Charter schools have higher risk for fraud

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Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, was cited as a model for charter schools. But Florida’s charter school record is not pretty.

Most charter schools are managed by a for-profit corporation. The charter school initiative just passed here authorizes a for-profit corporation to manage charter schools. So not only will we pay for education, we will also pay dearly for a management company to make a profit.

Orlando, FL, Channel 9 WFTV, investigated Dayspring Academy charter school, and John Legg, who requested a change in admission rules, that favored the schools’ achievement records. Legg is a powerful state representative. Conflict of interest charges have been filed.

Orange county, FL, Orlando Sentinel, reports that Northstar Charter School paid principal, Kelly Young, $519,453.36 of taxpayer money two days after the school closed. Her yearly pay and bonuses were higher than the superintendent of public schools.



These are only a few of the thousands of cases of fraud involving charter schools nationwide.

Do you think Washington taxpayers will be any luckier to avoid such fraud? Any time the corporate world sees a chance to make a profit, at taxpayers expense, it will happen.

Celia Louderback

Vancouver