The Fulton County school board in Georgia voted to end its connection with the last two Gulen charter schools in the state.
The Gulen schools, one of the largest chains in the country, are associated with a reclusive Turkish imam who lives in Poconos but leads a major political movement in Turkey. Most or all of its board members are Turkish men.
The school board based its decision to not renew “on the serious and recurring concerns regarding governance and transparency that have been documented through various audits and reviews,” the school system said in a press release.
The school board’s decision was consistent with the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia’s decision in August 2014 to deny authorization of both schools’ continued operation.
“Non-renewal of a charter school is one of the most difficult decisions a school district must make and it’s one that we take seriously and with much care,” said Superintendent Robert Avossa. “After years of opportunities to improve, it has become clear that the governance boards of these schools are either unable or unwilling to be sufficiently transparent in their governance practices to justify their continued funding by taxpayers.”
As part of the charter review process, district staff conducts a rigorous cross-functional review of all proposed charter petitions.
The published report cited poor governance in both schools that has resulted in the default on a $19 million bond, a self-perpetuating board membership structure that has been dominated by individuals who did not represent the community, a general lack of transparency and associations with individual and organizations now under Federal investigation.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s now time to close the rest of the Gulen schools wherever they may be.
wherever they may be? They are in 25 other USA states, the list of schools can be found here. http://www.turkishinvitations.weebly.com several are under investigation. 20 schools in LA, OH, IL, IN have been raided by the FBI, 3 schools in California denied and a 4th one voluntarily closed in Orangevale, CA.
How were these schools ever allowed to exist on taxpayer money in the first place? That’s what I’d like to know and I’ll bet it would make a good story!
how were they allowed to exist on our taxpayers dime? you have no further to look than elected officials who are drawn into their “interfaith dialogue” nonsense with campaign contributions, free trips and honors. seriously you have not heard of the Turkic lobbying in the USA? http://www.gulenpoliticians.blogspot.com
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of crooks.
Michael you are right but the disturbing facts are, even while UNDER investigation and being denied renewal they continue to get grant money. In California their Magnolia Science Academy managed to get a $6 million facility grant 4 days AFTER they were sent a denial to renew letter by the LAUSD, then last month those schools received $1.2 million in after school enrichment programs (I am sure it will entail trips to the local Turkish center and festivals). Additionally, their school in PA that is scheduled to be closed Truebright Academy also received the same $1.2 million grant. It is about the grant money and loans they foreclose on not to mention the layers of business around the schools that are owned by the movement that supply uniforms, furniture, curriculum management, technology set up and more. The amount of American money in their hands is obscene not to mention the amount of American teachers who are out of work because of their preference for h1-b visa teachers from their cult. http://www.magnoliascienceacademy.blogspot.com
I agree with Be a, and with Linda. I don’t understand how our children are handed over to these charter schools, or management companies, without serious review and/or background checks. Lets forget about the taxpayer dollars for a moment…these schools in particular have a shady background. I wouldn’t want to be involved, let alone give them responsibility for my child.
There is something wrong with this whole setup that, to me, smells. Why on earth is a hermit Imam living in NJ with the government’s blessing allowed to open schools…what was his special educational expertise, and bring over Turkish men on Visas, many who are thought to speak poor English, many who are reported to not be qualified for the subjects they teach, and our government says “here, take our money AND our kids” and funnel that money wherever you like.
Then, when some teachers spoke out against what was happening (were these American teachers?) the teachers themselves were reprimanded.
Scary indeed.
Reminds me also of why the USA is giving tax dollars to Pearson, a UK corporation, with ties to Libya.
Education, like politics it seems, makes strange bedfellows indeed. Are there any left with integrity, morals and scruples who care about America’s children?
Not sure that it’s fair to say that “our children are handed over” to any charter school. Parents have to choose to send them to such schools and if they do so without due diligence, they must shoulder at least a small piece of the responsibility. Of course, Gulen charter schools should have been under vastly more scrutiny from day 1, as should all charter schools. That just the opposite has been true in most states tells us a lot about how corporate crooks are able to buy the legislative cooperation of elected crooks.
MPG, the government is handing our children over to these charters. Also, in neighborhoods like New Orleans, aren’t charters pretty much the only “choice” which is no choice at all? Plenty parents don’t have money to send kids to private schools, or stay home and school them. Please, don’t blame the parents, or state they should have done their due diligence. How ridiculous.
Donna, there was nothing ridiculous about my statement. In the vast majority of states, charter schools are choices, not forced on anyone. Parents swallow the lies, or take the bribes/incentives to send their kids to some charter. A few months later, after the charter has gotten the money for the kids from the state, many of those children wind up back at their neighborhood public school, who are obligated to educate them, but without the $$ that went to the charter. Those parents who participate in this school-destroying scam are not utterly innocent, either.
