#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Charter school founders indicted for allegedly embezzling $2.6M
Annette Cluff, the founding superintendent of The Varnett Public School, and Alsie Cluff Jr., her husband and a former VPS board member and employee, have been charged with allegedly embezzling more than $2.6 million in funds intended for the Houston-based charter school, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Charter school fraud has cost Pennsylvania at least $30 million
Pennsylvania’s charter schools are rife with fraud and mismanagement, as anyone who reads local newspapers knows. But a new report from the Center for Popular Democracy, “Integrity in Education, and Action United” details just how big the problem is.
Charter School Founder Dorothy June Brown Charged in $6 Million Fraud Scheme
Dorothy June Brown, 75, of Haverford, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with defrauding three charter schools of more than $6.5 million between 2007 and April 2011.
Kansas City charter school directed to close temporarily amid safety concerns
A Kansas City charter school is being warned to address safety concerns or potentially be shut down.
The Missouri Charter Public School Commission sent a Letter of Concern to the leadership of Hogan Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, directing them not to allow high school students on campus between now and Nov. 28.
Epic Charter Schools founders face new charges
The four new counts include accusations of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the state, along with additional embezzlement charges. The new charges claim they also opened a fraudulent shell company and divert money for their personal use.
Online charter school faces laundry list of violations
Pleasant Valley School District approved a notice of violation last week, giving Peak Prep Pleasant Valley 30 days to fix contractual and legal violations, including leasing teachers from an outside company and mismanaging funds.
Peak Prep charter hit with lawsuit
After ending a service contract at the request of district leaders, a Pleasant Valley School District charter school is being sued by the company that used to manage its finances.
This summer, Peak Prep Pleasant Valley, an online school chartered by PVSD, cut ties with Virginia based charter school management company Accel Schools. The move was one of many conditions the district required before it would continue chartering the virtual school.
Concept Schools charter chain to pay $4.5 million to end federal investigation
Concept Schools Inc., a politically connected charter school chain based in the northwest suburbs, has agreed to pay $4.5 million to end a long-running federal investigation into allegations it improperly steered federally funded technology contracts to “chosen vendors.”
Shining Rock ends partnership with TeamCFA
Shining Rock Classical Academy’s Board of Directors recently voted to terminate its long-time partnership with TeamCFA, a national network of charter schools that provided SRCA with the initial funding it needed to get the school up and running.
The vote to terminate the partnership was 6 to 1 with Larry Wilkerson, the TeamCFA appointed board member, opposed.
Editorial: Boards Were Right to Reject Ascent Charter School
The list of the application’s shortcomings is long. It sought waivers from many of the school districts’ policies without sufficiently explaining why. It fell short in describing how it would recruit and serve a diverse student population, including minority students and those with disabilities. It left many doubts about the level of parent and community involvement that would be possible at the school as well as the transparency of school board meetings. It raised significant questions about Ascent’s ability to maintain a productive relationship with the school district. And it failed to demonstrate parent involvement in the initial idea to locate an Ascent school in Boulder County — the BVSD denial resolution says, “The application does not mention any involvement by parents with respect to the preparation of this application and the development of the school.”
Decision on NC Connections virtual public charter is delayed once again
The state’s Charter Schools Advisory Board (CSAB) was stuck on a decision for months and eventually decided to punt to the State Board of Education. On Thursday, at its monthly meeting, the SBE punted back.
The ball being punted back and forth? One of North Carolina’s two virtual charter schools: N.C. Connections Academy (NCC), home to more than 2,400 students. NCC is in a bitter dispute with its Education Management Organization (EMO), Pearson OBL, and unless a resolution can be found soon the school could face closure.
Nevada Connections Academy settles with state, will keep online high school open
An embattled online high school scheduled to close permanently will now be allowed to remain open, following a legal settlement with the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority.
The charter school board in February voted 4-1 to shutter Nevada Connections Academy’s middle and high school over concerns about its poor academic performance. The fully virtual school had already voluntarily agreed to close its elementary school after several years of underperformance.
Sparks fly as struggling virtual charter school seeks new management, new name
In making its case to part ways with Pearson, the school’s board complained that the management firm hasn’t provided the school a curriculum that aligns with the state curriculum or is pliant enough to allow teachers to make changes to meet the needs of individual students.
The board also complained that Pearson doesn’t share information about how money is spent or allow school leaders to assume responsibilities agreed upon when the contract between the school and Pearson was amended in July 2017.
Proposed North Las Vegas charter school sues state of Nevada
A public charter school network, Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Nevada, has filed two lawsuits against the state after trying for two years to get approval to open a North Las Vegas campus.
The school and its Colorado-based charter operator, SSS Education Corp., filed the complaints Wednesday in District Court against the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority and Executive Director Rebecca Feiden.
Charter school group that has paid millions to founder’s companies expands to SC
An Arizona-based charter school group that has faced scrutiny over its founder’s business dealings is expanding to South Carolina.
American Leadership Academy plans to open in fall 2023 as a K-11 school in the town of Lexington. The 42-acre spot is located at the corner of South Lake Drive and Innovation Place, about a mile from downtown Lexington.