CA looks into loss of funds by start-up charter schools.

[RandySF]

The California Department of Education is looking into the loss of upwards of “tens of millions of dollars” in federal and state funds from start-up charter schools that either never opened or failed after their first year or two of operation.

Richard Zeiger, chief deputy superintendent in the California Department of Education, first made that assertion at the State Board of Education meeting on September 7 after the closure of a West Sacramento career technical education charter school.

Zeiger said the state finds itself having to balance wanting to encourage innovation with ensuring that state and federal funds are not misspent.

http://www.edsource.org/extra/2011/state-looks-into-start-up-charter-school-loss-of-tens-of-millions-of-dollars/1541

[Starry Messenger]

1. Charter schools are very innovative

...when diverting government revenue streams. I'm sure that money is sitting in a hedge fund now.

[Melinda]

2. About time too... here's a site w/history of Charter School "Scandals"

Pretty comprehensive site. Amazing how Republicans think the Feds have no business in education, but are more than happy to funnel BILLIONS of our tax dollars (fed funds) into these bogus schools.

http://charterschoolscandals.blogspot.com/

Good on ya CA! Thanks for posting this. :)

[gratuitous]

3. My word!

California Republicans have been extraordinarily vigilant about any state tax dollars that weren't accounted for to the penny when Democrats spent them. It's quite surprising that millions, even tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, would appear to have gone where the woodbine twineth without their hard scrutiny. I wonder what caused their attention to wander???

[madfloridian]

4. Good.

And they need to examine all the deceptively named groups that arose from the charter management companies. Start with the Parent Revolution which is corporately funded and not grassroots at all.

[Frustratedlady]

5. I only know of a couple of charter schools, but both were corrupt.

One...a preschool...is now under investigation. If the teachers complained or questioned why they were spending money on such things as beauty shop appts. for the director's mother, they were laid off or fired. Relatives were hired, but rarely showed up...items were purchased for the director's house. It was a mess.

Another was charged with fudging the test results.