HARRISBURG – This week, the Senate Education Committee voted out two bills to further reform Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools and ensure students are receiving the education they deserve.
Senate Bill 927 will ensure that cyber charter school wellness checks are conducted as originally intended. Act 55 of 2024 mandates that cyber charter schools conduct wellness checks at least once during any week consisting of three or more instructional days.
“My legislation will ensure that an enrolled student is visibly seen and communicated with in real time by the teacher, administrator, or their representative of the cyber charter school in order to satisfy the wellness check requirement,” according to the bill’s sponsor Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24). “This is a simple fix to help ensure that students learning remotely are accounted for, supported, and safe.”
In addition, the committee passed out Senate Bill 934 aimed at improving the residency verification process within Pennsylvania’s cyber charter school system.
Pennycuick noted that “as the number of students enrolled in cyber charters continues to grow, we must ensure that the residency of these students is verified on a continuing basis.”
The legislation will require parents to submit verification of student residency twice each academic year and provide greater clarity on reporting responsibilities. This is an important measure to better protect taxpayer dollars and ensure the integrity of the cyber charter school system.
The bills now go to the full Senate for consideration.
CONTACT: Lidia Di Fiore (215) 541-2388