#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
State audit questions finances of former KC charter school
A state audit of the Pathway Academy charter school in Kansas City, Missouri, says the school improperly paid bonuses and had questionable credit card policies.
The Missouri Auditor’s office gave the charter school, which closed at the end of the 2018-19 school year, a grade of “poor” for paying more than $25,000 in bonuses to employees in violation of state law.
Visalia charter school curriculum pulled days before start of school year
The state’s two virtual charter schools should be shining examples of remote learning. But instead of basking in the glow of high demand, the schools are facing tough questions about their students’ academic performances.
For the fourth consecutive year, NC Cyber Academy and NC Virtual Academy both have performance ratings of “D.”
Wildomar charter schools seeks to be classified as day care to reopen classrooms
A Wildomar charter school is forging ahead with plans to resume in-person learning despite orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom that schools in counties on the state COVID-19 watch list can’t reopen without a waiver.
Zoom bombing disrupts charter school board meeting, ignites debate over school environment
The termination of a principal at The Ethical Community Charter School has outraged parents and students and has many fearing the school may not survive.
City Charter that Won $1.5M Federal Grant, Closes Final School
A Baltimore City charter school group that won a $1.5 million federal grant to expand, has closed its final school.
Northwood Appold Community Academy, or NACA, won a $1.5 million expansion grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the fall 2017. At the time, it had two schools with the hopes of opening a third. Today, N
Feds Send Millions in PPP Loans to Charters as Upstate Districts Scramble to Manage Cuts, COVID Expenses
Most school districts across the state, which put their budgets up for a public vote in June, have had to make deep cuts to next year’s budget because federal stimulus has, so far, not been forthcoming.
But rather than making cuts, charter schools in New York are reaping the benefits of a different kind of federal money: the Paycheck Protection Program.
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.