Call to Action: Keep Up the Pressure for Charter Funding Reform   PSBA continues to fight for charter school funding reform, but we need all our members to join in and continue advocating. Legislators need to keep hearing loud and clear that they need to fix the unfair system for funding charter schools that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars.   PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor's Administration to push for meaningful charter reform. We are in the room working with legislators when various charter plans are being negotiated. Our work reflects our continuing efforts to address the concerns voiced by our members regarding charter reform issues. We extend our thanks to our members who are working with us to achieve real charter funding change. But there is a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done to move this issue to the finish line, and we are now asking for a renewed push. Here are some ways you can keep up the pressure for charter reform.   Adopt the resolution: As of October 2020, over 300 school boards from across Pennsylvania have adopted resolutions calling for the General Assembly to enact significant charter funding reform. Read PSBA's news release. Is your school board one of them? If your school board has not yet passed this important resolution - now is the time to do so! You can find the resolution and instructions for submitting the resolution to PSBA after it's been adopted here.    Raise awareness at the local level: PSBA's Charter Change website provides a wealth of information that you can use to educate legislators and members of your community on the desperate need for charter funding reform.  For example, the site includes information on the outdated charter school funding formula that has not been changed in the 23 years since the enactment of the Charter School Law. This formula causes significant discrepancies in tuition rates paid by different school districts for the same charter school education and can vary by almost $13,000 for regular education students and by $39,000 for special education students. The same flawed formula has also caused school district charter school costs to artificially increase significantly each year (now over $2 billion) while charter school enrollment has slowed - charter tuition paid by school districts is up 229% over the last 11 years while charter school enrollments have only increase by 113% over the same time period.  Visit https://www.pacharterchange.org to find out more information that can assist you in educating others and advocating for reform.    Utilize local newspapers and media outlets: Join our dedicated members who submit articles, editorials and letters to their local newspapers to spread the word about the need for charter funding reform. Let Jamie Zuvich (Jamie.zuvich@psba.org) know of your interest and we will help you with the story. PSBA has helped place over 30 articles and editorials in recent months across the state. You can also let your local media know that your school board has adopted the resolution and draw attention to this important issue.  OP-ED: Potential train wreck coming for public education in Pa.: https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/contributors/2020/06/17/op-ed-potential-train-wreck-coming-public-education-pa/3206080001/  Cyber charters cripple public school:  https://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/other-commentaries/2020/06/cyber-charters-cripple-public-schools/ Were funds really needed for cyber charters?:  https://www.tnonline.com/20200821/were-funds-really-needed-for-cyber-charters/ Readers' Views: Pennsylvania must rein in cyber charter costs: https://www.pottsmerc.com/readers-views-pennsylvania-must-rein-in-cyber-charter-costs/article_e3538a48-c3a0-11ea-a304-0b9c6fd0de94.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share Money for nothing: Pa. cyber charters rolling in pandemic aid while school districts scrounge: https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2020/08/24/pa-cyber-charters-rolling-pandemic-aid-while-school-districts-scrounge/3431181001/ Discuss charter funding reform with your legislator: In every interaction you have with legislators, bring the facts and discuss how this issue is impacting your school district. We simply want to pay correctly for services - no one likes to overpay and have taxpayer dollars frivolously wasted unnecessarily. Talk about the quality of your school district's virtual education program and the successes that your students have had. This is the kind of information that your legislators need to hear from you. If you're not sure where to start or how to get in touch with your legislator, PSBA can help. After the election, PSBA advocacy ambassadors are connecting legislators to school districts through in-person or virtual visits - we need your help to make this happen. Connect with your ambassador today.   Remember - we are working together to keep pushing the need for charter funding reform forward. Continuing to make our case in a calm and factual manner has gone a long way towards changing legislators' positions.  When we stay united and consistent in our messaging, we can achieve real change.   Thank you for your dedication and commitment.