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.

List of Gulen-linked charter schools in 2016-2017

Updated 12/9/2016

The number of Gulen-linked charter schools known to be active during the 2016-2017 school year:

167 schools in 26 states plus DC

The following schools have unique ID numbers assigned by the National Center for Education Statistics. In a few cases, one campus is home to more than one school OR a single school is operating on more than one campus.

State	School	City	NCES School ID
AZ (6)	Paragon Science Academy	Chandler	0400778-02902
	Sonoran Science Academy - Broadway	Tucson	0400774-02934
	Sonoran Science Academy - Davis-Monthan AFB	Tucson	0400807-02976
	Sonoran Science Academy - Peoria	Peoria	0400822-03221
	Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix	Phoenix	0400776-02387
	Sonoran Science Academy - Tucson	Tucson	0400223-02199
AR (6)	LISA Academy - (West) High	Little Rock	0500074-01107
	LISA Academy - Chenal	Little Rock	TBD
	LISA Academy - North Elementary	Sherwood	0500399-01485
	LISA Academy - North High	Sherwood	0500399-01501
	LISA Academy - North Middle	Sherwood	0500399-01473
	LISA Academy (West)	Little Rock	0500074-01030
CA (11)	Bay Area Technology School	Oakland	0628050-10720
	Magnolia Science Academy - San Diego	San Diego	0634320-11393
	Magnolia Science Academy - Santa Ana	Costa Mesa	0601425-12419
	Magnolia Science Academy 1	Reseda	0622710-10524
	Magnolia Science Academy 2	Van Nuys	0622710-11842
	Magnolia Science Academy 3	Carson	0622710-12010
	Magnolia Science Academy 4	Los Angeles	0622710-12360
	Magnolia Science Academy 5	Reseda	0622710-12347
	Magnolia Science Academy 6	Los Angeles	0622710-12322
	Magnolia Science Academy 7	Northridge	0622710-12235
	Magnolia Science Academy 8 - Bell	Bell	0622710-12695
CO (1)	Lotus School for Excellence	Aurora	0802340-01916
DC (1)	Harmony School of Excellence - DC	Washington, DC	1100096-00491
FL (13)	Broward Math & Science Schools	Margate	1200180-08373
	Discovery Academy of Science	Dunedin	1201560-08262
	New Springs Elementary School	Tampa	1200870-08052
	New Springs School	Tampa	1200870-07883
	Orlando Science Elementary	Orlando	1201440-08215
	Orlando Science Middle High School	Orlando	1201440-07458
	Osceola Science Charter School	Kissimmee	TBD
	River City Science Academy	Jacksonville	1200480-07418
	River City Science Academy - Elementary	Jacksonville	1200480-07418
	River City Science Academy - Innovation	Jacksonville	1200480-08253
	River City Science Academy - Mandarin	Jacksonville	TBD
	Seminole Science Charter School	Lake Mary	TBD
	Tallahassee School of Math and Science	Tallahassee	1201110-06947
IL (4)	Chicago Math and Science Academy	Chicago	1709930-05092
	Horizon Science Academy - Belmont	Chicago	1701412-06309
	Horizon Science Academy - McKinley Park	Chicago	1701410-06254
	Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago	Chicago	1709930-06331
IN (3)	Indiana Math & Science Academy - North	Indianapolis	1800094-02487
	Indiana Math & Science Academy - South	Indianapolis	1800143-02561
	Indiana Math & Science Academy (West)	Indianapolis	1800067-02416
LA (1)	Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School	Baton Rouge	2200131-00389
MD (4)	Chesapeake Math and IT Academy	Laurel	2400510-01708
	Chesapeake Math and IT Academy Elementary	Laurel	24005-1001725
	Chesapeake Math and IT Academy South	Landover	24005-1001726
	Chesapeake Science Point Charter School	Hanover	2400060-01401
MA (3)	Hampden Charter School of Science	Chicopee	2500522-02680
	Pioneer Charter School of Science	Everett	2500518-02632
	Pioneer Charter School of Science II	Saugus	2500546-02780
MI (1)	Michigan Math and Science Academy	Center Line	2600967-08048
