PA
Pennsylvania House Bill HB1500

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1500

Introduced
5/30/25  
Refer
5/30/25  
Refer
6/3/25  
Report Pass
6/4/25  
Engrossed
6/4/25  

Caption

In preliminary provisions, providing for Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council and further 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.

Impact

HB1500 is expected to bring significant changes to state laws surrounding education, particularly in how cyber charter schools are funded and regulated. The introduction of these schools is anticipated to increase educational options for families, especially in areas where traditional schooling may not be as accessible. However, the detailed funding mechanisms and accountability measures included in the bill aim to ensure that these schools provide quality educational experiences while preventing potential mismanagement of resources.

Summary

House Bill 1500 aims to establish a framework for Cyber Charter Schools in the state, focusing on funding and operational guidelines. The bill outlines provisions for the creation and management of cyber charter schools, including the financial support they will receive and the governance structures that must be in place. Importantly, it defines the responsibilities of the Pennsylvania Department of Education in overseeing these institutions, ensuring they meet specified educational standards. The bill also addresses the enrollment processes for students and mandates wellness checks to monitor pupil health and educational outcomes.

Sentiment

The sentiment toward HB1500 appears to be mixed, with supporters hailing the bill as a progressive step toward modernizing education and offering new learning avenues to students. Conversely, concerns have been raised about whether cyber charter schools can maintain educational quality and equity, particularly for students with special needs. Stakeholders emphasize the necessity of stringent regulations and oversight to avoid pitfalls that have marred similar educational reforms in other states.

Contention

Notable points of contention around HB1500 focus on the adequacy of accountability measures and the potential for disparities in educational quality between cyber charter schools and district schools. Critics argue that without robust oversight and clear standards for operation and funding, cyber charter schools may not serve all students equitably, particularly those requiring special education services. Additionally, there is apprehension regarding the impact these schools could have on traditional public school funding and student enrollment, raising questions about their long-term sustainability.

Latest PA HB1500 Activity

View All Events: PA 2025-2026 Regular Session HB1500

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2370

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for adequacy and tax equity supplements and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers and further providing for Pennsylvania accountability grants.

PA HB1422

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB45

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

PA HB1554

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

PA SB337

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

PA HB447

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

PA HB673

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

PA HB1494

In charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools; and imposing penalties.

PA HB1495

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

PA HB574

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

Similar Bills

PA HB2370

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for adequacy and tax equity supplements and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers and further providing for Pennsylvania accountability grants.

PA HB1422

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA HB1372

In preliminary provisions, further providing for advertising and sponsorships; and, in charter schools, 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 HB688

Establishing the PA Teacher Pipeline Scholarship Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and certain institutions of higher education.

CA SB751

School finance: school districts: annual budgets: reserve balance.

DC B26-0265

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act of 2025

DC B26-0340

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2025

CA AB84

School accountability: Office of the Education Inspector General: school financial and performance audits: charter school authorization, oversight, funding, operations, networks, and contracting: data systems: local educational agency contractor background checks.