#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Eagle Academy Public Charter School will not reopen this fall
The Eagle Board sent a letter to parents on Tuesday announcing the decision. In the letter, the board was completely transparent, admitting that the closure is being blamed on financial issues allegedly caused by previous leadership.
A $2.1 million deficit at STEP Academy may make it the largest charter school to close in history
At the beginning of the school year, its deficit was $800,000. It is now $2.1 million. If STEP Academy closes, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports it would be the largest charter school failure in history. How did STEP get to this point?
Charter school enrollment has grown, but research shows they have long performed worse than traditional schools
The Minnesota Department of Education says 124 charter schools have closed since 1992 when the first one opened in the state.
Charter school longevity in WI isn’t making the grade, report finds
Wisconsin has one of the higher closure rates in the U.S. for charter schools, according to a new report, which lays out the challenges of staying open.
California task force proposes new charter school oversight as St. HOPE faces scrutiny
An audit of St. HOPE released in August revealed several concerns, including conflicts of interest, questionable accounting practices, and under-qualified teaching staff.
The Topline: A record breaking year for charter failures
The Star Tribune reports that nine of the state’s 181 charter schools have shut down this year, with another one facing the imminent revocation of its authorization over financial and management difficulties.
One of state’s largest charter schools is at war with regulators, on brink of collapse
STEP Academy, which has campuses in St. Paul and Burnsville, faces a deep financial crisis.
Sources: STEP Academy superintendent, 2 board members to resign amid financial crisis
Two weeks ago, KARE 11 reported that STEP Academy was $775,000 over budget due to having 117 fewer students than anticipated. In a letter to the school board and administration, school authorizer Innovative Quality Schools (IQS) wrote that since the projected enrollment has not been actualized, the school was overpaid for quarter one of the 2025 fiscal year.
Parents stunned after Acero charter school network announces plans to close 7 schools
Shocked and looking for answers. That’s the feeling among parents after learning about a proposal to close seven Acero charter schools in Chicago, which could affect thousands of students.
North Oakland Community Charter School closes for 24-25 academic year
North Oakland Community Charter School (NOCCS) is officially no longer allowed to operate for the 2024-25 school year, ruled an Alameda County Superior Court judge who denied a motion for a preliminary injunction on Thursday.
School’s out… forever? Toledo charter school closing 2 months into school year
Parents were notified in a letter sent Oct. 3 that the Victory Academy would be closing on Oct. 18, giving parents a little more than two weeks to find a new school.
Acero charter school plans to close 7 schools, blindsiding parents, teachers —’They did not inform us’
The closures will begin in June 2025 and impact about 2,000 students. The network of schools operates primarily in Latino neighborhoods. The seven schools are in Brighton Park, West Ridge, Pilsen, Avondale, South Lawndale, West Town and Gage Park.
The elephant in the room in the DPS school closure process: charter schools
While lower birth rates and housing costs due to gentrification are relevant factors, a critical factor not being openly discussed is the impact of authorizing and promoting charter schools.
Victory Academy of Toledo announces it’s closing
Victory Academy of Toledo will close its doors permanently at the end of the school day Oct. 18. Elizabeth Lewin, interim school leader, sent a letter to parents Thursday informing them of the closure due to a decrease in enrollment.
Charter Schools Have Built a Profitable Patronage Network in Philadelphia
The privatization of public schools has never been about improving education. The goal was to create opportunities for businesses while diminishing the political power of parents, educators and the community. In that respect, the expansion of charter schools in Philadelphia has been an undeniable success.
