The IBO director of education research, Raymond Domanico, said the increase in tuition cost is due to higher per-pupil costs and more kids enrolling in charter schools.
“Charter school tuition has been frozen for a couple of years but the legislature is now looking into that,” Domanico said. “Depending on what the legislature and Governor decide, tuition is going up.”
Under state law, the city must pay the operators of publicly funded, privately run charter schools for students’ tuition.
The city paid $14,027 per pupil in charter school tuition for the current schools year. That amount could rise to anywhere from $15,525 to $16,081 in the upcoming school year, Domanico said.
The projected increase is based on increases in per-pupil spending in traditional public schools, which is used by the state to set charter school tuition rates paid by the city.
City Education Department spokesman Michael Aciman said the Department is reviewing the IBO report.
“We invest in all public schools, both district and charter, to ensure every student has the resources to succeed and thrive,” said Aciman.
