CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS

A compilation of news articles about charter schools which have been charged with, or are highly suspected of, tampering with admissions, grades, attendance and testing; misuse of funds and embezzlement; engaging in nepotism and conflicts of interest; engaging in complicated and shady real estate deals; and/or have been engaging in other questionable, unethical, borderline-legal, or illegal activities. This is also a record of charter school instability and other unsavory tidbits.

Kid Street Learning Center Charter School

"Guilty plea in Santa Rosa School embezzlement." KTVU (CA), 1/10/2012

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A former Santa Rosa charter school official has pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $400,000 to fund a prescription drug habit.

[CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]

Academy for Science and Design

“Merrimack charter school wrongly denied nearly 70 students lottery access.” Nashua Telegraph (NH), 08/24/2011

Nearly 70 students were wrongly denied their right to enter an admissions lottery for the Academy for Science and Design charter school this year, the school acknowledged in a letter sent to parents this week.

The school chalked up the error to “inadvertent human error,” though e-mails provided by parents whose children were rejected show they were told if their children didn’t score 70 percent on a math placement exam, they were not eligible to attend the school. Using placement test scores to deny students would be a violation of the school’s charter and possibly state law...

[Thomas Frischknecht, chairman of the school’s board of trustees] said the issue came to the board’s attention last week when parent Janet Sukkar attended the meeting with her family and told the board her son had been denied admission because of his math placement test score. She provided correspondence to corroborate her claim, according to meeting minutes.

[CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]

Guffey Community Charter School

"Former Guffey Community Charter School volunteer arrested.” Fairplay Flume (CO), 08/19/2011

A former volunteer at the Guffey Community Charter School turned himself in to the Teller County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 15 on a Park County warrant stemming from allegations that he abused a child in connection with a school trip.

Robert Alfieri, 55, of Florissant, has arrest charges against him for crimes against at-risk juveniles, a class 6 felony, and child abuse and third degree assault, both class 1 misdemeanors...

Becky Minnis, the Fairplay-based Re-2 School District superintendent, who has some degree of authority over the charter school, which is within Re-2, said Alfieri has been a volunteer and his wife taught at the charter school in Guffey.

"His wife was a teacher there, and she has since resigned," Minnis said. "She resigned at the end of the school year."

Alfieri didn't return a phone message seeking comment on the case...

According to the arrest warrant, Alfieri was a volunteer snowboard instructor teaching Guffey Community Charter School students how to snowboard at Ski Cooper...

Mercury Online Academy (virtual school)

“Upland online charter school closes doors after one week of class due to declining enrollment.” Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (CA), 08/23/2011

UPLAND - The large banner and signs outside Mercury Online Academy's learning facility says it's still enrolling students, but that's far from the case.

Due to a lack of enrollment, the free K-6 charter school closed its doors Friday, one week into its school year.

[CLICK HERE TO READ MORE]

Allsport Academy

“5 years for ex Tucson teacher in student-sex case.” Arizona Daily Star, 08/23/2011

A former charter school teacher was sentenced to five years in prison and a lifetime of probation Monday in Pima County Superior Court.

Aaron Montoya, 31, was indicted in July 2010 on three counts of sexual conduct with a minor and pleaded guilty to two of those counts last month.

Montoya's now former wife called police after she caught him with a 14-year-old girl at their home, according to court records. The girl told police she'd had sex with Montoya at a hotel three or four times and once at his house.

Montoya taught the girl at Allsport Academy, 6211 E. Speedway, a charter school run by his father.

His father fired him...

Gulen charter schools in Arkansas

STATE	# ACTIVE	# PENDING	# INACTIVE*	TOTAL
AR	5	0	3	8

* Denied, withdrawn, closed, or unknown status

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TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN 2010-2011 = 904 STUDENTS

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SCHOOLS

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LISA ACADEMY – LITTLE ROCK
Status	Active, opened in 2004
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education; denied expansion for grades 4 & 5 due to student screening concerns (4/2011) http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/04/11/dermott-west-side-school-in-distress
Location/District	21 Corporate Hill Dr., Little Rock / Little Rock School District
Website	http://www.lisaacademy.org/
Enrollment	Grades 6-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 306
Notes	Ali Gumus, superintendent, and Cuneyt Akdemir, principal (referenced May 2011); now being referred to as “LISA West”

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LISA ACADEMY HIGH – LITTLE ROCK
Status	Active, opened in 2005
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Location/District	23 Corporate Hill Dr., Little Rock / Little Rock School District
Website	http://www.lisaacademy.org/
Enrollment	Grades 9-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 170
Notes	Ribbon-cutting for newly constructed building 10/2011

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LISA ACADEMY – NORTH ELEMENTARY
Status	Active, opened in 2008
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Location/District	5410 Landers Rd., Sherwood (North Little Rock) / Pulaski County Special School District
Website	http://www.lisanorth.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-5; 2010-11 enrollment = 214
Notes	Emin Cavusoglu, superintendent, and Mehmet Uguz, principal (referenced May 2011); school drew “...criticism for locating in an affluent area after stating in its original charter school application that it wanted to locate in a disadvantaged area and serve at-risk students.” http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/charter-school-invasion/Content?oid=863881