Sorry you think that all the responsibility belongs in one place. I’ve seen this ugly scenario play out in specific poverty-stricken communities in SE Michigan, most glaringly and destructively in Pontiac. It effectively killed public education there. And teachers and principals at public elementary schools there where I coached math were the ones who told me what was going on. I got independent confirmation from many sources, not the least of which was four years later when I wound up teaching at a charter high school there, run by one of the worst management companies in the country, White Hat of Akron, OH.
Telling me to please not tell the truth is a strange request. And not one I can honor. Your theory that this is all the doing of the government doesn’t hold water everywhere. I have to go with what I see in New York City and Michigan, the places where I live, work, and have the most professional and personal connections. And that’s simply not the story with charters in general in those areas.
At MPG and RR – thank you both. We’re on the same side. MPG, thank you for the clarifications. I am in NJ and I see what is happening in Newark particularly. If parents don’t want the charter across the street, they are being sent miles from home on buses. What is happening here is a tragedy, and the politicians not only don’t care, they thrive on the disruption they cause. Its very sad.
And Donna, let’s not forget that the owner of this chain was VERY closely associated with horribly corrupt and oppressive officials in Turkey. He violated human rights there, so why is he allowed to run schools here?
It’s all about money and furthering the privatization agenda of Obama and crony capitalist friends.
I am not defending Gulan schools. I am pro public. I hope that is what you got from my post, and your comments were in addition to.
And MPG, I don’t blame the parents. Often what is left is a charter school. It starts and ends with politics. If the politicians weren’t in cahoots with the 1% and owned by them, none of this would have ever been allowed to occur. It started out under the radar, but now it is abuse in plain sight. Lets agree to disagree.
@Donna: there are some places, particularly New Orleans, where public schools effectively were replaced by charters. That’s the exception, not the rule. Things may change more widely, and when they do, that will be bad and we can discuss it as the general case. Right now, it isn’t. I’m sorry it upsets you to contemplate that parents have to fall for a line of b.s. in most places in order for charters to get clients. Every time I’m in NYC or Detroit (the latter more frequently, since I live in Ann Arbor now), I cringe at the ads all over the place (in fact, anywhere in SE Michigan these days, billboards shout the virtues of one charter chain or another: you don’t advertise when you have a captive audience).
As to the government’s role, well, yes, the government is involved in decisions about public schools. I’m not suggesting otherwise. But let’s also recall that the origianl idea for charters came from Al Shanker and it wasn’t a bad idea. What became of the idea thanks to $$ and corrupt officials is another matter.
We can agree to disagree, but I’m not stating an opinion. These are facts of life in many places. Yours are also facts. In some places. The obvious conclusion is that there are places where parents make decisions to send their kids to charters when they have other options. We get to have our own opinions, but not our own facts.
Milton Friedman said’ “Hurricane Katrina did in one day what we have been trying to do for fifty years.” Perfectly good undamaged public school buildings were torn down to prevent them from reopening while the great privatization of New Orleans took place.
Kevin Huffman and John Ayers recently resigned after a bogus report claiming New Orleans charter school students were doing better than expected had to be rescinded.
http://vamboozled.com/breaking-news-tennessees-huffman-and-tulanes-ayer-resign/
@Dawn: I am very familiar with that piece and the shameful history of what’s been going on in NOLA with charters. Did you get the sense I wasn’t or was in some way disputing the facts there? Because I’m not.
Are you suggesting that this is the general situation with charters nationally? It isn’t, at least not yet as far as I can ascertain. Perfect storms don’t happen every day. The people pushing this garbage no doubt pray for disasters to fuel their plans, but they’ll have to find other ways to completely destroy public schools and/or create conditions for charters to thrive besides relying on devastating hurricanes and floods. No doubt, they’re thinking about how to do so daily and have made inroads in some places, but nowhere as deeply as in NOLA to my knowledge.
Also, at the risk of bringing down more wrath on my head today, not every charter school is crooked or educationally bankrupt. I get screamed at elsewhere for suggesting that on the whole, charters have been horrible for kids, because there are people who are quite picky about where they send their kids to school who’ve found charters that they sincerely believe serve their children quite well. Of course, they’re usually not in inner cities.
Donna, it’s more than clear that you support public schools.
Gulen riddens!
I’m in favor of a Gulen-free educational diet.
TAGO!!!!!!!!!
A Teacher’s Perspective
What’s the relationship – Turkey & Education? Do New Yorkers want their tax dollars going to Turkey?
With the current rate of unemployment in the United States, do you think we really need to fill teaching positions in charter schools with foreign recruits? The largest charter school “association” in the United States is doing just that. The Gulen Movement has established 140 charter schools in 26 states, with administrators and teaching staff comprised solely of Turkish expatriates.
