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Charter school scandals of the day

Charter schools are by design a griftogenic environment, so operators are at their most creative in figuring out ways to benefit themselves:

December 6, 2024
State sues charter school superintendent over $4M hedge fund loss
Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing Christianna Hang, seeking the return of $4.3 million in charter school money she allegedly lost in a hedge fund.
Source: www.kare11.com

November 24, 2024
Nonprofits overseeing MN charter schools refuse to provide documents
Ten nonprofits that oversee charter schools in Minnesota refused to comply with state laws requiring them to provide the public with documents.
Source: www.startribune.com

November 17, 2024
Horne: Parents bought gift cards with ESA voucher money
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says his department has “an overwhelming problem” trying to process reimbursements for the voucher program.
Source: www.12news.com

November 13, 2024
Report finds 36% of Michigan charter schools fail in first five years
A new national report finds that more than one in four charter schools fail in their first five years.
Source: www.cbsnews.com

October 25, 2024
Charter school enrollment has grown, but research shows they have long performed worse than traditional schools
The MN Department of Education says 124 charter schools have closed since the first one in the nation opened in the state in 1992.
Source: www.kare11.com

October 22, 2024
STEP Academy leaders resign as charter school faces financial collapse
If STEP Academy, a charter school campuses in St. Paul and Burnsville, shuts down, it would be the largest charter school failure in Minnesota history
Source: www.startribune.com

October 18, 2024
Charter school, STEP Academy, faces possible financial collapse
STEP Academy, which has campuses in St. Paul and Burnsville, is one of Minnesota's largest charter schools.
Source: www.startribune.com

October 12, 2024
In a State With School Vouchers For All, Low-Income Families Aren’t Choosing to Use Them
Working-class parents often express interest in vouchers. But in Arizona, the nation’s school choice capital, these families aren’t using them due to the inaccessibility of private schools and the costs of transportation, meals and uniforms.
Source: www.propublica.org

October 12, 2024
Toledo charter school suddenly closes
Dozens of parents are making new plans for their kids after one Toledo charter school suddenly announced it is closing this month.
Source: www.13abc.com

October 9, 2024
Teachers and staff at STEP Academy laid off after the charter school is $775,000 over budget
STEP Academy serves a significant part of the Somali community in the Capitol City and works to reach students underrepresented in STEM fields.
Source: www.kare11.com

October 6, 2024
Charter Schools Have Built a Profitable Patronage Network in Philadelphia – Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools
By Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools and Philly Power Research The privatization of public schools has never been about improving education. The goal was to create opportunities for businesses while diminishing the political power of parents, educators and the community.  In that respect, the expansion of charter schools in Philadelphia has been an undeniable success. …
Source: appsphilly.net

September 28, 2024
Troubled Minneapolis charter school, LoveWorks Academy, closes
LoveWorks Academy for Arts closed abruptly this month in Minneapolis after years of low academic scores and struggling finances.
Source: www.startribune.com

September 17, 2024
Charter school teacher arrested, accused of threatening to shoot third graders
UNION PARISH, La. (KNOE/Gray News) - The sheriff’s office said they arrested a Louisiana teacher accused of threatening to shoot third-grade students. The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office said a parent contacted them on Tuesday and claimed Robert Mitcham, 70, a teacher at Downsville Community Charter School, threatened students after becoming angry.
Source: www.kptv.com

September 16, 2024
Pleading guilty: former Wilkes County charter school employees stole thousands
Former Bridges Academy employees in Wilkes County pleaded guilty of stealing, embezzlement, sentenced to probation and $225,000 in reparations.
Source: www.wxii12.com

September 16, 2024
New Orleans School Board Is Moving Toward Directly Running NOLA Schools
In February 2024, Nola.com reported that the Orleans Parish School Board is actively seeking to once again directly operate New Orleans schools: For several years the Orleans Parish School Board’s main responsibility has been to keep watch over the city’s independently operated charter schools. But now the elected board is ready to reclaim its historic…
Source: deutsch29.wordpress.com

September 13, 2024
Why most Minnesota charter schools are failing
Minnesota created charter schools to be more independent than their public school counterparts, allowing them to innovate and better help struggling students. But the lack of oversight often leads to financial mismanagement and fewer resources when things go wrong.
Source: www.startribune.com

September 13, 2024
When Minnesota charter schools fail, vulnerable students pay the price
Hundreds of Minnesota students are caught up each year in the often sudden shuttering of charter schools. School leaders say the closings create a cycle that sets more schools and students up for failure.
Source: www.startribune.com

September 12, 2024
Turmoil at Lionheart Academy Endangers Charter School
Lionheart Classical Academy (LCA) in Peterborough was supposed to be the refuge for parents and families in the Monadnock region who wanted an escape from a secularized public education where unaccountable bureaucrats rule. But now, the K-7 charter school is in danger of financial collapse after questionable board deals that were hidden from the public, according to Lionheart founder Fred Ward.
Source: nhjournal.com

September 7, 2024
Pro-Voucher Florida Lawmaker Indicted for Crimes Related to Christian School She Administers
A Florida lawmaker who has openly supported school vouchers surrendered to authorities last week after being indicted for crimes related to a Christian school she administers.
Source: www.reformaustin.org

September 6, 2024
Twin Cities teacher indicted in sexually assaults of 12 children
Aaron Hjermstad is serving 12 years for sexually assaulting four other students. The new charges carry the potential for a life sentence... Hjermstad taught at several charter schools in the Twin Cities
Source: www.startribune.com

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About the Data

Find out where the grant data comes from, and what years and funders are included.

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MN EDUCATION REFORM CORE

Great MN Schools $ 39,345,556
Teach for America Twin Cities $ 14,379,047
Hiawatha Academies $ 11,271,114
Minnesota Comeback CLOSED $ 11,139,019
KIPP Minnesota $ 7,452,814
Ed Allies $ 6,292,454
Policy Innovators in Education Network Inc. (PIE Network) $ 6,094,789
Educators 4 Excellence, Inc. $ 5,936,613
Charter School Partners CLOSED $ 4,871,464
Center of the American Experiment $ 4,663,906
MinnCAN CLOSED $ 4,155,592
Harvest Preparatory Charter School CLOSED $ 3,099,438
The New Teacher Project $ 2,895,605
Our Turn, Inc., nee Students for Education Reform (SFER) $ 2,777,556
Education Evolving $ 2,775,750
Charlemagne Institute - nee Intellectual Takeout $ 2,261,410
Harvest Network of Schools CLOSED $ 1,692,256
Minnesota Parent Union $ 1,289,340
Advancing Equity Coalition $ 701,594
Total: $ 133,095,317