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LISA ACADEMY – NORTH MIDDLE
Status	Active, opened in 2008
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Location/District	5410 Landers Rd., Sherwood (North Little Rock) / Pulaski County Special School District
Website	http://www.lisanorth.org/
Enrollment	Grades 6-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 162

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LISA ACADEMY – NORTH HIGH
Status	Active, opened in 2008
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Location/District	5410 Landers Rd., Sherwood (North Little Rock) / Pulaski County Special School District
Website	http://www.lisanorth.org/
Enrollment	Grades 9-10; 2010-11 enrollment = 52

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LISA ACADEMY - SPRINGDALE
Status	Denied in 2007
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Notes	Board voted 4-3 to deny the application; “...board members said they were puzzled by the choice of location… ”http://arkansasnews.com/2007/11/05/education-board-approves-changes-to-arkansas-history-guidelines/

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LISA ACADEMY - JOHNSON
Status	Denied in 2008
Management	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation
Authorizer	Arkansas State Board of Education
Notes	Proposed K-12 school; rejected 6-2 (“Some board members questioned the need for the school.”)

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DOVE SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE
Status	Denied by the Springdale School District in June 2009, and also denied by the State Board in November 2009
Management	Sky Foundation, Inc. dba Dove Science Academy
Authorizer	Springdale School District, Arkansas Department of Education
Notes	The school’s appeal to the ADE was denied because the school “…would not offer a service the district does not already provide.” http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2009/nov/10/state-board-denies-request-dove-school/

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MANAGEMENT

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LITTLE SCHOLARS OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION
Federal Tax ID	EIN 061665076
Website	None
History	“…the founders of LISA Academy — UALR professors Serhan Dagtas and Ibrahim Duyar — envisioned a college-prep school that emphasized science, math and technology…” (Arkansas Times) http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/whats-the-point/Content?oid=868071
Individuals involved	Names appearing on IRS Form 990s (2004-2008): Ali Gumus, Birol Furat, Murat Kalaci, Emin Cavusoglu, Ilker Akkus, Kemal Aydin, Mikail Abdullayev, Murat Kalayci, Mutlu Mete, Omer Ozmeral, Ramazan Ozgen, Sinan Kockara, and Tansel Karabacak.

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SKY FOUNDATION, INC. dba DOVE SCIENCE ACADEMY
Federal Tax ID	EIN 731578930
Website	None
History	Schools chartered “by Turkish immigrants studying at Oklahoma State University.” (The Oklahoman, 1/1/2006); “...the founders of the school had the vision of creating a place that emphasized math and science...” (NewsOK, 3/28/2011);
Individuals involved	Names appearing on Sky Foundation Form 990s (2002-2009): Birol Furat, Birol Ozturk, A.Y. [Ali Yavuz] Zeybek, Elvan Ceyhan, Fevzi Simsek, Gultekin Kaya, Hakan Yagci, Halil Ibrahim Tas, Hasan Buzuk, Ihsan Kara, Ilhan Guzey, Can Topuz, Kamil Celik, Orhan Kucukosman, Volkan Cicek, Ilker Gure, Yalcin Akyildiz, Zekeriya Yuksel, and Zeynei Gunay.
Notes	Until 2009, the Form 990s listed the address is 4444 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City. Also listed at this address is the Oklahoma City branch of Raindrop Turkish House, a regional Gulenist “cultural” organization.

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PARTNER ORGANIZATION

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COSMOS FOUNDATION / HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Federal Tax ID	EIN 76-0615245
Website	http://www.cosmostx.org/
Services	Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation and the Cosmos Foundation are in a “Support Service Agreement”; Cosmos gets 3% of LISA Foundation’s annual state funding
Individuals involved	Names appearing on IRS Form 990s (2002 to 2009): Ali Tekin, Bilal Akin, Burhanettin Kuruscu, Cengizhan Keskin, Cocksun Cetinkaya, Ellen A. MacDonald, Fatih Yigit, Gokturk Tunc, Ibrahim Sel, Iker Gure, Ismet S. Isik, Kadir Almus, Kudbettin Aksoy, Levent Bulut, Lynn Mitchell, Mehmet Okumus, Mustafa Atik, Mustafa Guvercin, Mustafa Ozen, Nihat Guvercin, Oner Ulvi Celepicikay, Ozgur Ozer, Selahattin Aydin, Soner Tarim, Tevik Eski, Umit Pecin, Yetkin Yildirim

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Learn more about the Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools HERE and HERE and HERE.
Learn more about the LISA Academy HERE.

Miller-McCoy Academy

“New Orleans charter testing drama casts light on how cheating allegations are handled.” The Times-Picayune, 08/19/2011

Last year, several teachers at Miller-McCoy Academy in eastern New Orleans told Recovery School District officials they feared someone on the school's staff had opened high-stakes exams in advance so students could be prepped on a few actual test questions.

