#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
A former charter school has gone private after the state ordered it closed
Weeks before the Charter School Review Board revoked SABA’s charter citing enrollment concerns, Toomer filed a “notice of intent to establish a private school” with the state Division of Non-Public Education. The agency registers and monitors private schools and home schools in North Carolina.
ConVal officials, residents cite concern over charter schools
Opponents of the district’s reconfiguration plan have also cited charter schools as a reason for their opposition. During a reconfiguration hearing in February, former state legislator Gordon Allen of Antrim said, “We have a concerted and well-funded effort in this state, and around the country, to destroy public education. If you want to see a downward spiral of public education, [closing elementary schools] is providing a great opportunity for that to happen.”
Former accountant for Hmong charter school receives two years of probation for 2022 theft
Michael Pocrnich pleaded guilty to stealing $42,500 from Noble Academy in a theft that rippled through Minnesota’s charter schools.
Pennsylvania state senator says cyber charter schools underperform at the cost of the taxpayer
A local state senator says Pennsylvania’s 13 cyber charter schools consistently underperform, yet at Sto-Rox, the superintendent says she’s still spending $8 million of her budget to fund them. “You see all the advertisements: ‘this is free.’ Well, it’s not free. It’s taxpayer dollars and they’re underperforming for students,” state Sen. Lindsey Williams said.
Stealth attempt at ensuring ‘transparency’ for Colorado charter school authorizers
Colorado Sens. James Coleman and Paul Lundeen are sponsoring a charter schools bill that pretends to provide “transparency” on charters. However, upon a closer read, this bill is not about transparency for charter schools, but instead it seems to be designed to monitor the decisions that local school boards make regarding charter schools. Under the guise of transparency, the bill would establish a new complicated reporting requirement for local school districts to provide information on charter school data to the state Department of Education.
State officials scrutinize 10 Clark County charter schools over financial issues
“They received a total of six deductions primarily due to late submission of required reports and documents, including some really important items,” SPCSA director Katie Broughton said. According to its most recent tax filing, Nevada Prep reported a loss of more than $900,000. As of Friday, the school owes $466,000 to the state’s teacher pension fund, which is called PERS.
Senator Lindsey Williams Calls for Moratorium on Cyber Charter Schools in PA
“I was incensed last month when PDE approved a new cyber charter managed by a for-profit, corporate education giant,” said Senator Williams. “This is the first new cyber charter school to be approved by PDE in eight years and its application was deficient on its face.”
OPINIONS Colorado’s PK-12 Enrollment Declines While Billionaires Fund Charter Schools
Yet, some charter school leaders may not be as concerned for their future funding if historical trends continue. For years, many charter schools received additional funding from billionaires through their foundations and hedge fund organizations. The charter schools will need to continue and possibly increase their extensive marketing campaigns to maintain their enrollment. But thanks to corporate donors, they may have a leg up in the financing game,
Philadelphia’s ‘Renaissance’ charter schools did not produce what was promised
All the disruption was even more unsettling for her students, she said, many of whom have already had to deal with trauma in their lives. The staff turnover, she feared, reinforced feelings that adults weren’t there for them. She said she had to “go the extra mile” to build relationships and trust with them.
Unelected charter boards have minimal oversight, maximum control
If the legislature wants more transparency in the system, it should shine its lights on these unelected charter school boards who, for the most part, do not live in the school communities they direct yet manage more than $2 billion in state dollars, collectively, with minimal oversight and maximum control.
A San Diego charter school may shut down its high school by the end of this school year
Families, children, and staff blindsided. Blame a lack of transparency.
Families left scrambling after public charter school in Peoria announces closure
A Valley public charter school announced that it will close its doors after the school year. On Friday, Sonoran Science Academy in Peoria made the announcement to staff and families of around 200 students at the K-8 school. “She’s been here for four years and I planned on having her stay,” said Parent Lisa Faiella. Faiella is one of the half dozen parents of students at the school Arizona’s Family has spoken to who say they feel shocked, sad, and angry about the announcement. “It was a big shock, especially at this point in time,” said Faiella.
Georgia agency considers closing two charter schools in Cherokee and Fulton
A state agency overseeing charter schools in Georgia could force two of them to close this summer due to financial concerns and troubling academic performances. Commissioners at the State Charter Schools Commission are expected to vote Wednesday on staff recommendations to shutter the over a decade-old Cherokee Charter Academy and the newer Fulton Leadership Academy.
Gary Rubinstein: Success Academy and the Mysterious Disappearance of One of Its Schools
The Success Academy Charter network, led by its founder Eva Moskowitz, has achieved national renown for its test scores. Gary has observed a winnowing of the students as they advance through the grades. He recently noticed that one of its schools had disappeared.
Two Bronx legislators want the city to pay even more for charter rent!
Why do these two Bronx legislators advocate for more funding for charter school facilities, while not mentioning that not a single new Bronx public school is specified to be built in new five-year SCA capital plan? Could it be because of the deep pockets of charter lobbyists perhaps? According to Follow the Money, and the NY State Board of Elections, Dan Loeb, billionaire charter school supporter gave Sepulveda $11,800 in 2020 and $11,000 in 2018, with his wife Margaret Loeb matching both donations, along with another $15,000 from John Petry, another billionaire charter school supporter.