MN (1)	Minnesota Math and Science Academy	St. Paul	2700399-04788
MO (9)	Frontier School of Excellence - Middle	Kansas City	2900590-03180
	Frontier School of Excellence - Upper	Kansas City	2900590-03181
	Frontier School of Innovation - Lower	Kansas City	2900590-03127
	Frontier School of Innovation - Middle	Kansas City	2900590-03182
	Frontier STEM High School	Kansas City	2900590-03232
	Gateway Science Academy High	St. Louis	2900592-03205
	Gateway Science Academy Middle	St. Louis	2900592-03244
	Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis	St. Louis	2900592-03174
	Gateway Science Academy South - Elementary	St. Louis	2900592-03241
NV (5)	Coral Academy of Science - Centennial Hills	Las Vegas	TBD
	Coral Academy of Science - Las Vegas	Las Vegas, Henderson	3200001-00742
	Coral Academy of Science - Nellis AFB	Las Vegas	TBD
	Coral Academy of Science - Reno Elementary	Reno	3200480-00682
	Coral Academy of Science - Reno Secondary	Reno	3200480-00525
NJ (7)	Bergen Arts and Science Charter School	Garfield, Hackensack	3400715-02923
	Central Jersey College Prep	Somerset	3400090-00829
	Hudson Arts and Science Charter School	Kearny	TBD
	Passaic Arts and Science Charter School	Passaic	3400745-03137
	Paterson Arts and Science Charter School	Paterson	3400765-03254
	Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology	Paterson	3400087-00735
	Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School	Somerset	3400746-03143
NM (1)	Albuquerque School of Excellence	Albuquerque	3500122-01071
NY (4)	Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School	Buffalo	3600105-05602
	Rochester Academy Charter School	Rochester	3600950-05995
	Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School	Syracuse	3600104-05549
	Utica Academy of Science Charter School	Utica	3601084-06447
NC (3)	Queen City STEM School	Charlotte	TBD
	Triad Math and Science Academy	Greensboro	3700315-03031
	Triangle Math and Science Academy	Cary	3700324-03259
OH (17)	Horizon Science Academy - Cincinnati	Cincinnati	3900441-05000
	Horizon Science Academy - Cleveland (high)	Cleveland	3900040-02939
	Horizon Science Academy - Cleveland Middle	Cleveland	3900470-05029
	Horizon Science Academy - Columbus (high)	Columbus	3900042-02978
	Horizon Science Academy - Columbus Middle	Columbus	3901322-05440
	Horizon Science Academy - Dayton (elementary)	Dayton	3900444-05003
	Horizon Science Academy - Dayton Downtown	Dayton	3901383-05625
	Horizon Science Academy - Dayton High	Dayton	3901366-05556
	Horizon Science Academy - Denison Elementary	Cleveland	3901333-05491
	Horizon Science Academy - Denison Middle	Cleveland	3900454-05013
	Horizon Science Academy - Elementary	Columbus	3901353-05483
	Horizon Science Academy - Lorain	Lorain	3901365-05544
	Horizon Science Academy - Springfield	Toledo	3900451-05010
	Horizon Science Academy - Toledo	Toledo	390051-005220
	Horizon Science Academy - Youngstown	Youngstown	3901389-05567
	Noble Academy - Cleveland	Euclid	3900646-05345
	Noble Academy - Columbus	Columbus	3900645-05319
OK (3)	Discovery School of Tulsa	Tulsa	4000753-02694
	Dove Science Academy - Oklahoma City	Oklahoma City	4000771-02328
	Dove Science Academy - Tulsa	Tulsa	4000753-02312
	Dove Science Academy Elementary School	Oklahoma City	4000770-02684
PA (4)	Vision Academy Charter School	Lansdowne	TBD
	Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School	State College	4200137-00879
	Young Scholars of McKeesport	McKeesport	TBD
	Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School	Baldwin Township	4200845-07424
SC (1)	GREEN Charter School	Greenville	4503901-01620
TN (1)	Memphis School of Excellence	Memphis	4700148-02245
