An investigation of Concept Schools charter chain in Ohio was expanded, adding two more schools where allegations of test tampering and misuse of public funds have been made.
Some 400 supporters of the schools rallied for them at the Statehouse.
“COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state said Tuesday its inquiry into alleged misconduct inside an embattled charter school chain has expanded to two additional Ohio cities, even as hundreds of parents and alumni descended on the state capital to share their positive experiences at the schools.
“The Ohio Department of Education was already investigating a Dayton-area Horizon Academy after teachers there shared accounts in July of sex games, test tampering and other potentially criminal misdeeds.
“Spokesman John Charlton told The Associated Press on Tuesday that after that meeting the state received additional complaints about schools in Columbus and Cincinnati run by the same operator, Chicago-based Concept Schools. Both the complaints were against Horizon Science academies, he said. One was unsolicited and the other resulted from a department request that any issues at the schools be brought to the state’s attention.
“Salim Ucan, a Concept Schools vice president in Columbus for a rally of advocates, said the company was unaware until Tuesday that additional complaints had been added to the state’s review…..”
“Democratic state Reps. Mike Foley and Robert Hagan also testified before the state school board, questioning who was paying Blue Ribbon Friends and whether Tuesday’s events involved any public money.
“Ucan said the company has always worked with public relations firms, and gave this particular contract to an Ohio company.
“Our parents are here to let their voice be heard, that there may be a few former teachers complaining and bringing up the allegations and accusations, but there are hundreds more — if not thousands more — who could share the opposite of what’s been presented and portrayed over the last few months,” he said…..”
“The FBI is investigating charter schools in several states, including four Concept Schools locations in Ohio, which critics allege are associated with the influential U.S.-based Muslim cleric and Turkish scholar Fethullah Gulen. Among allegations are sexual misconduct, test tampering and misuse of public funds. Gulen lives a reclusive life in Pennsylvania.
“Concept Schools, which operates 17 public charter schools in Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Lorain, Springfield and Youngstown under the names Horizon Academy and Noble Academy, claims it has no affiliation with Gulen and his religious and social movement, often called Hizmet.
“Ucan objected to Concept Schools being characterized as “Gulen schools.” He said they’re public charter schools.”
Ucan compared Gulen to Horace Mann.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The rally for Horizon was well staged. The question being raised is why tax money is being used to pay for the pro-Horizon rally including transportation and lunches. The Republicans in Ohio constantly shuffle tax money into quasi-public entities saying it is then private and shielded from scrutiny. JobsOhio is taking in millions if not billions and no one knows how the money is spent. When Yost tried to audit JobsOhio, the Republican legislature psssed a law to block him within DAYS. Power to the sheeple – these guys are so comfortable and unaccountable, GOP candidates are blowing off debates.
Horizon should voluntarily open their books. No reason to wait around for a prosecutor. They’re public schools, right? Shouldn’t be a problem. Just release everything; contracts, expenditures, staff lists, all of it. If they’re truly concerned about their reputation they probably don’t want this investigation dragging on, seeing as how they’re all on the up and up.
The PR firm they hired with taxpayer money didn’t tell them that? They shouldn’t be lobbying the legislature for more public funds. They should be working to collect and release all those documents.
At least two Ohio politicians are awake now.
Excerpt from http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/09/horizon_charter_schools_plan_big_columbus_rally_while_critics_ask_who_is_paying_for_it.html:
The planned rally has already drawn complaints from State Reps. Mike Foley, a Cleveland Democrat, and Robert Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat, who question whether Concept should be allowed to pay for it.
In a telephone press conference Monday, Foley and Hagan said Concept’s hiring of buses and paying for a statehouse luncheon for 400 or more supporters amounts to spending tax dollars — meant for children — on a lobbying campaign.
“Why should the dollars of taxpayers go to lobbying efforts to improve the image of a scandal-ridden school?” Hagan asked. Both said they will sponsor a bill blocking charters from spending tax money on lobbying.
“Given the cloud hanging over the Horizon academies and the Concept schools, we should not be allowing state funds to go to organize supporters and caregivers to go down to Columbus … to talk about how great and good they are,” Foley said…
Comparing Gulen to Horace Mann is absurd! Horace Mann believed in public education, with the interests of the students and an OPEN and TRANSPARENT system of schools open to all as guiding principles. Gulen-Inspired schools are designed for profit and politics, as their history across the world shows. There are very good reasons why Gulen-inspired schools are under investigation in so many states. and why so many politicians are being paid off with Gulen-funded trips to Turkey. I believe you will find that Gulen-Inspired schools are one of the largest applicants for J1 Visas, usually fraudulent in application.
“Gulen-Inspired schools are designed for profit, politics [AND RELIGION].”