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#ANOTHERDAYANOTHERCHARTERSCHOOLSCANDAL

Our Another Day Another Charter Scandal page now includes a sorting feature that allows you to search charter scandals by state and by 12 different categories. You can also search by keyword. Just use the ‘X’ to clear search terms and return to the full list of scandals.
10/04/2024

Another major report recommends California charter school oversight reforms after $400 million fraud case

The report comes from a task force ordered by a San Diego judge in the A3 charter school fraud case, in which charter operators bilked the state of $400 million largely by manipulating student attendance records and funding. San Diego prosecutors who led that case said it highlighted weaknesses in charter school laws and oversight that A3 operators exploited.

09/26/2024

Task force releases report in wake of state’s largest-ever charter-school fraud

The task force described the case as “the largest fraud in California’s 31-year history of charter schools,” but said “other California charter school fraud cases have been uncovered in recent years that included illegal, wasteful and fraudulent expenditures.”

09/06/2024

17 years after indictment, California Charter Academy case unresolved

Former Hesperia mayor Honeycutt and charter school founder Cox were indicted on Sept. 4, 2007, charged with misappropriating $5.5 million in charter school funds. Seventeen years later, they haven’t stood trial or accepted a plea deal.

09/01/2024

Did Sacramento charter schools misuse public money? Report alleges MAJOR violations

The report found that the last two annual independent audits of the charter organization’s financials showed poor accounting practices and a “material weakness” in their finances, indicating that auditors believe there is a higher likelihood that incorrect financial information could go undetected.

07/31/2024

Thomas Ultican: Inspire Charter School Legacy

Thomas Ultican reviews the history of the Inspire charter group, a story of “greed, unethical practices, and fraud.”

05/31/2024

Dozens of fixes proposed to deter more mega-cases of charter school fraud

A handful of corrupt operators capitalized on weaknesses in the authorizing and accountability system.

05/31/2024

California legislators call for audit of Highlands Community Charter School, Twin Rivers Unified

Fraud is suspected in the second audit of Highlands Community Charter School. ABC10 investigated the school and as a result a new audit investigation has been opened.

12/11/2023

One of California’s largest charter school networks lacked years of records to justify tens of millions in spending, state audit finds

Inspire, a home school charter network, for years lacked records to justify its claims for state funding. The Inspire network, which included two schools authorized out of San Diego County, also overreported student attendance. Inspire’s lapses resulted in part from some of the same financial practices and weaknesses in oversight that have allowed other California charter school operators to get more taxpayer money.

11/29/2023

Statewide task force meets in San Diego following record-breaking charter school fraud case

The task force was formed as a result of a 2019 San Diego case, which found 11 people defrauded the state of $400 million.

11/27/2023

California’s new anti-fraud charter school task force will convene for the first time in San Diego Monday

The task force was ordered by San Diego Superior Court Judge Robert Longstreth in September as part of the years-long A3 charter school case, which is the largest case of charter school fraud prosecuted in California in recent years.

10/05/2023

Madera charter school audit reveals misuse of $1million in funds

An audit report has revealed potential misuse of $1.06 million in public funds at Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy, a charter school in Madera, California.The report alleges various instances of misappropriation, including $38,000 spent to finance thehigher education expenses and the purchase of two Ford F-150 Raptors for the sons of ex-executive director Nicolas Retana, costing $80,000.

10/03/2023

16 years later, no trial date set for California Charter Academy case

In 2007, Tad Honeycutt and Charles Steven Cox were charged with misappropriating $5.5 million in charter school funds

09/30/2023

Fraud at local charter school: Wrapping it up

A full accounting of the alleged fraud by Nicholas Retana, former Executive Director of the ETAA Charter School, in the amount of $1,062,590.49, is impossible to report in a single issue of the Tribune.

09/25/2023

California charter school task force formed in wake of fraud case

California State Controller Malia Cohen has agreed to chair a task force to establish audit criteria and best practices to detect and curtail charter school fraud following a case that cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.

09/25/2023

Audit: $1M misspent at Ezequial Tafoya Alvarado Academy

An “Extraordinary Audit” conducted by an educational management firm (FCMAT) has revealed suspected fraud at Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy, a Madera County charter school authorized by Madera Unified School District. (Every charter school in California must be sponsored by a school district).