schools to the General Assembly. The letter urges lawmakers not to include certain provisions from House Bill 1500 in the upcoming state budget.
According to Cutler, “The letter sent to every member of the House and Senate last night from nine cyber charter schools based in Pennsylvania proves what I and fellow Republicans have been saying about House Bill 1500. House Bill 1500 is not cyber charter reform, rather it is an attempt to destroy cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania.”
Cutler referenced concerns outlined in the letter, stating that if the bill’s provisions are included in the 2025-26 budget, funding for public cyber charter schools would be reduced by $616 million statewide. He warned that such cuts could force all nine schools either to change their operating models significantly or close within two years. Cutler added, “If these cuts are enacted, hundreds of educators and support staff for these schools would also be let go. That is on top of the near $20 million in cuts they made last year and the nearly $40 million in cuts they may have to make this year.”
He emphasized his belief that bipartisan solutions are possible for cyber charter reform but criticized House Bill 1500 as inadequate: “I have stressed repeatedly that I believe there is a bipartisan solution to cyber charter reform here in Pennsylvania. Time and time again, however, we are shown statistics that House Bill 1500 is not it.” He further stated, “If any provisions from that legislation make it into the budget, 65,000 students who are currently enrolled in cyber charter will be forced back into situations that do not work for them. We must not include these provisions in any final budget, or these students will pay the price.”
The debate over funding and oversight of cyber charter schools remains ongoing among Pennsylvania lawmakers.
