Don’t Punish Cyber Charters for Being Fiscally Responsible

Originally published on RealClearPennsylvania.

Pennsylvania cyber charter schools are under attack for—of all things—not wastefully spending taxpayer money.

The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General recently audited a sample of cyber charter schools. After examining five of the state’s 14 cyber charter schools, the auditor general released its findings. Opponents of cyber charters repeatedly point to their operating surplus of $365 million, claiming these schools hoard public dollars. As lawmakers prepare to negotiate the 2025–26 state budget, calls to defund cyber charters have reached a fevered pitch.

But if you think cyber charter reserves warrant scrutiny, so do traditional brick-and-mortar institutions. Public school districts currently hold about $6.8 billion in reserves. Despite their sizable reserves, Pennsylvania public schools still demand more. Several districts among them, Central Bucks, Easton, and three in Centre County – plan to raise property taxes in June rather than tap into reserves. The Independent Fiscal Office projected property tax revenue—the primary funding source for school districts—to double in growth from previous years.

Read more on RealClearPennsylvania.