Susan Spicka
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susanspicka.bsky.social
Susan Spicka
@susanspicka.bsky.social
200 followers 520 following 0 posts
Executive Director of Education Voters of PA, avid crocheter and bobbin lace novice. I ❤️ public schools.
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Reposted by Susan Spicka
krisnordstrom.bsky.social
Back in August, I pointed out that our big voucher program is overfunded by about $137m. That was based on Fiscal Research's estimate that demand would increase 40% from the prior year.

Actual numbers show demand is up 28%, implying that the state's voucher program is overfunded by $188m.

#ncpol
Legislators: Want an easy budget cut? Look at overfunded Opportunity Scholarship voucher program
North Carolina’s state finances are facing a perfect storm.
www.ncjustice.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
sosarizona.org
Major news for Arizona's public schools! “The Court concludes that the current public-school capital finance system does not meet the constitutional minimum standards established by the Arizona Supreme Court.”
August 19, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Most Lackawanna County property owners to see increase in school taxes
District leaders cited increasing costs in salaries, health care and cyber charter schools as reasons for implementing tax hikes in their district's budget
www.lackawannacounty.com/news/most-la...
Most Lackawanna County property owners to see increase in school taxes | Lackawanna County, PA
School taxes will increase for many Lackawanna County property owners next school year. All but two school districts with one municipality in the county that operate on a typical fiscal year are raisi...
www.lackawannacounty.com
August 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Shenandoah Valley raised property taxes for 2025-26 to keep pace with rising costs in special education, healthcare and cyber charter tuition. The 5.6% increase was the first tax hike in eight years.
www.wvia.org/news/local/2...
State budget impasse, federal funding uncertainty plague area school districts
A Pennsylvania budget stalemate and uncertainty with federal funding have caused some school leaders to raise taxes, explore short-term loans and advocate for fair funding.
www.wvia.org
August 2, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Conestoga Valley school official laments uncertainty of cyber charter reform that would check soaring costs
.@SenatorMartinPA .@SenJamesMalone #RepGreiner #RepMentzer
lancasteronline.com/news/regiona... via @lancasteronline
Conestoga Valley school official laments uncertainty of cyber charter reform that would check soaring costs
When: Conestoga Valley school board meeting, July 21.
lancasteronline.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Cyber charter spent $52K in tax funds on Phillies tickets, records show
lehighdaily.com/cyber-charte...
Cyber charter spent $52K in tax funds on Phillies tickets, records show - Lehigh Daily
Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter school used tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to fund tickets to Philadelphia Phillies…
lehighdaily.com
July 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Northwest Area School District faces financial uncertainty
Northwest Area spends about $1.7 million on cyber school tuition per year. .@SenLisaBaker .@RepCabell
#SenatorSchlegelCulver
finance.yahoo.com/news/northwe...
Northwest Area School District faces financial uncertainty
Jul. 18—SHICKSHINNY — With the state budget still being finalized and thousands of dollars in federal funds frozen, Northwest Area Superintendent Joseph Long said it was still unclear how the school d...
finance.yahoo.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
LTE: Last year, the Philadelphia School District significantly outperformed the Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) in terms of academic growth in almost all grades and academic areas tested.
www.inquirer.com/opinion/lett...
Letters to the Editor | July 14, 2025
Inquirer readers on the DC 33 strike and charter schools.
www.inquirer.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Letter to the editor: Addressing cyber charter funding
.@PublicEd412
triblive.com/opinion/lett...
Letter to the editor: Addressing cyber charter funding
I am a parent of a special education student in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Like so many across our state, I want my child — and others like them — to attend public schools that are safe, w...
triblive.com
July 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school made $700K on the side from its bank www.bradfordera.com/2025/07/13/c...
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school made $700K on the side from its bank - The Bradford Era
(TNS) — The leader of Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter school earned more than $700,000 from his side job as a bank director from 2016 through 2024. The bank, Orrstown, was the school’s primary fi...
www.bradfordera.com
July 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
palan57.bsky.social
For teachers searching for guidelines on how to use AI in your classroom--

