Senators call for scrutiny of Pa. charter schools

Some state senators say that state regulation of charter schools and cyber charters is inadequate.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Monday, several lawmakers cited a lack of financial and academic accountability for the privately run public schools.

Sen. Mike Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, says GOP Gov. Tom Corbett didn’t renew his call for charter reform in his pending state budget plan and asked whether it is still a priority of the administration.

State Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis says charter reform is important. But he says barely 100,000 youngsters attend charter schools compared to 1.7 million who attend public schools. He says policy makers must consider all modes and methods of education.