The worm is turning

On Sunday, the Beacon Journal’s astute education writer , Doug Livingston, took up the travesty once again under the headline “Charter schools misspend millions in Ohio”.
Braced with figures from State Auditor Dave Yost’s team, Livingston topped his report with a telling opening paragraph:

“No sector – not local governments, school districts, court systems, public universities or hospitals – misspends tax dollars like charter schools in Ohio'”

Based on the writer’s review of 4,263 audits by the state auditor, the money was misspent “four times more often than any other type of taxpayer agency.” Say, $27.3 million. There are some other for-profit charter organizations in Ohio, but none with the commanding scope of White Hat’s influence

Although Yost is committed to cleaning up the gore, he’s fighting a losing battle. The size and reach of the charter system has grown so large that he doesn’t have a staff that’s big enough to cover all of it.

Charter-school reforms should continue

Charter-school reforms should continue



The blended schools and drop out recovery schools are also prime candidates for fraud. Nexus Academies, Life Skills etc

More virtual school potential fraud

Ohio lawmakers forward e-school attendance allegations

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS — State lawmakers in Ohio have referred allegations to authorities that an online charter school failed to dis-enroll hundreds of chronically truant students in order to pad its rolls.
Ohio Virtual Academy, which serves about 13,000 students statewide, says it follows all state reporting laws and enrollment guidelines.
Reps. Bill Hayes (R., Harrison Township) and Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), the House Education Committee’s top Republican and Democrat, told the Associated Press on Monday they have forwarded an anonymous whistleblower’s email to state Auditor Dave Yost, whose office has made school attendance fraud a priority.
Hayes also involved the Ohio Department of Education and alerted the school, whose authorizer said it is conducting its own review.
The whistleblower provided a lengthy list of specific students listed as truant, in some cases for most of the school year.

I wonder how much this cost the Ohio taxpayers?  How many youths are going to be unprepared to be productive citizens because of a lack of education because the E-school is more concerned about collecting money than insuring the students receive an adequate education.  A shameful scam.

I think K-12 is in trouble and would not be buying their stock.

CURMUDGUCATION: Do Charters Create Pressure for Excellence

CURMUDGUCATION: Do Charters Create Pressure for Excellemce: Charles Sahm and I have been in as low motion conversation about charters. After the New York Times ran a less-than-inspiring portrayal of E...



Another good analysis of the costs of E-Schools in PA

10th Period: Ohio Charters Just Don't Work, Part III

10th Period: Ohio Charters Just Don't Work, Part III: Now that I've shown how state data indicate that Ohio's charter schools simply aren't up to snuff with Ohio's school distric...

Postscript: Treasurer Cincinnati College Prepatory Academy

A follow up on the aftermath of  of the scandal at Cincinnati College Prepatory Academy.  Stephanie Millard, the treasurer of that school and of Ohio Connections Academy has plead guilty to two counts of unauthorized use of property.  Two years probation.  Not sure what other schools she served as treasurer, but I suspect that many charter schools were looking for a part-time accountant to bless their dealings.  I do know that this indictment and conviction did generate a taxpayer paid audit of Cincinnati College Prepatory Academy and Ohio Connections Academy and perhaps others.  Both audits found issues.

This is why reform is needed as to the finances of charter schools and their for profit management companies.  The loosie goosie fiefdoms paid by the taxpayers, with unelected weak school boards, are a tempting target for abuse.

From the court records:

SENTENCED COUNT 4: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PROPERTY CONFINEMENT: 180 DAYS, SUSPENDED 180 DAYS HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER PROBATION: 2 YRS

SENTENCED COUNT 16: UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PROPERTY CONFINEMENT: 180 DAYS, SUSPENDED 180 DAYS HAMILTON COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER PROBATION: 2 YRS

10th Period: State Defines "High Performing" Charters

10th Period: State Defines "High Performing" Charters: One of the things most charter school reformers agree about is that whatever Ohio's charter school reform looks like, its few high-perfo...



Good blog.  It does not appear any of the virtual schools made the list