#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Legislator calls for fraud audit of state’s largest charter school chain
State Rep. Gerry Pollet has called for fraud and performance audits of Impact Public Schools, Washington’s largest charter school chain, following a KUOW investigation that found scant services for students learning English and a lack of support for students with disabilities.
Jefferson County students score among lowest in the state in English Language Arts and Geometry
The Department of Education released Math and English Language Arts statewide test scores this week. Jefferson County School District had the lowest third grade English Language Arts score and the lowest high school Geometry score in the state. The results come as local school officials prepare to regain control of the Jefferson school district Friday from charter school operator Somerset Academy.
State audit determines shuttered online charter school ECOT owes the state more than $117 million
Years after becoming a controversial political talking point, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow still owes the state more than $117 million, according to a state audit released Tuesday.
Nearly all Banning Lewis Academy school board members resign en masse
Nearly an entire Colorado Springs school board has resigned. 13 Investigates has learned that four out of the five school board members at Banning Lewis Academy resigned between June 10 and 13.
New agreement tells NC charter schools: No conflicts of interest
The North Carolina State Board of Education on Wednesday approved a new agreement for future charter schools prohibiting conflicts of interest.
The vote follows accusations of self-dealing at a Raleigh charter school, Torchlight Academy, the state board closed earlier this year.
Timeline: Epic Charter Schools’ years of alleged wrongdoing
This past week saw one of the biggest developments yet in the ongoing legal saga of Epic Charter Schools.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation arrested Epic founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, and Josh Brock, its former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), on multiple charges stemming from investigations dating back to 2013.
New Irvine charter school under scrutiny for alleged mismanagement
On the last day of school at Irvine International Academy, families were greeted with parties, end-of-the-year fun, and some breaking news: The principal had been fired.It was the latest controversy in a list of many for a charter school that opened less than one year ago.
UPDATE: Epic Charter Schools co-founders, former CFO charged in elaborate scheme to defraud and embezzle from taxpayers
The founders of Epic Charter Schools have been arrested and charged with bilking Oklahoma’s largest school system out of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars by enrolling ghost students, falsifying invoices and fraudulently using credit cards paid for with school funds to cover personal and out-of-state charter school expenses and even political contributions.
State leaders begin closure protocols for embattled charter school
The commission has been helping Another Choice Virtual Charter prepare for permanent closure for months, commission director Jenn Thompson told EdNews Wednesday. In February, the commission took the first formal — and rare — step to close the school by voting unanimously for Another Choice’s permanent shutdown.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation arrests Epic Charter School founders, former CFO on multiple charges
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has arrested the founders of Epic Charter Schools and its former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on multiple charges stemming from investigations dating back to 2013.
Philly board moves to close 3 charters amid allegations of bias against Black-led schools
The Philadelphia school board Thursday night began a process to pull the charters of three schools it cited for academic, operational, and financial flaws.
Oklahoma charter school facing more allegations of misusing state funds
Epic Charter Schools is accused of fudging attendance records to receive thousands of dollars in state funds and of improperly handing out millions in bonuses, according to an investigation by the Oklahoma State Department of Education released Tuesday.
Texas State Board of Education rejects conservative-backed Heritage Classical Academy charter school for third time
The Texas State Board of Education Friday again rejected an application of a Houston charter school whose founder gave money to a political action committee that backed anti-critical race theory candidates for the board and whose board member accused organizers of the Women’s March of trying to impose Sharia in America.
Takeover of Colorado Springs Charter Academy operations considered by state education commissioner
The head of the Colorado Department of Education, Katy Anthes, could ask for a third party to provide external oversight for the K-8 school on Chelton Road that has struggled with its financial controls. It would be a step that has only happened once before in state history, said Dustin Sparks, with the Charter School Law Group, who is working with the school.
Idaho virtual school ‘failed to comply’ with charter rules. Now it’s closing
A virtual charter school in Idaho will close at the end of the month after its appeal was denied in its last effort to remain open.
In November, the Idaho Public Charter School Commission’s director recommended that Another Choice Virtual Charter School’s charter not be renewed because it hadn’t met certain operational standards and had “failed to comply with public charter school statutes,” according to the board’s agenda.