The law's funding formula deliberately gives charters less per student than the public district spends because the rate excludes such district costs as busing and debt service. The state reimburses districts 30 to 40 percent of their charter costs.
And just as there is disparity in how much is spent per student in regular public schools, the same holds for charters.
Philadelphia, which has nearly 35,000 students in charter schools, pays $8,088 for each student receiving regular instruction and $17,658 for a special-education student this academic year. Upper Darby's rates are $8,097 and $17,249; Jenkintown's, $15,174 and $31,586.
The special-education rate is based on a district's average special-education costs.
But the Rendell administration claims that some charters do not spend all the special-education money they receive on special-education services. Last summer, the administration proposed that charters return excess funds to districts, but the legislature never acted.
An Inquirer analysis shows that most special-education students in charter schools have relatively mild learning problems that require the least expensive services. In Philadelphia, where 69 percent of the special-education students in charters are in that category, the School Reform Commission favors amending the law to create a tiered payment system based on services students need.
Education Secretary Zahorchak also supports that approach.
Nepotism problems
Especially in Philadelphia, charters have been a magnet for politicians, their staffers and their families.
Several politicians helped found schools, including Evans and former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, now on trial on federal corruption charges. Sheryl S. Perzel, wife of State Rep. John M. Perzel, the former Republican House speaker, was the driving force behind New Foundations Charter School in Tacony and headed its board for several years.
At least five elected state officials serve on charter boards, which are responsible for setting policy, hiring staff and approving budgets. Many more have aides on charter boards.
Evans sees no problem with politicians serving on charter boards "as long as they are open and transparent and not abusing their powers."
Critics argue that having a legislator on a charter board presents a conflict of interest because a district may ignore problems at that charter rather than risk offending the lawmaker.
"That's an issue that identifies why this law needs to be looked at again," said Wagner, the state auditor general.
To read earlier articles on charter schools, go to
Contact staff writer Martha Woodall at 215-854-2789 or martha.woodall@phillynews.comInquirer staff writer Dan Hardy contributed to this article.
