Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB2424

Introduced

4/18/26

Refer

4/18/26

Caption

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

Summary

HB2424 amends Pennsylvania’s Public School Code to change how initial special education evaluations are handled for charter school students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Under the bill, when a charter school entity or a parent/guardian requests an initial evaluation to determine whether a student has a disability, the student’s school district of residence must conduct the evaluation, though it may contract with an intermediate unit to do so. The bill also requires the evaluating district or intermediate unit to provide a written report of findings to the parents or guardians and the charter school entity. That report must state whether the student is eligible for special education services and include recommendations for services needed to participate in the regular curriculum. The report is to inform the individualized education program team’s decisions, but it does not limit a parent’s or guardian’s right to seek an independent educational evaluation. Intermediate units may charge charter schools for the service, but not more than they charge school districts for similar evaluations. The charter school remains the local education agency responsible for providing special education services under federal and state law.

Impact

HB2424 would shift the responsibility for initial disability evaluations for charter school students from the charter school setting to the student’s resident school district, with an option for intermediate units to perform the work. It would amend Section 1725-A of the Public School Code and affect charter school funding and special education administration, while leaving the charter school entity responsible for delivering special education services under IDEA and Pennsylvania charter school regulations. The bill would also create a new cost-recovery mechanism for intermediate units and standardize the evaluation process for charter school students statewide.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as an administrative and procedural change rather than a highly partisan policy shift. The sponsors suggest support for clarifying responsibilities and ensuring evaluations are handled by the resident district, which may be viewed as promoting consistency and oversight. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to assess beyond the bill’s bipartisan-looking sponsorship list and its technical education focus.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the reassignment of evaluation duties from charter schools to school districts of residence. Charter school advocates may view this as shifting administrative burden or creating delays, while school districts may see it as an added responsibility tied to special education compliance. Another possible issue is the cost structure, since intermediate units may charge charter schools for evaluations, and stakeholders could dispute whether the billing arrangement is fair or whether it affects charter school finances. The bill also preserves charter schools’ legal responsibility for special education services, which may raise questions about how much control they retain over the evaluation-to-service process.

Latest PA HB2424 Activity

View All Events: PA 2025-2026 Regular Session HB2424

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB799

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

PA HB2358

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

PA SB354

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools, for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB495

In charter schools, further providing for enrollment.

PA SB934

In cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification.

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 HB233

In charter schools, further providing for powers of board of trustees.

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 HB2197

In pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.