ReNEW Sci Tech used special-ed designation for cash, state report finds
ReNEW SciTech Academy violated special education law, robbing some students of special education services, and also committed state testing violations last school year, according to a state-issued report released Friday afternoon.
The improprieties have put the organization at risk of losing its six schools if it doesn’t meet the state’s specific reform goals by mid summer.
In short, the leaders of the school said some students needed extra help, which comes with extra money in the state formula. But they then didn’t provide those students with the benefits, using the money instead to shore up a $300,000 budgeting problem.
The Lens first reported trouble at the 750-student elementary school on June 1, days after two SciTech leaders abruptly resignedamid questions over testing procedures.
The Louisiana Department of Education began an investigation into the school shortly thereafter, and over the course of six months, made four primary findings. The department found ReNEW SciTech fraudulently obtained funds, failed to comply with many aspects of federal IDEA law, and violated testing procedure in the 2014-15 school year. The department also found ReNEW’s internal processes failed to identify and address the violations.
The school received its charter through the Recovery School District. Patrick Dobard, the superintendent who leads that district, said the department did not find that the violations were systemic across the ReNEW network.
The network is now under a corrective action plan that includes providing make-up special education services to dozens of students who did not receive appropriate instruction last year.
The report states SciTech school leaders inflated the amount and type of services those students needed, in an effort to bring in ReNEW Sci Tech used special-ed designation for cash, state report finds | The Lens:
