Pennsylvania: High rates of SPED students

April 27, 2017, WPSU (Penn State): Quirk In Pa. Charter Law Cripples Traditional Districts While Giving Charters 'Cash Cow' http://radio.wpsu.org/post/quirk-pa-charter-law-cripples-traditional-districts-while-giving-charters-cash-cow In the tangled world of Pennsylvania public school financing, special education payments to charters are a particularly thorny problem. … William Penn actually spends about $15,700 per special ed student, representing 19 percent of its total student enrollment. But calculations assuming that it provides services to only 16 percent of its students generate a charter payment of $18,500. Woodland Hills actually spends $13,500 per special ed student, representing 25 percent of enrollment. Calculations assuming 16 percent generate a charter payment of $20,800. Columbia Borough actually spends $12,500 per special ed student, representing 25 percent of enrollment; calculations assuming 16 percent generate charter payments of $19,900.