Open Letter To Pa Governor

An Open Letter to Governor Josh Shapiro

A Fact-Based Rebuttal of the Media Narrative Used to Justify Cutting Cyber Charter Funding

Governor Shapiro,

You cut funding for public cyber charter schools and redirected that money to brick-and-mortar districts; districts that already possess discretionary funds, reserve balances, local taxing authority, and permanent physical infrastructure.

Cyber charter schools do not have most of these. 

This decision was not grounded in evidence, equity, or fiscal accountability. It was driven by a long-running media narrative—most notably from PennLive—that has repeatedly attacked Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) while omitting key facts, audited financial data, and legal context.

1. CCA’s Finances Are Audited, Public, and Clean

CCA is required by Pennsylvania law to undergo independent financial audits. In the 2023–2024 school year, CCA received a clean audit with no findings, deficiencies, or evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse.

CCA Clean Audit – 2023–2024

CCA also publicly posts its audited financial statements, IRS filings, and compliance documentation.

CCA Financial Reports & Compliance Records

These are not marketing materials. These are regulated documents subject to legal penalties if falsified.

2. What the Pennsylvania Auditor General Actually Found

The Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of five cyber charter schools, including CCA, covering July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023.

The audit did not allege illegal spending, self-dealing, or financial misconduct.

Instead, it identified a structural flaw in Pennsylvania’s cyber charter funding formula, which ties cyber school tuition to district spending levels rather than actual instructional cost. (This doesn’t equate to fraud) 

Pennsylvania Auditor General Performance Audit – Full Report

Punishing schools for operating legally under a state-created formula is not accountability. It is scapegoating.

3. Facilities Spending Was Legal, Necessary, and Explained

PennLive has repeatedly framed CCA’s facilities as excessive while ignoring their documented purpose.

CCA facilities are used for:

• Required administrative operations for a statewide public school
• Special Education evaluations, services, and compliance meetings
• IEP development and student support services
• State-mandated testing centers
• Hybrid and in-person instruction
• Technology infrastructure, network management, and secure data storage

These uses were disclosed in audited financials and explained to regulators.

Brick-and-mortar districts already possess buildings and discretionary funds to absorb these costs. Cyber charters must fund them outright.

4. Cyber Charter Students Are Not Isolated or “Unaccountable”

Another recurring claim in media coverage is that cyber charter students lack enrichment or real-world engagement.

This is false.

CCA provides:

• Statewide educational field trips
• Clubs and extracurricular activities
• In-person learning opportunities and hybrid programs
• Hands-on programs, including technical and agricultural learning experiences
• Legal access to local district extracurriculars when equivalent programs are not offered

CCA Educational Field Trips

Cyber education exists because traditional systems routinely fail certain students—those with disabilities, medical fragility, bullying histories, trauma, or unsafe school environments.

5. Media Narrative vs. Documented Reality

PennLive has repeatedly emphasized revenue figures while minimizing or excluding:

• Clean independent audits
• Publicly available financial disclosures
• The Auditor General’s finding that the funding formula itself is outdated
• The fact that no illegality was found

This selective framing shaped public perception and policy despite contrary evidence.

6. The Double Standard

Brick-and-mortar districts:

• Maintain large reserve balances
• Have local taxing authority
• Receive discretionary funding
• Expand administrative costs with minimal scrutiny
• Methacton School District has spent money on gaming labs in 2024 high tech. While also raising the TAXES without any oversight from the community.

Cyber charter schools do not have these advantages and would never go behind the backs of the people. 

Yet cyber charters were punished while districts with greater financial flexibility were rewarded.

7. The Real Impact of This Decision

This decision affects real students:

• Students with IEPs who rely on consistent services (Neurodivergent)
• Medically fragile children (autoimmune disorders)
• Students escaping unsafe school environments (Methacton, Montco and Philly area) 
• Especially now with ICE in the area and cops participating in the harassment. 
• Families who chose cyber education out of necessity, not convenience

You did not cut a line item. You destabilized an education lifeline.

Governor Shapiro — Answer This

Why were clean audits ignored?

Why was a media narrative prioritized over documented financial compliance?

Why are cyber charter students always expected to absorb the damage?

Public education policy must be based on evidence, not headlines.

Pennsylvania’s cyber charter students deserve better. Pennsylvania in general Deserves better.  You will not be getting my vote ever again.