An RSD investigation concluded some kind of cheating had likely occurred at the all-boys middle and high school. Then, Miller-McCoy's board of directors conducted its own investigation, which found no evidence of wrongdoing. In the end, the conflicting findings of the two probes were never fully reconciled.

The handling of the matter raises important questions about how cheating allegations are investigated. In most Louisiana school districts, central office personnel handle the task and report the results to state officials, often with a recommendation about whether to void scores.

There's a natural conflict there, experts say, in that most school districts are less than eager to announce they've found corruption in their midst.

At charter schools, the conflict might be more acute, some say, because charter boards play a role in investigations. Board members can be recruited by a school's administrators, which might make it even more difficult for them to take a hard look at allegations.

"If you are committed to finding out the truth, you need individuals who are not connected in any way to the individuals involved," said Robert Schaeffer, public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing.

In Louisiana's current setup, there is "a conflict of interest all the way up the line," and not just as it relates to charter schools, said Gregory Cizek, a professor of educational measurement at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "No one has a really strong interest in investigating in a really searching manner," he said.

That's why some states have started putting such investigations under the jurisdiction of the state attorney general's office or another independent entity, he said...

The Miller-McCoy investigation began in the spring of 2010 when several staff members alleged that, just days before students were to take high-stakes tests, school administrators had given teachers math questions or essay topics that were uncannily similar to those that appeared on the state exam days later. Three staff members came in to meet with RSD personnel, while two others provided interviews; all told, nearly 20 percent of the school's teachers raised concerns. The administrators asked teachers to use the questions to prepare students for the exam, according to the RSD report on the matter and interviews with three of the teachers...

Gulen charter schools in Texas

STATE	# ACTIVE	# PENDING	# INACTIVE*	TOTAL
TX	40	7	2	49

* Denied, withdrawn, closed, or unknown status

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TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN 2010-2011 = 18228 STUDENTS

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SCHOOLS

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened in 2000-2001; grades reconfigured in 2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	5435 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston / Houston Independent School District
Website	http://hsahouston.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 357
Notes	Originally a 6-12 school, the school expanded to K-12, then split into two campuses in 2007. The original campus on Braeswood was reconfigured as a K-8 school. Grades 9-12 were relocated to 9431 W. Sam Houston Pkwy., Houston.

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – HOUSTON (HIGH SCHOOL)
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2000-2001; grades reconfigured in 2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location	9431 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. Houston / Houston Independent School District
Website	http://hshigh.org/
Enrollment	Grades 9-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 389
Notes	See reconfiguration history above

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – AUSTIN
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2002-2003
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	930 E. Rundberg Lane, Austin / Austin Independent School District
Website	http://hsaaustin.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 335

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – DALLAS
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2004-2005
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	11995 Forestgate Dr., Dallas / Richardson Independent School District
Website	http://hsadallas.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 985

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2005-2006
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	9421 W. Sam Houston Pkwy., Houston / Alief Independent School District
Website	http://hsihouston.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 592

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SAN ANTONIO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2005-2006
Management	Riverwalk Education Foundation, Inc.
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1450 Northeast Loop 410, San Antonio / North East Independent School District
Website	http://www.ssttx.org/
Enrollment	Grades 6-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 421
Notes	Operated in partnership w/the Cosmos Foundation; Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding under a "Support Services Agreement."

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – EL PASO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2006-2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	9405 Betel Dr., El Paso / Ysleta Independent School District
Website	http://hsaelpaso.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 737

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – FORT WORTH
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2006-2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	5651 Westcreek Dr., Fort Worth / Fort Worth Independent School District
Website	http://hsafortworth.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 601

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2006-2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	7340 N. Gessner Dr., Houston / Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Website	http://hsehouston.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 771

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – SAN ANTONIO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2006-2007
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	8505 Lakeside Parkway, San Antonio / Northside Independent School District
Website	http://hsasa.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 727

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – BEAUMONT
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2007-2008
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	4055 Calder Ave., Beaumont / Beaumont Independent School District
Website	http://hsabeaumont.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-11; 2010-11 enrollment = 500

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – BRYAN/ COLLEGE STATION
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2007-2008
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	2031 S. Texas Ave., Bryan
Website	http://hsabcs.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 288

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – HOUSTON NORTHWEST
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2007-2008
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	16200 Tomball Pkwy., Houston / Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Website	http://hsanw.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 665
Notes	Forthcoming

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – LUBBOCK
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2007-2008
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1516 53^rd St., Lubbock / unknown
Website	http://hsalubbock.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-11; 2010-11 enrollment = 421
Notes	Forthcoming

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – WACO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2007-2008
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1900 N. Valley Mills Dr, Waco / unknown
Website	http://hsawaco.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-11; 2010-11 enrollment = 597
Notes	Forthcoming

