An Act amending the act of November 30, 2004 (P.L.1672, No.213), known as the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, further providing for definitions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gina Curry and 4 co-sponsors

HB 2547 broadens and clarifies which Public School Code provisions apply to cyber charter schools, retroactively from July 11, 2024, with immediate effect.

Referred to Energy

Summary of HB 2547 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Main purpose and intent

HB 2547 proposes to modify which provisions of the Public School Code and related acts apply to cyber charter schools. Specifically, it reenacts and amends a list of sections from the Public School Code that would be applicable to cyber charter schools, effectively broadening or clarifying the range of laws that govern these schools. The bill additionally makes the targeted applicability retroactive to July 11, 2024, and takes effect immediately.

Key provisions and changes

Reenactment and amendment of Section 1749-A(a)(1) of the Public School Code of 1949, to specify the exact statutory sections that shall apply to cyber charter schools. The sections enumerated cover a wide array of requirements across chartering, governance, operations, student rights, reporting, accountability, finance, and administrative procedures.

The enumerated sections include, but are not limited to, provisions related to:

General governance and administration (sections on accountability, governance structures, and procedural rules)
Financial and procurement rules
Student eligibility, enrollment, and rights
Program oversight, reporting, and compliance
Special education, student services, and safety
Various regulatory and regulatory-compliance provisions

The bill lists a comprehensive sequence of sections (e.g., 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431, 436, 443, 510, 518, 527, 708, 752, 753, 755, 771, 776, 777, 808, 809, 810, 1109, etc.) and continues through to 1731-A and articles XII-A, XIII-A, XIV, indicating a broad incorporation of existing laws into cyber charter school applicability.

Section 2 notes that the reenactment and amendment shall apply retroactively to July 11, 2024.

Section 3 states the act takes effect immediately.

Who and what would be affected

Cyber charter schools operating within Pennsylvania would be subject to a defined set of provisions from the Public School Code and related acts.

This includes school administration, governance boards, financial management, enrollment procedures, student rights and protections, special education, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations.

The retroactive applicability means that cyber charter schools would need to align with these provisions from July 11, 2024, onward.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced September 6, 2024, and referred to the Committee on Education, with an action history showing a later referral to the Energy Committee (for action in 2026).

Effective date: immediate upon enactment.

Retroactive application: provisions apply back to July 11, 2024.

Notes for readers

The bill is technical in nature, focusing on the scope of statutory applicability rather than creating new program standards. It consolidates and clarifies which existing provisions govern cyber charter schools, potentially affecting compliance, reporting, and oversight responsibilities.

As the bill advances, stakeholders (cyber charter operators, school district partners, administrators, and parents) may want to review the specific enumerated sections to understand exact obligations and any changes from current practice.