#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL
Dehesa Says inspire charter schools apper to be skirtging transparency laws
Today’s vote by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission denied a request by Woodland Prep officials to extend the deadline to obtain a certificate of occupancy for the school. That denial opened the door for the Commission to begin revocation procedures.
Ohio charter-school-bonus loophole needs closing – for good
Left uncorrected, Ohio law seemingly requires that the state — that is, Ohio taxpayers — pay millions of dollars in undeserved bonuses to failing and poorly performing charter schools.
Charter netwroork leader apologizes for really dumb unhelpful financial decisions
The head of a Texas-based charter school chain publicly apologized for “really dumb and unhelpful” plans that included leasing a private jet for millions of dollars and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on San Antonio Spurs tickets.
Dallas Charter School CEO Convicted in Kickback Scheme
A Dallas charter school CEO was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in federal prison for her role in a corruption scandal following an investigation by the FBI Dallas Field Office, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.
After backlash over $2M luxury jet, IDEA charter schools to stop spending $400K on Spurs tickets
Several weeks after IDEA Public Schools nixed plans to spend millions of dollars on a charter jet lease, the charter network’s leader announced the end of additional “hard to defend” spending practices Thursday, including the purchase of tickets and a luxury box for events at San Antonio’s AT&T Center.
For DeVos, the Pandemic Is Another Opportunity for Profit
While the focus should be on how to keep students, teachers, and staff safe—while still providing some form of quality public education—DeVos is using the pandemic as an opportunity to support private and charter schools, despite their not being a feasible option for many.
State reprimands Trenton charter school trustee for ethics training violation
Caroline Clarke, a member of the charter school’s board of trustees, failed to complete mandatory training in a timely fashion, incurring the wrath of state education authorities.
Prosecutors: Employee of Puna charter school overrun by lava embezzled $628,000
Federal prosecutors allege that the former financial officer for Kua O Ka La public charter school embezzled $628,000 from the campus between December 2012 and January 2019.
Lawyers think secret meetings by charter school task force break state law
At the Dec. 6, 2019, meeting of the Utah State Board of Education, there was plenty of anticipation in the air after a task force was tapped to look at problems inside Utah’s $400 million charter school system.
Audits reveal record-keeping issues at New Orleans schools
The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reports that district documents show several charter high schools were struggling in the fall with issues related to how the schools track student grades and other records.
Troubled Pine Bluff charter school given academic-year reprieve
Southeast Arkansas Preparatory High School, a financially and academically struggling charter school in Pine Bluff, will stay open at least through the end of this school year, the Arkansas Board of Education decided Friday.
Facing criticism, Bullis Charter School dumps controversial ‘hills’ preference in enrollment lottery
Los Altos School District officials, later joined by staff from the Santa Clara County Office of Education, said such a priority could give wealthier families an edge while stunting the charter school’s enrollment of underserved students.
Crucial financing on hold for Newark charter school as federal grand jury probe widens
Amid scrutiny by a federal grand jury, the state is holding up critical financing for the non-profit support group of one of Newark’s oldest and largest charter schools — cash needed to pay off $21 million in loans coming due on its high school.
‘We are doing some cleanup right now’: Easton charter school administrator accused of changing grades put on leave
In a lawsuit filed in December 2018 by the charter elementary school’s former principal, Zupko and Chief Financial Officer Shawn Ferrera were accused of changing grades to “falsely reflect the effectiveness of the school’s programs.”
Beyond the Books: Utah charter school may pay back millions in special education money
When the audit is complete, it is possible APA will have to pay back millions–maybe more–in state and federal special education funds.
School receive special education funding from both federal and state entities to help educate kids with special needs. The money needs to be very specifically accounted for.