You don't have to. At all.
July 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
palan57.bsky.social
Which School Districts Will Be Hardest Hit By Education Department’s Withholding Of Funds?https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2025/07/09/which-school-districts-will-be-hardest-hit-by-education-departments-withholding-of-funds/
Which School Districts Will Be Hardest Hit By Education Department’s Withholding Of Funds?
The money had been budgeted and the programs approved by Congress, but the Trump administration declared that “decisions have not been made concerning submissions and awards” for the coming year.
www.forbes.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Cyber Charter Schools Place Financial Strain on Local Districts - Morrisons Cove Herald
www.mcheraldonline.com/story/2025/0...
Cyber Charter Schools Place Financial Strain on Local Districts
As cyber charter school enrollment continues to affect local school budgets, superintendents in the Cove are speaking out about the financial and educational challenges these programs pose, even as th...
www.mcheraldonline.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school made $700K on the side from its bank
www.pennlive.com/education/20...
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school made $700K on the side from its bank
Ethics experts say it presents at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.
www.pennlive.com
July 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
School vouchers are not the answer .@JackieHuff19
www.theclarionnews.com/opinion/lett... via @the_clarionnews
School vouchers are not the answer
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, the place where families gather, where everyone has a seat at the table, and where nourishment happens daily. Our public
www.theclarionnews.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
palan57.bsky.social
PA: How Badly Are Districts Hurt By Feds Holding Back Funds open.substack.com/pub/curmudgu... @lfeinberg.bsky.social @susanspicka.bsky.social
PA: How Badly Are Districts Hurt By Feds Holding Back Funds
On Juily 1, the federal government was scheduled to distribute federal education grants.
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
For 23 years under Pennsylvania’s charter school law, cyber charter tuition rates have included costs that cyber charters typically do not incur, or incur to a significantly lesser degree, compared to brick & mortar charters or traditional public schools
www.theclarionnews.com/opinion/lett...
Why are rates for cyber charter and brick-and-mortar charter the same for Pa. tax payers
There are several reasons why families might choose Pennsylvania cyber charter schools for their child, but there is no reason why taxpayers should fund cyber charters at the same tuition
www.theclarionnews.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school earned $700,000+ on the side from its bank .@ORMorrison
www.pennlive.com/education/20...
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school earned $700,000+ on the side from its bank
Ethics experts say it presents at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.
www.pennlive.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
.@PennLive created a database of newly released financial information for more than 100 cyber charter school board members and CEOs. .@ORMorrison
www.pennlive.com/education/20...
CEO of Pa.’s largest cyber school made $700K on the side from its bank
Ethics experts say it presents at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.
www.pennlive.com
July 9, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
There are several reasons why families might choose Pennsylvania cyber charter schools for their child, but there is no reason why taxpayers should fund cyber charters at the same tuition rates that they pay for brick-and-mortar charter school tuition.
buckscountybeacon.com/2025/06/penn...
Pennsylvania Taxpayers Shouldn’t Fund Cyber Charter Schools at the Same Tuition Rates They Pay for Brick-and-mortar Charter Schools - Bucks County Beacon
When school districts are required to overpay cyber charter tuition it means there are fewer resources available to invest in the education of their students.
buckscountybeacon.com
July 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Public education advocates ask lawmakers to put students first
Part of the plan would also cap the cyber tuition rate at $8,000 statewide.
www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/n... via @KDKA
Public education advocates ask lawmakers to put students first
Public education advocates came together outside Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8 to ask state lawmakers to put students first.
www.cbsnews.com
July 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
artsteinberg-pft.bsky.social
As @governor.pa.gov @pahousedems.com @pasenate.com hammer out a final state budget, a reminder that organized labor in Pennsylvania is totally unified in our opposition to private school vouchers & expanded tax credits. Public funds belong in public schools! pft.org/news/pft-pol... #PAbudget
Screenshot of a letter sent by organized labor in Pennsylvania to Governor Josh Shapiro expressing unified opposition to the idea of sending public tax dollars to private and religious schools.
July 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
AAUW Letter to the editor: Cyber charter reform needed triblive.com/opinion/lett...
Letter to the editor: Cyber charter reform needed
The information revealed in a recent state audit of cyber charter schools should alarm every Pennsylvania taxpayer. These schools were so awash in excess funding that they had accumulated fund balance...
triblive.com
July 7, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Letters to the editor: Legislature should pass charter school reform bill .@TomSeidenberger
www.mcall.com/2025/07/06/l...
Letters to the editor: Legislature should pass charter school reform bill
Opinion: Pa. House Bill 1500 addresses long overdue changes to cybercharter school funding
www.mcall.com
July 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Susan Spicka
lfeinberg.bsky.social
Cyber school facing wrongful death suit says it’s ‘unreasonable’ for teachers to see students weekly spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07... via
@SpotlightPA @katieemeyer4
Cyber charter school fights PA law on student wellness checks
Facing a wrongful death suit, Commonwealth Charter Academy says it’s “unreasonable” to expect its staff to see and hear from all 30K students weekly.
spotlightpa.org
July 2, 2025 at 10:12 AM