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Charter School Funding

A charter school is an independently operated public school. Charter schools do not charge students tuition – they receive the majority of funding from their students' resident school districts. The amount a charter school receives is based upon a statutory funding formula, which requires tuition rates for both nonspecial and special education students.

For more information on charter school funding, review Section 1725-A of the Pennsylvania Public School Code.

Also, read a court decision summary that provides context on funding/payments for kindergarten students enrolled in charter schools.

Subsidy Redirection Requests and CFRS-CSR Templates

Pursuant to Section 1725-A(a)(5) of the Pennsylvania Public School Code, a charter school may ask Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education to redirect a school district's subsidy when the school district fails to pay the charter school for educating resident students. This request must be prepared and submitted in the format required by PDE. Beginning in February 2022, the Consolidated Financial Reporting System (CFRS) is the required platform to be used for a subsidy redirection request.

Subsidy Redirection Process Presentation (PDF)

Instructions for Submitting Subsidy Redirection Request to PDE (PDF)

CFRS-CSR Charter School User Manual (PDF)

CFRS-CSR School District User Manual (PDF)

Template Specifications for CFRS-CSR Upload (Excel)

CFRS-CSR Templates:
Student List (invoice), Student List (Reconciliation), Tuition Rates, Direct Payments (Excel) new

CS Subsidy Redirection Checklist (Excel) updated

Timeline for Submission of Redirection Requests (Excel)

Charter School Tuition Rates

Charter school tuition rates, also known as Selected Expenditures per Average Daily Membership, are calculated using form PDE-363, Funding for Charter Schools (Excel).

The following documents contain charter school tuition rates:

Previous Subsidy Redirection Templates

Beginning in February 2022, the following documents can no longer be used to submit redirection requests to PDE.

Resources

Find forms, deadlines, instructions, and other important information to help you prepare and submit the required annual General Fund Budget on our General Fund Budget Reporting page.

Need help or technical assistance? Email ra-CSFunding@pa.gov.