Julian Vasquez Heilg has started a series that follows the money.
Previous entries looked at Sandy Kress, the advocate for high-stakes testing and lobbyist for Pearson, and Teach for America.
In this entry, he takes KIPP to task for understating what it spends per pupil. He relies on public data. He calls on KIPP to be a “little more honest.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
We could use a Julian Vasquez here in AZ. This is an article I found in the AZ Republic today. Somebody with stats, please dispute this. http://www.azcentral.com/insiders/phoenixeditorials/2013/01/25/children-families-benefit-when-schools-compete-2/
“Alan Bonsteel is the president of California Parents for Educational Choice. Larry Sand, a former classroom teacher, is president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network. National School Choice Week is being celebrated Jan. 27-Feb. 2.”
‘Nuff said.
This is a case where data is a good thing. It shows that more money is a primary driver of better outcomes. Pretty self evident that more resources will always pay off.
Second I would congratulate KIPP for getting that kind of private supplemental funding directed towards low income students. That seems like a good direct application of a philanthropic donation, versus spending it on studies of legislation which do not produce any beneficial results.
Especially if it is spent on the students and their education and not siphoned off into executive and favored vendors pockets.