Auditors Reproach Calif. Charter Schools

[Judi Lynn]

Auditors Reproach Calif. Charter Schools
By JULIET WILLIAMS
Associated Press Writer

August 10, 2006, 12:41 AM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A chain of charter schools overcharged the state more than $57 million over three years, reimbursed its top executives for expensive SUVs and paid thousands of dollars for employee parties at Disneyland, a state audit released Wednesday found.

Jack O'Connell, superintendent of public instruction, said he will seek to ensure that the state is reimbursed by the for-profit Opportunities for Learning and the nonprofit Options for Youth schools. He has sent the audit to Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who may pursue legal action.

The eight schools and more than 40 independent-study satellite centers serve students who otherwise would quit school or fail, said Kerry Mazzoni, spokeswoman for the schools.
(snip)

Auditors found the charter schools transferred $10.8 million to a corporation run by the daughter of husband-and-wife owners Joan and John Hall. That corporation is not subject to state education laws.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-charter-schools,0,2923178.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[fasttense]

1. Privatization at its best. n/t

[rfranklin]

2. This is criminal (and demonstrates why there should be no

no charter schools, no vouchers, and no privitization.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. That's not true. There are some very good non-profit charter schools

Many are located in inner cities such as LA and take the kids that are "pushed out" of public schools who fear they drag their test scores down. Some are using newer education models than the ones used currently by private schools and are seeing success in kids that no one believed would succeed. If the public school system is going to give up on kids from lower socioeconomic statuses and some charter fill the void, they should not be grouped in with those schools that exist (such as the one cited in the article) simply to loot the system.

[3dman]

5. Given the not so good results much of the

public schools in CA are achieving, such as a 50% drop out rate in LAUSD, I don't think the state super. should be crowing very loudly. There are some problems with charter schools, but most perform quite well.

[Bandit]

4. That corporation is not subject to state education laws.

Why the hell not if they receive Government education funding? More corruption in the making I am sure.

[MisterP]

6. will the President of the system flee and be chased down

by soccer moms like Edison Schools'?