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE – AUSTIN
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	11800 Stonehollow Dr., Austin / Austin Independent School District
Website	http://hssaustin.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 526
Notes	Was consolidated with Harmony Science Academy - Austin effective 3/1/2011. The official name is Harmony Science Academy - Austin. See http://mansfield.tea.state.tx.us/TEA.AskTED.TSD/TSDfiles/tsd2012/tagged/school_list_symbols_and_district_adds_tagged.pdf

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – NORTH AUSTIN (in Pflugerville)
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1421 Wells Branch Pkwy, Pflugerville / Pflugerville Independent School District
Website	http://hsana.org/
Enrollment	Grades 5-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 561

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – BROWNSVILLE
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1124 Central Blvd., Brownsville / Brownsville Independent School District
Website	http://hsabrownsville.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-10; 2010-11 enrollment = 417

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – GRAND PRAIRIE
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1102 N.W. 7th St., Grand Prairie / Grand Prairie Independent School District
Website	http://hsagp.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-10; 2010-11 enrollment = 524

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE – HOUSTON (in Sugar Land)
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	13415 W. Belfort Ave., Sugar Land / Alief Independent School District
Website	http://hsshouston.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 622

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – LAREDO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	4401 San Francisco Ave., Laredo / Laredo Independent School District
Website	http://hsalaredo.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-10; 2010-11 enrollment = 632

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DISCOVERY
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2008-2009
Management	Riverwalk Education Foundation, Inc.
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	5707 Bandera Road, Leon Valley / North East Independent School District
Website	http://www.sstdiscovery.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 369
Notes	K-8; operated in partnership w/the Cosmos Foundation; Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding under a "Support Services Agreement."

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE – AUSTIN
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	2100 E St. Elmo Rd., Austin / Austin Independent School District
Website	http://hseaustin.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 508

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION – DALLAS (in Carrollton)
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	1024 W Rosemeade Pkwy., Carrollton / Carolton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
Website	http://hsacarrollton.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 514

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION – EL PASO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	5210 Fairbanks Dr., El Paso / El Paso Independent School District
Website	http://hsielpaso.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 495

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – EULESS
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	701 S. Industrial Blvd., Euless / Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Website	http://hsaeuless.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 578

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE ENDEAVOR – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	5668 W. Little York Rd, Houston / Aldine Independent School District
Website	http://hsendeavor.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 475

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INGENUITY – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	10555 Stella Link Rd., Houston / Houston Independent School District
Website	http://hsingenuity.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 502

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – ALAMO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Riverwalk Education Foundation, Inc.
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	12200 Crownpoint Dr., San Antonio / North East Independent School District
Website	http://www.sstalamo.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 355
Notes	Operated in partnership w/the Cosmos Foundation; Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding under a "Support Services Agreement."

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – CORPUS CHRISTI
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2009-2010
Management	Riverwalk Education Foundation, Inc.
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	4737 South Saratoga Blvd., Corpus Christi / ?
Website	http://www.sstcc.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-9; 2010-11 enrollment = 362
Notes	Operated in partnership w/the Cosmos Foundation; Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding under a "Support Services Agreement."

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF NATURE AND ATHLETICS – DALLAS
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	8120 W. Camp Wisdom Rd., Dallas / Duncanville Independent School District
Website	http://hsnature.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 479
Notes	K-8; grand opening of new construction 1/15/2011

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – GARLAND
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	2302 Firewheel Pkwy. Garland / Garland Independent School District
Website	http://hsagarland.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 421

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF ADVANCEMENT HIGH – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	3171 North Sam Houston Pkwy., Houston
Website	http://hsadvancement.org/
Enrollment	Grades 9-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 280
Notes	9-12; new construction, ribbon cutting 2/12/1011

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	9115 Kirby Dr., Houston / Houston Independent School District
Website	http://hsart.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 419
Notes	Sometimes called “Fine Arts and Technology”

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF DISCOVERY – HOUSTON
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	6270 Barker Cypress Rd, Houston / Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Website	http://hsdhouston.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 379

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY – ODESSA
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	2755 N. Grandview Ave., Odessa / Ector County Independent School District
Website	http://hsaodessa.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 247

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION – SAN ANTONIO
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2010-2011
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	8125 Glen Mont Dr., San Antonio / North East Independent School District
Website	http://hsisa.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 177

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION – AUSTIN
Status	ACTIVE, open 2011-2012
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	13415 FM 620 N., Austin / ?
Website	http://hspaustin.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2011-12 enrollment = ?
Notes	New construction; http://impactnews.com/northwest-austin/239-local-news/13829-harmony-charter-system-expands-in-northwest-austin

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HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY WEST HOUSTON (in Katy)
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2011-2012
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	22400 Grand Corner Dr., Katy / ?
Website	http://hsawh.org/
Enrollment	Grades K-8; 2011-12 enrollment = ?
Notes	New construction

