Jones said removing the caps "is a good thing for charters across the state when you look at the number of kids who are on waiting lists."
The coalition puts that number at 20,000 students. Statewide, more than 64,000 students are enrolled in 126 charter schools.
The school code amendment says enrollment in the state's charter and cyber charter schools cannot be capped unless the cap is agreed to by the school as part of its charter agreement with a school district.
State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said that to help soften the impact of the provision prohibiting caps, the legislature increased the state reimbursement for the three districts with the highest percentage of students enrolled in charters. Philadelphia, Chester Upland and Duquesne will receive a reimbursement from the state of 41.9 percent of their payments to charter schools. All other districts will receive 30 percent reimbursements.
The new law also gives only Philadelphia the ability to renew charters for only a year, instead of for five years, if the School Reform Commission "determines that there is insufficient data concerning the charter school's academic performance to adequately assess that performance."
Cooper said this change stemmed from the Philadelphia Academy situation, where "parents wanted their children to continue to go to school, but the School Reform Commission didn't have the power to do a conditional renewal."
Last month the SRC voted to give Philadelphia Academy a new, five-year operating charter starting Sept. 1, provided the school meets a list of 20 conditions.
