HB 2424

                                                PRINTER'S NO.    3225
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2424
                                          Session of
                                            2026
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, TOMLINSON, SANCHEZ, PROBST, HILL-EVANS,
   SAMUELSON, GUENST, SHUSTERMAN, INGLIS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
   HADDOCK, NEILSON AND JAMES, APRIL 17, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 18, 2026
                               AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2    act relating to the public school system, including certain
3    provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4    schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5    laws relating thereto," in charter schools, further providing
6    for funding for charter schools.
7    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9    Section 1.    Section 1725-A of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
11 amended by adding a subsection to read:
12    Section 1725-A.    Funding for Charter Schools.--* * *
13    (f)   Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the following
14 shall apply:
15    (1)   Whether a charter school entity or the parent or
16 guardian initiates a request for an initial evaluation to
17 determine if the student is a student with a disability under 34
18 CFR 300.306 (relating to determination of eligibility) and 22
19 Pa. Code § 14.123 (relating to evaluation), the evaluation shall
1 be conducted by the student's school district of residence. The
2 school district of residence may contract with the intermediate
3 unit to fulfill the responsibilities under this subsection.
4    (2)    The school district of residence or intermediate unit
5 performing the evaluation under paragraph (1) shall issue a
6 report of the initial evaluation findings to the student's
7 parents or guardians and the charter school entity. The
8 following shall apply:
9    (i)    The evaluation report shall include:
10    (A)    A decision about whether the student is eligible to
11 receive special education services.
12    (B)    Recommendations to the individualized education program
13 team about the special education and related services the child
14 needs to participate in the regular curriculum if the student is
15 eligible for special education services.
16    (ii)    The report shall be used by the individualized
17 education program team to make decisions about services to be
18 provided to the student by the charter school entity.
19    (iii)    The report by the school district or intermediate unit
20 shall not impede the parents' or guardians' right to have an
21 independent evaluation of the student performed under 34 CFR
22 300.502 (relating to independent educational evaluation).
23    (3)    An intermediate unit may charge a fee to the charter
24 school entity for the evaluation service, which may not be more
25 than the intermediate unit charges a school district for a
26 similar service.
27    (4)    For purposes of this act, the charter school entity
28 shall remain the local education agency responsible for the
29 provision of special education services under the Individuals
30 with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 91-230, 20 U.S.C. §
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1 1400 et seq.) and 22 Pa. Code Ch. 711 (relating to charter
2 school and cyber charter school services and programs for
3 children with disabilities).
4    Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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