Philly School District Denies Children Access to Charter Schools, Because They Want the Money

Charter schools in Philadelphia receive $8,500
from the school district for each student enrolled with them
($22,000 for students with special needs). It’s a form of
backpacking, where the money government is supposed to spend on
students follows those students from school to school.

An inability to accurately project costs or budget, however,
coupled with the popularity of charter schools, has left
Philadelphia’s school district looking to curb charter school
enrollment in lieu of prioritizing spending to put students
first.

The School Reform Commission (SRC), which actually governs the
Philadelphia school district, unilaterally set an enrollment cap
for charter schools, something at least one charter school is
arguing in a lawsuit deprives them of due process. That case has
now reached the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. 
Via the PA Independent:

West Philadelphia Achievement Charter Elementary School
requested a preliminary injunction to prevent the school district
from taking action against the school. The Pennsylvania Supreme
Court granted that last week, moving the case forward.

The outcome could be relevant to the entire charter sector in
Pennsylvania.

“The implications are potentially huge because it deals with the
constitutionality of the SRC to suspend rules for charter schools,”
said Bob O’Donnell, lead attorney for the plaintiff.

If the district wins, he said, it could open up the possibility
of other school districts across the commonwealth seeking the same
authority to control enrollment and therefore the cost of students
attending charter schools.

Sounds like the district is putting its revenue stream ahead of
children’s interest, exactly what anti-choice advocates accuse
proponents of school reform of doing.