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National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Group: 1 in 5 charter schools not doing well enough to stay open
A group that oversees more than half of the nation's 5,600 charter schools said
as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of
poor academic performance.
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html
as many as one in five U.S. charter schools should be shut down because of
poor academic performance.
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019784379_charterschools29.html
CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS
UNO Charter Schools
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 minute ago
“More money from clout-heavy Hispanic group UNO went to insider.” Chicago Sun Times (IL), 4/22/2013 Weeks after Federico “Fred” d’Escoto stepped down from the board of the United Neighborhood Organization, his company, d’Escoto Inc., got its first check from the influential charter-school operator toward what now totals more than $1.8 million in state-funded payments. But d’Escoto Inc.’s ties to UNO — part of a pattern of insider hiring now under scrutiny by state authorities — date back years before that, internal documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show. The private, ...more »
Falun Gong-associated charter school chain (attempt)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 9 minutes ago
“Falun Gong follower behind attempt to open six charter schools.” New York Daily News, 3/6/2013 A follower of a controversial Chinese movement whose last attempt to open a school was rejected is now seeking approval for six bilingual charters — even though her name isn’t on the application. Lotus King Weiss is trying to open Confucius Teachings elementary, middle and high schools in Flushing and three others in Manhattan’s Chinatown in 2014. Applications are due April 15. Weiss isn’t one of the 21 names on the letter of intent submitted last month to the SUNY Charter Schools Ins...more »
Antioch Charter Academy II
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 12 minutes ago
“East Bay teacher duct taped boy's mouth shut,claim alleges.” Contra Costa Times (CA), 2/20/2013 ANTIOCH -- The family of an 8-year-old boy filed a claim Tuesday alleging the boy's third-grade teacher duct-taped his mouth shut and that another teacher punished him by placing a chair over him and sitting on it in separate incidents earlier this school year. Another student's hands were duct-taped by Antioch Charter Academy II teacher Michelle Mankewich in November, the claim alleges. All four charter school employees who witnessed or learned of the November incidents failed to per... more »
100 Legacy Academy Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 15 minutes ago
“Fine Print: Newark Charter School Revocation.” NJ Spotlight (NJ), 4/16/2013 What it is: The state Department of Education yesterday released its letterto the 100 Legacy Academy Charter School in Newark, informing the school that its state charter had been revoked after just seven months of operation... First probation: The middle school opened in August, 2012, with roughly 270 students, part of a partnership with the 100 Black Men of NJ organization. But by January it was placed on probation, after review found the school in violation of state statute in several areas, including ... more »
William and Josephine Dorn Charter Community School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 22 minutes ago
“Charter school gets too much state funding.” KOAT (Albuquerque, NM), 12/4/2012 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Target 7 learned a new charter academy grossly overestimated its enrollment numbers, and now the school will have to pay the state back for money it didn’t deserve. The William and Josephine Dorn Charter Community School sits at the Eastern Edge of the South Valley. According to the state’s Legislative Finance Committee, the academy received more state money than it was owed for the entire year because it estimated it would have 90 students when it actually had nine...
