Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB723

Introduced
4/12/23  

Caption

In charter schools, providing for invoices for special education services.

Impact

If passed, HB 723 would contribute to significant changes in state education laws concerning charter schools and their responsibilities regarding special education. By creating a structured approach to invoicing, the bill is intended to minimize errors and discrepancies in billing, which can often lead to disputes between charter schools and service providers. Additionally, it may affect the allocation of state funds destined for special education services, promoting a fairer distribution and usage of these resources within charter schools.

Summary

House Bill 723 addresses provisions related to charter schools, specifically focusing on the handling and invoicing of special education services. The bill seeks to establish clear guidelines for how charter schools should invoice for these services, potentially impacting the financial management and reporting processes within these educational institutions. This measure aims to create transparency and consistency in the way special education services are funded and billed, ensuring that resources allocated for such services are effectively utilized.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 723 appears to be generally positive among education advocates who believe that standardized invoicing practices will enhance accountability and transparency. Supporters argue that the clear guidelines proposed by the bill are crucial for improving the quality of special education services within charter schools. However, there may be concerns from some charter school administrators about the operational implications and additional administrative burden that could arise from the enforced invoicing requirements.

Contention

Nonetheless, notable points of contention might arise regarding the financial implications of implementing these invoicing guidelines. Critics may argue that increased bureaucracy could hinder charter schools' flexibility and responsiveness, which are often cited as key advantages in their management. Additionally, some stakeholders might raise concerns about the adequacy and sufficiency of funding for special education services within these new regulations. Balancing accountability with operational autonomy will be a critical debate surrounding HB 723.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB799

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

PA HB480

In charter schools, providing for full-time cyber education program offered by school district.

PA HB2424

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

PA HB1500

In preliminary provisions, providing for Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council and furthe r providing for advertising and sponsorships; in pupils and attendance, further providing for exceptional children and education and training; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for funding for cyber charter schools, for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions, providing for cyber charter school fund balance accountability, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, for cyber charter school application, for enrollment and notification, for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations and providing for cyber charter school moratorium; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

PA HB2358

In charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools.

PA HB495

In charter schools, further providing for enrollment.

PA SB816

In school health services, providing for parent educational information regarding eating disorders.

PA HB1372

In preliminary provisions, further providing for advertising and sponsorships; and, in charter scho ols, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities, for enrollment, for funding for charter schools, for funding for cyber charter schools, for powers and duties of department, for assessment and evaluation and for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions, providing for fund balance limits and for educational management service providers, further providing for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities and for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewal of charters, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination and further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application, for enrollment and notification and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB2293

In charter schools, further providing for enrollment.

PA SB315

An act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission and for minimum number of days or hours; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities; in intermediate units, further providing for staff; in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and for State certificate fee reduction, further providing for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate, for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education and for postbaccalaureate certification, providing for assessment of basic skills, further providing for professional educator discipline fee and providing for career and technical administrative director certification flexibility; in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation, for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements and for study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction and for exceptional children and education and training; in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator and for school safety and security training, providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2025-2026 school year and further providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students and for enrollment of students; in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts and providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; in interscholastic athletics accountability, further providing for council recommendations and standards; in charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for enrollment and notification and for enrollee wellness checks; in career and technical education, further providing for capital reserve fund for approved purchases of equipment and facility maintenance, for career and technical education equipment grants, for Cosmetology Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program and for Barber Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program; providing for Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to State-related university performance-based funding model, further providing for prohibition on scholarship displacement at public institutions of higher education and providing for cooperation and for State scholarship renewals; in institutions of higher education, further providing for powers and duties of State Board of Higher Education, for definitions, for Performance-based Funding Council and for public institution of higher education reporting, providing for State-related University Performance Fund, for performance-based funding formula and for public accountability and further providing for agency duties, for grant priority and for report; in Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship, further providing for agency; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2025-2026; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, for extraordinary special education program expenses, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; abrogating regulations; and making an editorial change.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.