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE HIGH – SUGAR LAND
Status	ACTIVE, opened 2011-2012
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Authorizer	Texas Education Agency, Division of Charter School Administration
Location/District	13522 W. Airport Blvd., Sugar Land /
Website	http://hsshigh.org/
Enrollment	Grades 9-12; 2011-12 enrollment = ?
Notes	9-12; new construction, groundbreaking 2/25/2011

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION – FORT WORTH
Status	PENDING, listed as a school to be opened in 2011-12
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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HARMONY TEACHER ACADEMY – HOUSTON
Status	PENDING, listed as a school to be opened in 2011-12
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS – DALLAS
Status	PENDING, listed as a school to be opened in 2012-13
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE – HOUSTON
Status	PENDING, listed as a school to be opened in 2012-13
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF NATURE AND ATHLETICS – HOUSTON
Status	PENDING, listed as a school to be opened in 2012-13
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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HARMONY SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE - SAN ANTONIO
Status	UNKNOWN, construction referred to in Jan 21, 2011 edition of Texas Register in connection with Notice of Public Hearing for Texas Public Finance Authority bonds; school also referred to in Jan 2010 Harmony Public Schools document
Management	Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools
Notes	http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf

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NEW DIMENSION MATH AND SCIENCE SCHOOL
Status	UNKNOWN, Texas State Board of Education Committee on School Initiatives heard school representatives speak at Generation 15 Charter Interviews September 1-2, 2010
Management	New Dimension Educational Foundation, Inc.
Notes	Representatives for the proposed school were Hasan Coskun, Osman Kanlioglu, Ozgur Ozer

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SCHOOL OF ART DENTON
Status	2007 attempt, http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/minutes_all/2007/september/cosi_09_13-14_07.pdf
Management	New Dimension Educational Foundation, Inc.
Notes	Representatives for the proposed school were Maria Curtis, Kudbettin Aksoy, Osman Kanlioglu, Henry Bowling, and Osman Kazan.

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SCHOOL OF ART HOUSTON
Status	2007 attempt, http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/minutes_all/2007/september/cosi_09_13-14_07.pdf
Management	New Dimension Educational Foundation, Inc.
Notes	Representatives for the proposed school were Maria Curtis, Kudbettin Aksoy, Osman Kanlioglu, Henry Bowling, and Osman Kazan.

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MANAGEMENT

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COSMOS FOUNDATION / HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Federal Tax ID	EIN 760615245
Website	http://www.cosmostx.org/
Individuals involved	Names appearing on IRS Form 990s (2002 to 2009): Ali Tekin, Bilal Akin, Burhanettin Kuruscu, Cengizhan Keskin, Cocksun Cetinkaya, Ellen A. MacDonald, Fatih Yigit, Gokturk Tunc, Ibrahim Sel, Iker Gure, Ismet S. Isik, Kadir Almus, Kudbettin Aksoy, Levent Bulut, Lynn Mitchell, Mehmet Okumus, Mustafa Atik, Mustafa Guvercin, Mustafa Ozen, Nihat Guvercin, Oner Ulvi Celepicikay, Ozgur Ozer, Selahattin Aydin, Soner Tarim, Tevik Eski, Umit Pecin, Yetkin Yildirim

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RIVERWALK EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC.
Federal Tax ID	EIN 010758906
Website	None
Individuals involved	Names appearing on Form 990s (2004 to 2009): Ali Tekin, Ayhan Oruc, Bulent Dogan, Bulent Gumus, Christopher John Gieske [sic Gieseke], Emrah Oral, Kamil Yilmaz, Kemal [aka Mark] Namver, Metin Ekren, Mithat Karabulut, Roland Campos, Turgay Korkmaz
Notes	This organization's schools are operated in partnership w/the Cosmos Foundation; Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding under a "Support Services Agreement" (see below).

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NEW DIMENSION EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC.
Federal Tax ID	EIN 010758906
Website	None
Individuals involved	Names appearing on Form 990 for 2003 (only year available at NCCS): Henry Bowling, Kamil Sarac, Matthew Rogovein, Osman Kazan. Additional sources connect Osman Kanlioglu and Serdal Kirmizialtin to the organization.
Notes	During the interview for New Dimension Math and Science School on September 2010, it was noted that the “corporate status of the sponsoring entity was forfeited in 2008. A representative of the proposed school stated that it has since been reinstated, and the entity is in good standing.”

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. LEARN MORE about the Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools HERE and HERE and HERE.

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2. LIST OF LOCATIONS

Cosmos Foundation / Harmony Public Schools = 36 schools

Austin - 5
Beaumont - 1
Brownsville - 1
Bryan/College Station - 1
Carrollton - 1
Dallas -2
El Paso -2
Euless - 1
Fort Worth -1
Garland - 1
Grand Prairie -1
Houston - 13*
Laredo -1
Lubbock -1
Odessa - 1
San Antonio -2
Waco -1

Riverwalk Education Foundation’s Schools of Science and Technology schools = 4 schools

Corpus Christi -1
Leon Valley -1
San Antonio - 2

* Houston is also where the Gulen Institute, the multi-state branched Institute of Interfaith Dialog and Raindrop Turkish House (both Gulenist organizations) are located. It is also the home to some of the Gulen movement's most prominent non-native Turkish American supporters, namely William Martin and Helen Rose Ebaugh. In other words, the fact that Houston has a high concentration of Gulen charter schools is not a coincidence.

