#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Charter schools that received up to $100 mil in PPP loans won’t have state funding cut, state auditor says
Arizona charter schools that received up to $100 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans can keep the money and not have any of their state funding cut, the Arizona Auditor General’s Office has determined.
Coronavirus aid money sent to charter schools draws scrutiny
A Beyond the Books investigation calculates a total of $7.9 million in federal Paycheck Protection Act funding was received by Utah charter schools. Charter schools annually receive state and federal funding, while the PPP program is intended to help small businesses to retain employees and keep people on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grand jury calls for better oversight of local charter schools
Better oversight is needed for the county’s 12 charter schools, the local civil grand jury concluded earlier this year. Its report, which was released in June, was based on interviews with staff from the Ventura County Office of Education and five districts overseeing charter schools: Oxnard Union, Mesa Union, Moorpark Unified, Ojai Unified and Pleasant Valley.
Woman who stole thousands from a lava-ravaged charter school is sentenced
A former financial officer of a Hawaii Island charter school has been sentenced for embezzling nearly $629,000.
Kelaukila Estabilio, 40, of Hilo admitted to stealing the money from the Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School. It was located in Pahoa until its campus was overrun by lava in the Kilauea eruption of 2018.
Four charged with nepotism at Coghill Charter School, state ethics board alleges
The Louisiana Board of Ethics has charged two Better Choice Foundation board members and two former employees of the school it ran — Mary D. Coghill Charter School — for allegedly violating a state law prohibiting agency heads or members of school boards from employing their close family members.
Newark Charter students, alumni call for change amid allegations of racism
A group of Newark Charter School students and alumni are petitioning the administration for changes, alleging that minority students are subjected to racism that goes unpunished by teachers and administrators.
Controversy follows receipt of Paycheck Protection Program funds by public charter schools
At least 50 North Carolina charter schools received money from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, created to help small businesses and nonprofits stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teachers association sues education commissioner over charter school contract rules
On Wednesday, July 22, the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) announced it is suing the state’s education commissioner over charter school rules that it claims illegally remove teacher certification and contractual requirements.
Auditor General calls for change to state’s charter school law after review of PA Cyber, Lincoln Park
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale called upon the state General Assembly on Wednesday to reform Pennsylvania’s charter school law after his review of Lincoln Learning Solutions’ recent tax filings.
Former principal sues Light of the World Academy, school director
A former administrator at a Pinckney charter school is suing the school and it’s director, claiming he was fired for stopping illegal practices.
In the lawsuit, filed in September, James Reese said Light of the World Academy fired him at following the 2017-2018 school year after he opposed actions by Kathy Moorehouse, the school’s director.
Expensive Miami private schools got millions in PPP loans. So did charter schools
Some of Miami-Dade’s wealthiest private schools and publicly funded charter schools are benefiting from millions of federal dollars that are supposed to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic.
Virus loans in Tucson: Charter, private schools got millions; school districts left out
Tucson-area private and charter schools have collected millions in federal coronavirus relief loans not available to public district schools despite the fact that a number of them also qualified for emergency stimulus funding.
However, charter schools don’t have the level of financial impact that many small businesses do because they continued to receive taxpayer funding throughout the crisis, said Dave Wells, research director with the Grand Canyon Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.
Former director of L.A. charter schools admits to embezzling $3.1 million in funds
The former executive director of a Los Angeles charter school operator on Friday agreed to plead guilty to embezzling $3.1 million in school funds that she spent on her personal use, including Disney cruises and theme park admissions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Former Head of Community Preparatory Academy Admits Stealing Over $3 Million and Spending $220,000 on Disney Expenses
Federal prosecutors today filed criminal theft and tax fraud charges against the former executive director of a charter school outfit who stole more than $3.1 million that should have been spent on school operations, but instead financed a lifestyle that included extravagant spending on Disney cruises and theme park admissions.
Fraud audit report: Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School missing more than $500K
Missing money is the latest problem to plague the troubled Easton Area Arts Elementary Charter School.
According to a 14-page fraud audit report given to 69 News by a source, an alleged fraudulent 1099 tax form from 2018 was issued to subcontractor PenTeleData, the schools internet and communications provider for more than $570,000 about 10% of the school’s revenue for 2018.