The amount received for these schools was about $24 million. IDEA is just one example and not the only charter organization to have fiscal management problems.Ī recent report found that at least 72 of the 232 Texas charter schools that received money from the federal charter schools program between 20 were already closed or never opened at all.
Now, the TEA will probably respond by appointing a monitor or conservator. Terry Canales already asked the Texas Education Agency and the state auditor to conduct a joint audit of IDEA. On May 25, IDEA’s board announced that it conducted a “thorough and independent review” led by a former federal prosecutor that found “a small number of IDEA senior leaders directed the use of IDEA financial and staff resources for their personal benefit on multiple occasions.” The audit also concluded that several actions “appeared to be done in a manner to avoid detection by the standard external audit and internal control processes.” He walked away from IDEA months later with a $900,000 severance package, which raises additional concerns about how tax dollars were being managed. For example, in 2020, the former IDEA founder and chief executive apologized for what he called “really dumb and unhelpful” plans to lease a private jet and spend thousands of dollars on San Antonio Spurs tickets. State regulations make the Texas Education Agency commissioner responsible for authorizing charter schools after “thoroughly investigating and evaluating” each charter applicant’s “financial, governing, educational, and operational standards.” The commissioner is also tasked with monitoring, investigating and making closure decisions when appropriate.ĭespite these regulations, local stakeholders have raised serious concerns about unethical and unlawful financial practices. Texas needs to create a strong proactive system of oversight as instances of mismanagement of public funds are well documented within the state’s charter sector. Charter schools in Texas are granted autonomy from many state regulations in order to create innovative programs that promote student achievement, but a lack of public oversight has too often led to fraud, waste and abuse.