PA senators call for scrutiny of commonwealth charter schools

(Harrisburg) --  Some state senators say state regulation of charter schools and cyber charters is inadequate.

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

Senator Mike Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, says GOP Governor 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 only about 100,000 of the 1.7 million youngsters in public schools attend the privately run charter schools. He says policy makers must consider all modes and methods of education.