Mercedes Schneider asked the state auditor for reviews of charter schools. Her exchange and the information she received show how little accountability exists.
The original rationale for charters some 20+ years ago was that they would get relief from regulations in return for accountability for results.
That was before anyone understood that charter supporters would use political muscle and campaign contributions to evade any accountability. Or that charters would become the deceptive leading edge of the privatization movement, cleverly packaged as “saving poor kids from failing schools.” Their own failure is carefully disguised.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
In California, small districts in a county can accept charters from neighboring counties. The money collected by the small district can be staggering. For example, one district “receives the equivalent of more than $550,000 for each – each – of its 16 kindergarten students. Stockton Unified, by comparison, receives about $5,200 in average daily attendance funding for each of its 37,000 students” due to its ability to accept charters (source: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130605/A_OPINION/306050308/-1/A_OPINION01). Currently, California’s governor is attempting to pass legislation to stop the abuse.
Charter schools have become very lucrative for investors.
In this case, it’s a huge influx of money for the participating district. As Mr. Schmidt notes, there are efforts to end this bizarre situation. Those efforts are being supported by various groups working with California charters.
I’d also suggest that it’s more appropriate to put the word “some” in front of the words “charter supporters” in the following sentence: “charter supporters would use political muscle and campaign contributions to evade any accountability.”
Reblogged this on Ear to the Hive.
Here in L.A. we just had our fourth big win for the PEOPLE against the billionaires. Yesterday Marshall Tuck CEO of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), so-called by them, retired. PLAS states in their MOU that they will show the nation how to have student achievement as a charter chain with their schools which include elementary, middle and high schools. Since PLAS has taken over most of the schools API score gains/year were higher before PLAS than after PLAS according to my studies of these statistics on the California Department of Education (CDE) website over 11 years. Roosevelt High School was turned into small schools with 7 schools and principals with an over principal for a total of 8 principals. According to Tuck on video to parents and community Roosevelt has over $9,000/student when they took over and LAUSD pays for maintainence of the buildings and for special eduation. We have a budget for one of the schools and it is only about $4,400/student. Where is the other $4,600? Also the enrollment is about 1/2 of when they took over. At Santee High School recently the principal put up a power point of the budget and there was only $3,478/student. In the school report card under section VIII School Finances it states that Santee has $7,859/student. Where did the other $4,381 go? Not hard to figure out is it? Santee does not even have a chemistry lab and it is a brand new school. PLAS is under the gun and is imploding. We are going to make sure of that. These communities deserve better and they have the will to do such. The California Title 1 Parent Union is now beginning training on the law concerning their options along with training in Title 1 and special education. The California Title 1 Parent Union also has a $2.5 billion lawsuit against LAUSD for breaking the Title 1 law. They actually help parents and students. Please support their leaders Yolande Beckles and Walter Richardson.
To take on these powerful entities you must have your research and documentation together and do the training of parents, students, teachers and community as to the law and facts on the ground. My experience shows that they know what is happening on the ground better than anyone but lack the documented proof. This is what CORE-CA supplies them with and show them how to do it themselves. That is power not making them come to you but giving them the tools to do it themselves and give it to others. If we can take them down here it can be done is the message.