Charter school authorization, accountability, and funding will be key features of education policy debates in Pennsylvania over the next several months. One proposed policy, Senate Bill 1085, would amend significant aspects of the state's charter school law, including the system for charter school approval, specific criteria for evaluating proposed charter schools, policies concerning enrollment caps, and requirements for financial and other reporting. The legislation would also establish a Charter School Funding Advisory Commission comprised of representatives appointed by the Governor and General Assembly. This brief focuses on one element of the legislation receiving particular attention: a proposal to allow higher education institutions--public and private, non-profit and for-profit--to authorize charter schools. It also provides important background from non-partisan sources and state agency websites to inform policymakers and the public on this aspect of the legislation. A list of sources is provided.