TX (54)	Harmony School of Achievement - Houston	Houston	4800274-13269
	Harmony School of Advancement - High	Houston	4800274-12494
	Harmony School of Business - Dallas	Dallas	4800292-12871
	Harmony School of Discovery - Houston	Houston	4800274-12489
	Harmony School of Excellence	Houston	4800274-11244
	Harmony School of Excellence - Austin	Austin	4800241-12424
	Harmony School of Excellence - Carrollton	Carrollton	4800292-13362
	Harmony School of Excellence - El Paso	El Paso	TBD
	Harmony School of Excellence - Endeavor	Houston	4800274-12284
	Harmony School of Excellence - San Antonio	San Antonio	4800266-13261
	Harmony School of Exploration - Houston	Houston	4800210-12974
	Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology	Houston	4800210-12561
	Harmony School of Ingenuity	Houston	4800210-12506
	Harmony School of Innovation - Austin	Austin	4800241-13063
	Harmony School of Innovation - Dallas	Carrollton	4800292-12548
	Harmony School of Innovation - El Paso	El Paso	4800272-12339
	Harmony School of Innovation - Euless	Euless	4800280-12939
	Harmony School of Innovation - Fort Worth	Fort Worth	4800280-12847
	Harmony School of Innovation - Garland	Garland	4800292-13199
	Harmony School of Innovation - Houston	Houston	4800210-12488
	Harmony School of Innovation - Katy	Katy	TBD
	Harmony School of Innovation - Laredo	Laredo	4800266-13147
	Harmony School of Innovation - San Antonio	San Antonio	4800266-12580
	Harmony School of Nature & Athletics	Dallas	4800280-12606
	Harmony School of Political Science and Communication	Austin	4800241-12787
	Harmony School of Science - Austin	Austin	4800241-12574
	Harmony School of Science - Houston	Sugar Land	4801405-12025
	Harmony School of Science - Houston High	Sugar Land	4801405-12741
	Harmony Science Academy - Austin	Austin	4800241-09409
	Harmony Science Academy - Beaumont	Beaumont	4801405-12934
	Harmony Science Academy - Brownsville	Brownsville	4801397-12119
	Harmony Science Academy - Bryan/College Station	Bryan	4800274-12518
	Harmony Science Academy - Dallas	Dallas	4800292-12542
	Harmony Science Academy - El Paso	El Paso	4800272-11213
	Harmony Science Academy - Euless	Euless	4800280-12379
	Harmony Science Academy - Fort Worth	Fort Worth	4800280-11328
	Harmony Science Academy - Garland	Garland	4800292-12536
	Harmony Science Academy - Grand Prairie	Grand Prairie	4800280-12050
	Harmony Science Academy - Houston	Houston	4800210-12560
	Harmony Science Academy - Houston NW	Houston	4800274-12490
	Harmony Science Academy - Laredo	Laredo	4800266-12090
	Harmony Science Academy - Lubbock	Lubbock	4800293-11497
	Harmony Science Academy - North Austin	Austin	4800241-12260
	Harmony Science Academy - Odessa	Odessa	4800293-12534
	Harmony Science Academy - San Antonio	San Antonio	4800266-11126
	Harmony Science Academy - Waco	Waco	4800292-11466
	Harmony Science Academy - West Houston	Katy	4801405-13062
	Harmony Science Academy [high, Houston]	Houston	4800210-08804
	School of Science and Technology	San Antonio	4800258-10423
	School of Science and Technology - Alamo	San Antonio	4800258-12291
	School of Science and Technology - Houston	Houston	TBD
	School of Science and Technology Advancement	Houston	TBD
	School of Science and Technology Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi	4801400-12144
	School of Science and Technology Discovery	San Antonio	4801400-12140
UT (1)	Beehive Science and Technology Academy	Sandy	4900023-01060
WI (1)	Milwaukee Math and Science Academy	Milwaukee	5500067-02898

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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...

Pages

List of Gulen-linked charter schools in 2016-2017