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3. "SUPPORT SERVICE AGREEMENTS"

Cosmos is in “Support Service Agreements” with the following organizations:
http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us:15505/docs/2011/CCTR/20110510_2258/3717_Cosmos%20Foundation%20Borrower%20Charter%20Schools.pdf (p. B-3)

Riverwalk Education Foundation w/four charter schools in Texas
Millennium Education Foundation w/two charter schools in Missouri
SKY Foundation w/ four charter schools in Oklahoma
Pelican Educational Foundation w/two charter schools in Louisiana
Focus Foundation w/ one charter school in New Mexico
Read Foundation w/ one charter school in Tennessee
Little Scholars of Arkansas Foundation w/two charter schools in Arkansas

Cosmos “...provides support services in the following areas: school start up; facility management; financial consulting and advisory; professional leadership; technology and database support; student admissions; marketing and employee recruiting; curriculum and assessment; student development and school climate; cooperation with home-school, external organizations and science fair organizations; and academic and non-academic performance.”

Cosmos gets 5% of Riverwalk’s annual state funding
Cosmos gets 3% of Millennium’s annual state funding
Cosmos gets 3% of SKY Foundation’s annual state funding
Cosmos gets 5% of Pelican’s annual state funding
Cosmos gets flat fee of $45,000/year from the Focus Foundation
Cosmos gets 3% of the Read Foundation’s annual state funding
Cosmos gets 3% of LISA’s annual state funding

“In fiscal year ending August 31, 2010, the Borrower received an aggregate of approximately $2.7 million in revenue from such Support Service Agreements.”

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4. Texas schools in alphabetical order

Harmony School of Advancement High – Houston
Harmony School of Art And Technology – Houston
Harmony School of Business – Dallas (Pending)
Harmony School of Discovery – Houston
Harmony School of Excellence – Austin
Harmony School of Excellence – Houston
Harmony School of Excellence - San Antonio (Pending)
Harmony School of Excellence Endeavor – Houston
Harmony School of Ingenuity – Houston
Harmony School of Innovation – Dallas
Harmony School of Innovation – El Paso
Harmony School of Innovation – Fort Worth (Pending)
Harmony School of Innovation – Houston
Harmony School of Innovation – San Antonio
Harmony School of Language – Houston (Pending)
Harmony School of Nature And Athletics – Dallas
Harmony School of Nature And Athletics – Houston (Pending)
Harmony School of Political Science And Communication – Austin
Harmony School of Science – Austin
Harmony School of Science – Houston
Harmony School of Science High – Sugar Land
Harmony Science Academy – Austin
Harmony Science Academy – Beaumont
Harmony Science Academy – Brownsville
Harmony Science Academy – Bryan/ College Station
Harmony Science Academy – Dallas
Harmony Science Academy – El Paso
Harmony Science Academy – Euless
Harmony Science Academy – Fort Worth
Harmony Science Academy – Garland
Harmony Science Academy – Grand Prairie
Harmony Science Academy – Houston
Harmony Science Academy – Houston High
Harmony Science Academy – Houston Northwest
Harmony Science Academy – Laredo
Harmony Science Academy – Lubbock
Harmony Science Academy – North Austin
Harmony Science Academy – Odessa
Harmony Science Academy – San Antonio
Harmony Science Academy – Waco
Harmony Science Academy West Houston
Harmony Teacher Academy – Houston (Pending)
New Dimension Math and Science School (Pending)
School of Art Denton (Inactive)
School of Art Houston (Inactive)
School of Science and Technology – Alamo
School of Science and Technology – Corpus Christi
School of Science and Technology – San Antonio
School of Science and Technology Discovery

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5. Despite being under a state investigation, the U.S. Department of Education gave Harmony a $5M federal grant in September 2011 to open seven more charter schools.

Inform yourself about the Gulen movement!

1. WATCH KILLING ED, Mark Hall's feature-length documentary about charter schools, corruption and the rise of the Gulen Movement in America
2. READ the "Expose the Gulen Movement" report.
3. WATCH the Gulen Movement 101: Session One webinar presentation (1/22/2014)
4. WATCH the 60 Minutes segment "U.S. charter schools tied to powerful Turkish imam" broadcast. (5/13/2012)
5. READ my response to the 60 Minutes piece.
6. READ my guest article about Gulen charter schools published by The Washington Post. (3/27/2012)
7. WATCH my interview talking about Gulen charter schools, or my presentation at LaborFest (segment between 49:18 min. & 1:07:36 min.)
8. READ my postings labeled "Gulen movement" HERE.

