#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Wauwatosa STEM School closing; board votes not to renew contract
The Wauwatosa School Board on Tuesday night, April 22, voted 4–2 to not renew the charter school’s contract.
Performing arts charter school in Walnut Creek, California, is closing
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the 42,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 725 students, but its highest enrollment, in 2018-19, was just 471. By last year, that figure had declined to 361.
VUSD Global Learning Charter closing in the Spring, Sierra View Elementary opening in its place
While GLC was underutilized, nearby Riverway Elementary was overutilized.
Failing Charter School Will Continue To Operate
Ignoring the LAUSD and its staff, the Los Angeles County Office of Education renewed KIPP Sol’s charter petition for another five years.
Some Minnesota charter school leaders break rules to benefit themselves and avoid scrutiny
More than half of MN’s charter schools in the past five years flunked governance standards, and many violated state’s open meetings law.
Bay Area art school closures continue as Contra Costa School of Performing Arts takes its curtain call
The Contra Costa School of Performing Arts will take its last curtain call in June, after administrators said rising facility costs and declining enrollment proved financially unsustainable for the 6-12th grade professional-track arts curriculum.
Unchartered waters: Kato Public Charter School to close its doors in June
Earlier this month, the school learned Novation Education Opportunities — the organization that grants charter schools the authorization they need to legally enroll and teach students — said that, because of academic performance, it will not renew Kato Public Charter School’s authorization beyond the current academic year. This means that for the students at the school who aren’t seniors, the search is on for a new school. Come June 30, the school will be no more.
Letter to Ohio auditor alleges ‘outrageous’ spending and other accusations about Dohn
The Ohio state auditor got a letter alleging outrageous spending levels in a now closed Cincinnati charter school. It was sent last summer by the foundation that supported Dohn Community High School and said $4.2 million of taxpayer money was at stake.
State scrutinizes 2 Las Vegas charter schools over their finances
The state agency that oversees charter schools is narrowing in on the finances of several valley schools, claiming they have too much debt to stay open.
A Supreme Court case would take a wrecking ball to separation of church and state in schools
The Oklahoma charter school case is one of two April cases seeking to remake schools in the religious right’s image.
Dohn Community High School contractors emerge as focus of state investigation
“I think it’s unethical and unconscionable,” said Carol Burris, executive director of the Network for Public Education, a New York-based nonprofit that advocates for investments in public schools not charter schools.
Sandy Spring Friends Faces ‘Untenable Financial Position’; Closing in June
The Board of Trustees issued a letter Monday stating the decision was not made lightly. “It comes after a thoughtful and extensive assessment of the school’s untenable financial position, as well as thorough analysis of our enrollment and fundraising picture. Regrettably, despite an immense effort to shore up the school’s financial foundation, we simply do not have the financial wherewithal to meet our obligations next year.”
Where did Ohio charter school’s money go? Lawsuit reveals how misspent cash led to closure
The owner of a former Dohn school building filed a lawsuit early this year against a subcontractor hired to revamp the building in a dispute over work that went unpaid for. The lawsuit reveals fraud claims against Dohn. It also sheds light on the former superintendent’s use of school funds.
Editorial: SC has almost no say over charter schools it funds; Senate bill would fix that
Yeah, it’s about the craziest thing we’ve ever heard of, and the surest way to fix the problem so charter schools live up to their tremendous promise — as they are doing in nearly every other state except South Carolina — is to close that loophole.
State officials looking at major charter school reforms
Amid ongoing concerns about lackluster academic performance and fresh allegations of financial self-dealing, state officials are considering major reforms to rein in South Carolina’s charter school system.