News articles on lax charter school regulation, problems
Page created June 2010; last updated Feb 18, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Extremely loose oversight of charter schools has created an opportunity space for the Gulen Movement to expand its educational network into the US. The Charter School Scandals website provides a very comprehensive collection of newspaper articles on the consequences of lax charter regulation. Abuses have occurred in schools outside the Gulen network as well.
Feb 13, 2012 Chicago Catalyst
Charter discipline policy under fire by Rebecca Harris
"The civil rights advocacy group Advancement Project is considering a legal challenge to the discipline policy of Noble Street Charter School campuses, which charge students $5 each time they are issued a detention."
Dec 12, 2011 Los Angeles Times , Los Angeles CA
2 charter schools allowed some families to bypass lotteries by Howard Blume
"Two popular Los Angeles charter schools have allowed some families to bypass a lottery for admission in exchange for providing special services or a substantial volunteer commitment. ..... Under state law, independently run charter schools are open equally to students without regard to family resources. Lotteries are held when applications exceed classroom space."
Dec 10, 2011 Miami Herald, Miami FL
Florida charter schools: big money, little oversight by Scott Hiaasen & Kathleen McGrory
"But while charter schools have grown into a $400-million-a-year business in South Florida, receiving about $6,000 in taxpayer dollars for every student enrolled, they continue to operate with little public oversight. Even when charter schools have been caught violating state laws, school districts have few tools to demand compliance."
Oct 25, 2011 Miami Herald, Miami FL
Two Miami-Dade charter schools lose funding: Miami-Dade school district officials say one school is not serving its special-needs students, and the other faces questions about its finances.
Sep 29, 2011 New York Daily News, New York City NY
Charter school accused of scrimping on student supplies and support under state investigation by Mark Morales
"A spokeswoman for the State University of New York, which oversees Excelsior, said SUNY has no policy barring nepotism."
Sep 3, 2011 Miami Herald
Balere Charter Academy of Party Science? (opinion) by Fred Grimm
June 20, 2011 Cleveland Plain Dealer
House-Senate budget committee faces major questions on charter schools by Aaron Marshall
"The amendments -- which would allow for-profit operators to run schools without supervision and operators with terrible track records to open new schools -- were roundly condemned, even by advocates within the charter schools movement."
June 12, 2011 The News Journal, Wilmington DE
Delaware schools: Checkered past goes unchecked: Multiple bankruptcies, child abuse conviction all part of charter school founder's record by Nichole Dobo
"The state Department of Education allowed Anthony White to open Delaware's first all-girls charter school in Claymont in 2010, even though he is a convicted child abuser, has declared bankruptcy at least eight times and has several aliases known to law enforcement."
May 27, 2011 Columbus Dispatch, Columbus OH
Bill could scuttle lawsuit against charter-school operator: House provisions favor major GOP donor
"...would allow the for-profit company to keep secret how it spends tax dollars it receives to operate charter schools" "The lawmakers also agreed: to ban the state from suspending or putting on probation charter schools with poor student performance, fiscal mismanagement or a law violation..."
The proposed loosening of restrictions on charter schools has even the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools concerned. It appears the major beneficiary would be White Hat Management Co, which has been a major donor to the state's Republican Party.
May 16, 2011 AP News; The Augusta Chronicle
Ga. court overturns charter schools law
In this decision, Georgia's Supreme Court said the state government cannot authorize charter schools that local school districts have rejected.
May 13, 2011 Dayton Daily News, Dayton OH
Campaign donations did not affect charter school legislation, says speaker
May 12, 2011 Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne IN
Indianapolis district seeking transfer ban
"The head of the cash-strapped Indianapolis Public Schools plans to prohibit students who start the school year in a charter school from transferring into the district’s schools after the school year begins."
May 11, 2011 North Jersey Media Group NJ
Millburn forum weighs charter schools impact
"She [Montclair State University professor of educational leadership Katrina Bulkley] also said although charter schools cannot legally select their students, research has shown they have 'more leeway in formally or informally asking students to leave.'"
May 1, 2011 St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg FL
Florida charter school advocate warns of problems amid growth
Feb 6, 2011 News Record, Raleigh NC
Charter push goes beyond raising cap by Mark Binker
"Charter schools could receive more public money but face fewer limitations than they do now under a bill the Senate Education Committee has rolled out."
Oct 7, 2010 The Lens, New Orleans LA
It’s none of your business: Most charters don’t comply with open-meetings law
"In response to three months of requests from The Lens, a surprisingly large number of New Orleans charter school boards failed to comply with even basic requests for information."
Feb 24, 2010 New York Times NY
As U.S. Aid Grows, Oversight is Urged for Charter Schools
August 16, 2009 Arizona Daily Star, Tucson AZ
Education at charters is spotty, oversight lax
Oct 4, 2007 Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena CA
'Somewhat lacking' - Local charter schools have same lax oversight as scandal-mired Oakland school run by ex-Pasadena officials
June 4, 2007 Dallas Morning News, Dallas TX
Cheating's off the charts at charter schools