As one observer tweeted, "U.S. media have focused too much on the Islamic nature of the Gulen movement. Real concern is its shady dealings and improprieties."

Please be aware that Gulenists have created a large number of anonymously-operated damage control websites. They started to appear a few months after publication of Greg Toppo's article in USA Today (August 2010).

Remainders

1. Bruce Baker's excellent analysis of whether charter schools are public or private.

2. Jim Horn's Top 10 reasons for why 1%ers support urban charter schools.

3. What reporters covering charter schools need to know about miracle schools, vouchers and all that educational flim-flam (i.e. be skeptical and always follow the money).

4. As of May 2013, only eight states do not have a charter school law: Alabama, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.

5. Balkanize: "to break up (as a region or group) into smaller and often hostile units" (Merriam-Webster dictionary)

6. *Phrase coined by John Thompson: "educational civil war"

7. "A system that allows school operators to donate to the officials that regulate them is pretty sorry." h/t "X"

8. Re the Gulen movement. Two important psychological principals of which to be aware: the Backfire Effect and the Black Swan Theory.

Pleas for charter school oversight

AS U.S. AID GROWS, OVERSIGHT IS URGED FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS; February 24, 2010; New York Times

…The president of one influential charter group told the House Education and Labor Committee that the federal government had spent $2 billion since the mid-1990s to finance new charter schools but less than $2 million, about one-tenth of 1 percent, to ensure that they were held to high standards.
“It’s as if the federal government had spent billions for new highway construction, but nothing to put up guardrails along the sides of those highways,” said Greg Richmond, president of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers…

CHARTER BACKER SAYS HOUSE PROPOSAL WEAKENS OVERSIGHT; April 30, 2011; Columbus Dispatch (OH)

A leading school-choice supporter says the sweeping changes proposed by House Republicans would weaken oversight of charter schools severely and threaten to turn Ohio into a "laughingstock of the nation's charter-school programs.

"It's hard for me to say that," said Terry Ryan, vice president of Ohio programs and policy for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which sponsors seven charter schools in the state, including two in Columbus...

It was just last year that Mr. Ryan said, "The charter movement must police itself."
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"The idea of regulating charter schools makes no sense because deregulation is the justification for the policy." -- Jim M., retired teacher

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Perhaps it's finally dawning on some charter school supporters that the whole business is a huge can of worms.

Message to readers

With the systematic privatization of public education being conducted via the rapid expansion of charter schools, I regularly receive messages from teachers and parents who have charter school horror stories they want to share, and/or are in need of advice about a charter school situation in their community (e.g., "The charter school I attended has been closed. Do you know how I can get a copy of my transcript?). I also hear from journalists who are seeking information.

Just so you know, this site is a one-woman volunteer operation. Sorry folks, I'm DEFINITELY NOT union-sponsored.

Welcome

Charter School Scandals (CSS) was launched on May 14, 2010 to provide the public with a source of independently collected information about U.S. charter schools.

For instance, compare what you learn from my entry for the 3,500 student CATO School of Reason to the information provided by the pro-charter Center for Education Reform in their compilation: "Closed Charter Schools by State: National Data 2009" (63 page pdf). In the CER's document, the closure reason is "Management" explained as "Inadequate record keeping, suspect relations with private and sectarian schools," but the true story is much bigger and dirtier than that.

CSS is a non-billionaire funded (and un-bought off!), non-union affiliated (!), one-person operation in the name of transparency and public service to our democracy. I post the information as quickly as I can, but have a massive backlog due to the sheer number of stories. Please check back periodically for new additions.

And as you scroll through these stories, be sure to keep a running tally of the estimated legal costs.

Gulen Movement MUST READS!

Under the radar of the American public, the Gulen movement has been quietly advancing its presence in the U.S. via the establishment of charter schools, "cultural centers", and "interfaith dialogue" centers. Politicians, reporters, academics, community leaders, and charter school families have been strategically targeted, influenced, and given gifts, as the Gulenists have steadily built up their political cover. But how many of these Americans have an understanding of the controversies which surround this secretive movement and its worldwide political ambitions? And how would the public respond to finding out that such a movement is opening more and more charter schools, supported by their tax dollars as part of the GM's primary global project, without being willing to admit the connection?

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LEARN MORE

1. Read about the federal investigation into the Gulen Movement's charter schools.

2. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Islam, Secularism and the Battle for Turkey's Future, 23 August 2010, STRATFOR Global Intelligence

3. Video of Joshua Hendrick of the U. of OR and Y. Alp Aslandogan discussing the Gulen Movement. Here are the first 24 pages of Hendrick's 2009 thesis.

