An Indiana Department of Education spokesman says the agency it will comply with rules governing the distribution of poverty aid to charter schools after federal officials notified the state it shortchanged them in some cases. “They don’t do that for charter schools because charter schools don’t have a geographic boundary”.

Asked how taxpayers can be assured that federal dollars will be spent properly, Duncan said it was largely up to states and the public agencies that approve charter schools.

He said the charter school is looking into obtaining a line of credit, but he’s hopeful a budget resolution will be reached soon.

For example, Avondale Meadows charter school on the city’s east side has 100 percent of its students coming from within IPS’s boundaries, she said. Some had fund balances more than double that of their budget, enough to operate the school for at least another year. McKeown said 22 of the state’s 59 charter schools saw funding cuts that were more than what the “hold harmless” rules allow.

The challenge is not limited to charter schools. Districts like Chester Upland and Philadelphia, which draw a large percentage of their annual budget from the state, are particularly stressed. State officials announced earlier on Friday that they would seek federal guidance on how to distribute the funds.

“Many brick-and-mortar charter schools across the state are struggling to remain open during the state budget impasse”, Eller said. One set of bills has gone out, he said, and the charter school has been receiving payments from districts.

Districts collected upwards of $20 billion in local revenue and reserve funds in the past year, and Eller wants to see some of that go toward charter schools.

Charter schools can enroll students from just about anywhere, space permitting, and their Title I funding relies on the traditional districts their kids come from, McKeown said. “Districts must recognize the harm they are inflicting on a student’s right to a high-quality education”. “Some have had to fold, some are struggling to find their way”, he said, referring to poor-performing charter schools.

When a student attends a charter school, the student’s home district pays a tuition rate, set by state formula, to the charter school. “On behalf of its members and all brick-and-mortar charter schools across the state, the Keystone Alliance calls on districts to release funding to charter schools to ensure students continue to have access to their educational programs and services”.

Despite charter advocates’ claims of success, the charter average proficiency in reading has trailed the citywide public school average since 2013.

“We need more great public schools of all kinds”, he said Monday. But the school board members said they wanted to hear from the school’s founder before making a decision.

She said it seems that those in urban and rural areas are being most impacted by the budget impasse. “At the same time, some traditional public school systems, like Indianapolis Public Schools, for example, received an additional $1.5 million in Title I funds despite a decline in enrollment”. “Instead, that payment won’t happen, and it’s the children who will ultimately feel the pinch”. Hope Academy Charter School in Asbury Park had a $849,556 fund balance or 30 percent of its budget.