#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Public school with ties to polygamous sect under investigation by Charter School Board
The Utah State Charter School Board has confirmed it will investigate the spending and lack of diversity at a public charter school in West Valley City.
FOX 13 was the first to report Vanguard Academy, which has ties to the polygamous Kingston group, had only enrolled one non-white student in the past five years.
BASD does not intend to renew HOPE charter
The Bedford Area School District does not intend to renew its charter with the HOPE for Hyndman Charter School but officials will continue discussions with the charter school’s leadership.
The school board during its meeting Monday night voted not to renew the five-year contract, which expires June 30, with the charter school, citing the school’s failure to meet academic goals outlined in the current agreement.
Reform PA cyber charter authorization, funding
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there has been a huge increase in cyber charter school enrollment across the country, including in Pennsylvania, where cyber charter school enrollment is up by 63% to 62,000 students as of Oct. 1.
State Board of Education unanimously revokes struggling Rowan County school’s charter
A tardy audit submission in late December couldn’t save Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School.
The State Board of Education on Thursday unanimously voted to revoke the Rowan County school’s charter because its leaders failed to submit required financial audits for 2019 and 2020 on time.
Court backs School Board terminating charter for Manatee school Lincoln Memorial Academy
An appeals court Wednesday backed a decision to terminate a Manatee County charter school’s contract, pointing to financial mismanagement and a failure to perform proper background screening on employees.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal upheld a 95-page ruling last year by Administrative Law Judge Robert Cohen, who agreed with the Manatee County School Board’s decision to end a contract with Lincoln Memorial Academy
Nevada charter schools got millions in PPP loans
As state budget cuts have strained the public education system, Nevada’s publicly financed charter schools have been able to shore up operations with millions of dollars from the federal Paycheck Protection Program designed to help businesses and nonprofits.
As cyber charter school costs soar, state fails to conduct required audits
Pennsylvania cyber charter schools could receive more than $1 billion in taxpayer money this year with little oversight as the state fails to conduct required financial audits, a Sunday Times investigation found.
Meanwhile, the 14 cyber schools spent at least $12.7 million on advertising and marketing last year — with some schools spending nearly $1,000 per student to convince others to enroll.
Rejected charter school proposal in Lancaster might have new life thanks to controversial federal grant program
When professional soccer club founder Brian Ombiji proposed a charter school infusing both sports and education in the city, one member of the Lancaster school board called the application “extremely negligent” and a waste of time.
Another called the proposed school a soccer program with a “side hustle in education.”
Charter school laws need to be reformed
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there has been a huge increase in cyber charter school enrollment across the country, including in Pennsylvania, where cyber charter school enrollment is up by 63% to 62,000 students as of Oct. 1.
This trend should have Pennsylvania parents and taxpayers extremely concerned, for two glaring reasons.
Audit reveals Epic Charter Schools has 60 days to pay back millions
State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd publicly released the work papers supporting the questioned administrative costs and improper transfers of funds to California related to her recent audit of Epic Charter Schools.
Governor Kevin Stitt requested the audit and, after reviewing the findings, the State Department of Education is demanding Epic refund the State $11.2 million.
A Failing Charter Hides Behind COVID-19
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was so concerned about the proposed management of this charter school that the board unanimously denied its approval in 2015. This decision was appealed to the Los Angeles County Office of Education which has a reputation for approving poorly performing schools. Even this board unanimously rejected the appeal. However, the state charter advisory commission, which included the Executive Directors of Granada Hills Charter and the North Valley Military Academy, overturned these decisions and authorized the charter.
Charter schools grow, but fall short of diversity targets set by Legislature
As its enrollment has grown over the past decade, charter schools have faced increased criticism over their lack of diversity. A 2018 analysis by the Current found that charter schools, especially top-ranked ones, were whiter and more affluent than their nearby district schools and the state as a whole.
The newest data, which was presented to the Charter School Board on Friday, shows that still holds true today, but incremental gains have been made over the past three years.
Families, employees of elementary school express frustration over nearby construction of charter school
Employees and families of a local elementary school are frustrated as construction continues on a new, charter school campus right across the street from their public school.
Now, they’re demanding changes at the state level.
Cornerstone founder Clark Durant accused of self-dealing by charter schools’ biggest private funder
Last week Mark Pulte, the son of Pulte Sr. and a co-trustee of the William J. Pulte Trust, submitted a complaint to the office of Attorney General Dana Nessel. In it he called for an investigation into Durant as, well as the New Common School Foundation (NCSF), a non-profit Durant created to raise funds for the Cornerstone schools, a group of private, religious schools he opened in the 1990s, and subsequently transitioned into public-charter schools.
FOX 13 Investigates: Public school with ties to polygamous sect is 100% white
Parents of students at Leman Academy of Excellence in Parker are frantically trying to find a new school after they were informed remote learning would no longer be an option at the school.
“We were notified, ‘You come back in January, 5 days a week, in-person, or you’ll have to find and alternative school,” said one mother who asked to remain anonymous for this story.