4. Charter School Watchdog

5. Gulen Charter Schools (don't miss the entry HERE.)

6. A Guide to the Gulen Movement's Activities in the U.S.

7. Gulen in the International Press

8. "Turkey's survival of the fittest: The Islamic anti-Darwinism movement in Turkey is being helped by an unlikely source - US Christian conservatives," 12 March 2008, ISN Security Watch)

9. "Religious movements in Turkey," 20 December 2010, OpenDemocracy

10. "First Class Revolution: From Medina to Mecca" and "Fethullah Gulen's Missionary Charter Schools Coming under Increasing Scrutiny in the United States and around the World," 24 January 2011 & 26 February 2011, Kurdish Aspect

11. "Turkey: Politics of Identity and Power," 13 August 2010, Congressional Research Service

12. "Turkey's pivotal role in the international drug trade," July 1998, Le Monde diplomatique (more background info)

13. EXTRA CREDIT: Check out the animated Imperial History of the Middle East and this Middle East geography game.

Bad apples, tips of icebergs, and cans of worms

In 2000, the Center for Education Reform wrote:
"A few bad apples shouldn't sour the public on the promising charter school movement, but when a bad apple does turn up, critics of charter schools pounce on it. Charter opponents are quick to claim that "more than a few" schools have closed and even quicker to characterize the movement as one that invites unscrupulous, fly-by-night operators to set up shop.Those mean ol' charter opponents. Isn't it curious how the reformers don't have any problem at all with building up a few negative public school stories into an anti-public teacher-bashing movement of national proportions in order to destroy teacher unions and public schools as a whole?"

But are charter schools really so innocent?

- In 2009, 83 percent of 145 Minnesota charter schools were found to have at least one financial irregularity in their audit.

- In February 2009, a New Mexico state audit found financial problems with 36 of the 44 charter schools in Albuquerque.

- Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz (April 2010): "The fact that there were significant issues at 13 out of 13 [schools] raises the likelihood you would see many of these same issues found in a much larger sampling of the schools.By May 2010, his probe had widened to 18 charter schools."

Relationships terminated

Charter school promoters live in an abstract world where it's perfectly fine to shutter a school when the "need" arises. This reveals a profound detachment and utter disregard for the emotional lives of the children and families who, as a result, end up being subjected to tremendous disruption, stress, termination of meaningful relationships, loss and grief. Kids need security and dependability.

A school going "out of business" takes a very different emotional toll on families and children than when their local gas station or Denny's restaurant does.

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The demise and death of our institutions of social support:

Family............check!
Church............check!
Neighborhoods............check!
Schools............check!

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"It comes down to what ultimately is in the best public interest here -- supporting the growth of charters or not. Does that support ultimately weaken the rest of the school district? You bet it does." (Fred LeBrun, Albany, NY)

Observations

There is no doubt but that an increasing number of inspectors, auditors, investigators, prosecutors and court rooms (and a lot of time and money) will be needed as more state charter caps are lifted.

Part of the problem is that too many people running charter schools see them as their own little fiefdoms. After all the effort and money put into setting up their schools -- and with political leaders and the mainstream media shining their bright spotlights on charter schools -- the stakes are inordinately high for them to be able to show "success."

Another problem I've discovered by doing this research is that the unmonitored access to millions of public education dollars is drawing unscrupulous people into the "business." At other times, new-found access to funds is proving to be too tempting for some people who were perhaps less criminally-minded.

Additionally, I've now discovered that, in this era of high-stakes testing, the education security business is booming. As one company put it, "Cheating on tests isn't the exception anymore; it has almost become the rule."

On competition

From "Deregulation and Charter School Swindles" by Gary Clabaugh (Educational Horizons, Winter 2009):

Two main ideas inform the charter school movement. The first is that competition is an essential ingredient in school improvement. Charters are said to provide that.

The trouble with this argument is that competition doesn't select the best, only the most popular. McDonald's doesn't produce the best-tasting or most-nutritious food, for instance, but its heart attack specials certainly are popular. A second-rate school might prove similarly competitive if it provides a tawdry but reassuring education to the children of the low-information crowd. Fearful your kids will discover you are an ignoramus? Send them to Alpha Charter where they will never learn to doubt.

Dedication

This Web site is dedicated to Eli Broad, Bill Gates, the Walton family, Arne Duncan, Whitney Tilson, Joe Williams, Reed Hastings, Ted Mitchell, Jack O'Connell, Tom Vander Ark, George Miller, Joanne Weiss, Randy Ward, Arnold Swarzenegger, all Milton Friedman-lovers, and any other free-market, pro-school choice, minimally-regulate-what-goes-on-in-charter school supporters who are also proud self-stated "DISRUPTORS" of public school communities, who have almost never, EVER been part of a public school community or local neighborhood, or who rejected being part of any public school community or local neighborhood long, long ago -- but have ended up deciding to help tear apart the tapestry of basic local human connections anyway.

Visitors

A variety of people have been looking at my blog, probably because of the great Gulen charter school information I've posted. This site is regularly visited by readers from Turkey. I get periodic visits from dhs.gov, doj.gov and ed.gov. I've had visits from house.gov and ed.gov, and at least one visit from someone at eop.gov (? Executive Office of the President). I've had a few visits from a couple of mystery IPs that are supposedly associated with the State Department, specifically the CIA. Hmmmmm...

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