The Project School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 27 minutes ago
Bank foreclosing on former charter school property.” Indianapolis Business Journal (IN), 2/25/2013 Old National Bank is suing the operator of a charter school that closed last summer in Indianapolis, claiming it failed to pay off the $1.8 million balance on its mortgage. The Project School in August lost a court battleto stay open after Mayor Greg Ballard revoked the school’s charter due to poor test scores and financial issues... ==================================================== “Ballard moves to shut down The Project School.” Indianapolis Business Journal (IN), 7/17/2012 I... more »
Texas charter school proposals (content copied)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 2 minutes ago
“Four Texas charter school proposals contain copied passages.” Dallas Morning News (TX), 2/0/2013 Four groups vying to open Texas charter schools turned in applications last year that had sections copied from other applications, even claiming parts of another school’s public hearing summary as their own... The state board largely dismissed concerns about the copied material, and one board member called the practice “being smart.” But the head of the public integrity unit of the Travis County district attorney’s office said such practices could be fraudulent, though that office ha... more »
Sherwood Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 6 minutes ago
“Sherwood parents intend to file claim against Sherwood Charter School.”The Oregonian (OR), 3/15/2013 Three parents of current and former students at Sherwood Charter School intend to file a tort claim against the school. In a letter of intent dated March 15, the parents' attorney alleges the school board did not protect students against a fellow student's death threats, threats of sexual assault and violence... According to the Oregon Department of Education, Sherwood School District and the charter school have not received substantiated complaints since 2008. However, a Sherwoo... more »
Queen City Academy Charter School (attempt)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 10 minutes ago
“Proposed Bangor charter school linked to Turkish imam.” Portland Press Herald (ME), 2/17/2013 A proposed charter school to be based in Bangor is tied into an informal worldwide network of religious, cultural and education institutions operated by followers of a controversial and reclusive Turkish imam, Fethullah Gulen. The Queen City Academy Charter School was one of four proposed taxpayer-financed charter schools whose applications were denied last month by the state charter school commission, but the school intends to reapply at a future date... "They claim that these charte... more »
Quality Education Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 14 minutes ago
“'A factory of excellence'? Charter school’s international basketball team raises oversight questions.” NC Policy Watch, 1/28/2013 A Winston-Salem charter school has become an unlikely basketball powerhouse in recent years, winning three national high school championships and sending more than a dozen former players on to Division 1 colleges. But the success of Quality Education Academy‘s boys basketball team rests on a strategy prohibited at most public schools—recruiting top players throughout the nation and world. It also offers a window into the N.C. Department of Public Ins... more »
Northwest Preparatory Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 19 minutes ago
“Police: 3 charged with felony injury to 7th grader who wanted to use the bathroom.” KHOU (TX), 3/7/2013 HUMBLE, Texas -- Three staffers of a Humble-area charter school are facing felony injury to a child charges after allegedly over-disciplining a seventh grade girl. "Her arm was bent behind her back in a way that her wrist was up by her shoulder blades pretty high on her back," said Humble Police Department Det. Jackie Blanchard, the lead investigator in the case... Police say it started in a classroom when the 13-year-old female victim asked to go to the restroom. She was tol... more »
Midlands Math and Business Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 22 minutes ago
“After appeals process, Midlands Math and Business Charter will close.” WIS TV (SC), 3/20/2013 COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Richland One School Board voted three years ago to revoke the charter of the Midlands Math and Business Academy. During the appeals process, the school has been operating without a charter. Now the courts have sided with the district, forcing the school to close next week... The school is tucked inside an old shopping center with 72 students in grades 4 through 8... The Richland One School Board voted to revoke the school's charter in 2009. "There were sever... more »
Massachusetts charter schools (overstated demand)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 27 minutes ago
“Charter school demand in Mass. Disputed.” Boston Globe (MA), 4/8/2013 A state tally showing more than 53,000 students on charter school waiting lists is overstating demand, according to a Globe review of state data. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in tallying the waiting lists statewide and for many individual communities, including Boston, frequently counts the same students more than once. That’s because the state simply adds up the waiting lists from each charter school without collecting individual names to learn whether a student appears on more... more »
Mary L. Dinkins Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 30 minutes ago
“Revoked Charter School Remains Open, SLED Investigating.” WLTX (SC), 3/18/2013 Sumter, SC (WLTX) -- Classes continued Monday at a Sumter school with a revoked charter and a restraining order. Now SLED says it is also investigating the school for impropriety. The South Carolina Charter School District says whatever is going on at the Mary L. Dinkins Charter School is not a recognized function with the state, and it plans to take further action against the school Tuesday... A court cited low test scores and irregularities in its decision to revoke the school's charter. Dinki... more »
Lusher Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 33 minutes ago
“NOPD says feds now looking into 2011 embezzlement from Lusher Charter School.” The Lens (LA), 4/17/2013 The New Orleans Police Department is working with federal investigators in an embezzlement case from 2011 at Lusher Charter School that so far has led to no charges against the admitted embezzler... Lauren Hightower, a former accountant at the Uptown school, was discovered by administrators to have forged signatures on checks adding up to $25,800. The investigation into her activities is focused on the forgeries... Hightower was fired from her post; she later returned the mone...more »
Las Montañas Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 42 minutes ago
“Audit shows Las Montañas Charter's repeat accounting problems.” Las Cruces Sun-News (NM), 2/8/2013 LAS CRUCES — Las Montañas Charter School again has accounting difficulties and faces revocation of its charter, a year after budget problems threatened to shut down the school. Las Montañas overstated its capital asset balance — the value of its land, buildings, equipment and other assets — on is fiscal year 2011 report, according to final audit findings presented to the Las Cruces school board Tuesday... "These audit findings are problematic," Superintendent Stan Rounds said. La... more »
La Crescent Montessori Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 48 minutes ago
“Teacher's arrest begs more questions.” La Crosse Tribune (WI), 1/31/2013 School administrators had few answers Wednesday for why Jason David Barker — a convicted felon and special-education teacher now charged with molesting his students — was able to land job after job at area charter and private schools. Barker was director of the special-education program at La Crescent Montessori Academy until earlier this month, when several of his students confronted him at school in a plea to stop the abuse, prosecutors said... La Crescent Montessori school administrator Tammy Stremcha de... more »
Keystone Education Center Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 51 minutes ago
“Mercer County charter school executive director fined.” Pittsburg Tribune (PA), 3/26/2013 The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission on Tuesday fined the executive director of a Mercer County charter school for leasing properties he and his family controlled for the school's use without board approval. James Gentile, executive director of Keystone Education Center Charter School, violated conflict of interest rules, the commission said. It fined him $7,000... From the 2006-07 through 2011-12 school years, the school paid $714,120 in leases for two Greenville properties owned by... more »
Houston Gateway Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 54 minutes ago
“Charter school's entry fee is illegal.” Houston Chronicle (TX), 4/10/2013 Houston Gateway Academy, a public charter school that serves mostly low-income families, was charging parents fees to enroll their children in violation of state law, according to the Texas Education Agency. Applicants to the school received a letter saying the fee - $100 for one child or $200 per family - was required for students to land a reserved spot next fall... Charter schools and traditional school districts are allowed to charge for materials, student clubs, identification cards and a few other are... more »
Fulton Science Academy High School*
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 57 minutes ago
“School board: Fulton Science Academy appeal must wait till May, June.”NorthFulton.Com (GA), 4/14/2013 FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – With May 23 the final day of school in Fulton County, it appears probable a decision on the future of the Fulton Science Academy High School will come just days before that date, putting in flux the academic plans for hundreds of high school students. Last year, the Fulton School Board voted to terminate the charter with FSA HS on June 30, ending its relationship with the charter school after an eight-year partnership. Because there were two years remaining i... more »
Einstein Montessori School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Another failed Orlando charter 'a disaster' for students, teachers.”Orlando Sentinel (FL), 3/4/2013 It was clear to teachers at the Einstein Montessori School in Orlando that something was very wrong when school opened for business last fall. There were no computers for student use. And although the school focused on students with dyslexia, there were no reading texts. Teachers said there was no set curriculum and no library. "It was a disaster," said Brittany Clifton, a first-year math teacher who took on additional duties as principal for several months. She said students weren... more »
Delaware Military Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“‘Extensive inappropriate activity’ found at Delaware Military Academy.”NewsWorks, WHYY News, 2/20/2013 A state audit discovered excessive personal reimbursements were given to the DMA's superintendent Jack Wintermantel. The audit report follows an investigation by State Auditor Tom Wagner into allegations that the school leader received two reimbursements for the same purchase. Wagner's report shows Wintermatnel received more than $26,000 in duplicate reimbursements. The DMA is a publicly funded charter school with about 560 cadets in grades 9-12. The audit also states that s... more »
Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Charter school officials to appear in court for allegedly spending $148K in school funds.” WCPO TV (Cinncinati, OH), 04/05/2013 CINCINNATI - Two members of a Cincinnati charter school are scheduled to appear in court Friday morning after they allegedly stole more than $148,000 in taxpayer dollars from school coffers. In March, a grand jury indicted Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy Superintendent Dr. Lisa Hamm and contracted treasurer Stephanie Millard on 26 counts of theft in office, unauthorized use of property, tampering with evidence and tampering with records. The pair... more »
Challenge Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Newton charter school owes $165K for insurance, rent.” Newton Citizen (GA), 3/27/2013 COVINGTON -- Challenge Charter Academy owes about $165,000 to local and state groups. The Georgia Department of Community Health, which provides state health insurance benefits for employees, notified the school and Newton County Board of Education on Monday about the school's delinquency of $116,477.57. The department also notified the state Board of Education and the Georgia Charter School Commission about the matter, according to a letter sent to the school... Additionally, the school owes... more »
Career Success Schools (6 schools)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Phoenix Schools Under Fire For Program Linked To Scientology.” NPR, 3/27/2013 A group of Phoenix charter schools is facing criticism for using a teaching tool based on the work of L. Ron Hubbard, best known for founding the Church of Scientology. Teacher Katie Donahoe says that shortly after she was hired in 2010, she went to a memorable training session on the teaching method, called Applied Scholastics. The session was held at the Applied Scholastics headquarters near St. Louis... Applied Scholastics is a program based on something Hubbard called "study technology." The idea... more »
Cameron Creek Charter School (attempt)
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Charlotte charter school can’t open because of plagiarism allegation.”Charlotte Observer (NC), 3/7/2013 Cameron Creek Charter won’t be allowed to open in east Charlotte this year, based on accusations that it cut and pasted large parts of its application from another Charlotte proposal. The N.C. Board of Education voted Thursday to deny that school a charter... The board had granted preliminary approval to 25 schools last year. But Cameron Creek’s application came under scrutiny in February after another would-be charter operator told state officials that the Cameron Creek appli... more »
Brooklyn Dreams Charter School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Charter management firm charging huge rent markups to charter schools.”New York Post (NY), 4/30/2012 A for-profit education firm is soaking taxpayers by subleasing buildings to the Brooklyn public charter schools it runs at astronomical rates — including one at an incredible 1,000 percent markup, sources said. While the city Department of Education leases buildings in Brooklyn for between $5 and $25 per square foot, the Michigan-based National Heritage Academies subleases to the charter schools it operates for roughly $38 to $45 per square foot, according to a review of public sc... more »
Brighter Choice Foundation
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“NY charter school official admits embezzling $203K.” Associated Press, 3/27/2013 ALBANY (AP) --The former chief financial officer of a foundation that funds charter schools in Albany has admitted embezzling almost $203,000 from the organization. Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares says 49-year-old Ronald Racela pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree grand larceny for stealing the money while working for the Brighter Choice Foundation from September 2011 until December. He's expected to be sentenced May 17 to from five to 10 years in state prison and ordered to pa... more »
Benjamin Mays Preparatory School
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Ben Mays families lament loss of community as charter is pulled.” The Lens (LA), 2/14/2013 [Benjamin Mays Preparatory School] is one of four charters in transition this year. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted in December to strip the school of its charter because of low academic performance. Three other charters, Pride College Prep, Crocker Arts and Technology School and Intercultural Charter School, also were not renewed. But other operators agreed to run those schools, giving enrolled students priority. Though another school will be at the Mays site ne... more »
Baxter Academy of Technology and Science
The Perimeter Primate at CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS - 1 hour ago
“Portland charter school, ousted founder settle legal dispute.” Maine Sunday Telegram (ME), 4/10/2013 PORTLAND — Portland’s first charter school and its founder, who was fired by the board of directors, have settled their legal disputes, both parties announced Tuesday... The school and Jaques voluntarily dismissed the legal dispute with prejudice, which means both parties agree not to file any further claims associated with the dispute... The board of directors fired Jaques, who was serving as executive director, in March, citing a pattern of financial mismanagement. Jaques init... more »
A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged with, or are highly suspected of, tampering with admissions, grades, attendance and testing; misuse of funds and embezzlement; engaging in nepotism and conflicts of interest; engaging in complicated and shady real estate deals; and/or have been engaging in other questionable, unethical, borderline-legal, or illegal activities. This is also a record of charter school instability and other unsavory tidbits.
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