Fethullah Gulen is a Turkish imam who fled from Turkey in 1998 when he was accused of encouraging the overthrow of the secular government there. President Clinton granted him entrance to the U.S. to address his health issues. He is considered to be the most influential man in Turkey even when he is not there. He is revered as a great intellectual scholar, and a man of peace, having written 60 books, and amassed a world-wide following. He was given a U.S. green card in 2008. He resides on a 28-acre compound in the Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania, guarded by 100 Turkish armed guards and private helicopter surveillance of the property. He does not grant interviews.
In 1999, members of the Gulen Movement opened their first charter school in Ohio. There are now 19 Gulen inspired charter schools in that state. There are 44 Gulen inspired charter schools in Texas all operated under the auspices of one Turkish superintendent, who is unavailable to speak to the media and also unavailable to speak to parents of charter school students. New York has 4 Gulen charter schools, with new applications pending.
Leslie Stahl did a piece on Fethullah Gulen for 60 minutes in which he himself did not appear. She went to his compound in Pennsylvania and was shown the room in which he sits to deliver his speeches for You Tube. His speeches encourage infiltration of high public office and institutions around the world as well as deception to advance the cause of the movement. She was told that he was in the room behind the closed door, but the door never opened and Gulen did not participate in her puff piece about him and his schools.
Fetullah Gulen denies having anything to do with the charter schools being erected because it is politically expedient for him to distance himself from them. However, when he was applying for his green card, he stated that he was an educational leader who had started 600 schools all around the world. His assets are estimated to be around $25 billion. This money is used to privately fund the creation of Gulen schools in 100 countries. The U.S. is the only country where his schools are funded 100% by U.S. tax payers. This money is also used to wine and dine U.S. politicians and send them on junkets to Turkey.
Nineteen Gulen charter schools were raided this week in Ohio by the FBI, the FCC and the DOE. Due to the ongoing investigation, representatives of these agencies are not at liberty to speak openly about the case. Since 2011, Gulen schools have been under investigation for the fraudulent use of “e grants” from the federal government for upgrading communications and technological infrastructure. The practice of forcing foreign recruits to give up to 40% of their salary to the Gulen Movement which is illegal under U.S. law as well as the H-1B visa fraud itself provides plenty of material for an investigation.
How can Turkish teachers with heavy accents be hired to teach English at a higher salary than the Americans they replaced? A simple audit would reveal this travesty, except that charter schools can’t be audited by the state. These schools exclusively hire Turkish administrators, teachers, and construction companies as well as materials suppliers, all completely funded by U.S. tax payers.
There are Gülen-inspired “dialogue” groups and local non-profits that promote Turkish culture. Various foundations have been formed to promote the Gulen Movement throughout the world. The U.S. has been split up into regions by the Gulen Movement in order to encourage the complete dissemination of the goals and ideals of the group in an organized fashion. They track the number of charter schools in each state, student enrollments and their ability to teach about Turkish culture and even the Turkish language in some schools. At present, Gulen schools enroll about 45,000 students. They have plans to quadruple that number.
Since Obama embraces Fethullah Gulen and Hillary Clinton embraces Fethullah Gulen and Arne Duncan has given Race To The Top funds to the Gulen charter schools, there seems to be no stopping them. It is ironic that a large sum of stimulus money that was earmarked to stimulate the U.S. economy to employ U.S. workers seems to have been diverted into Turkish hands and ultimately to Turkey. Call your representatives and ask them why our tax dollars are going to support Turkish employment and the spread of Turkish culture instead of our own.
The only way to do that legally would be through the H-1B visa program. H-1B visas are issued specifically to allow highly skilled foreign workers temporary residency in the U.S. to work for employers in “specialty occupations” requiring “highly specialized knowledge.” Charter schools, inspired by Fetullah Gulen, claim they can’t find Americans to fill positions teaching math and science.
Law suits based on discrimination have been filed against the Gulen charter schools by Americans who have been shut out of employment. All of these suits have been settled out of court. That should send up a red flag right there. If the suits had no merit, it would be to the employers benefit to win the case in court and set a precedent that would discourage future similar suits. Since the suits do have merit, a significant amount of money must be used to settle these cases out of court, to be considered as the cost of doing business.
The above is an article I wrote for my local newspaper.
Once the government gets rid of public schools, and they will (don’t worry about that), then they will create a “marketplace” for education. Anyone who wants to can open a private school. The govt. will wash its hands. No more taxes for education. They believe that competition will close bad schools and good schools will be profitable and successful. The free market will do it all. This is the way business works. You will see all kinds of charter (private) schools with chanting, religious or ethnic affiliation, various class sizes. The sky is the limit. I imagine the poor with no money to spend will have their kids dumped into some kind of state holding pen. None of this is good for community feeling, but that has been gone for 20 years at least. How many kids play in your neighborhoods? It’s sad but true. We are not “one” people at all. We are many little subgroups fighting for economic survival in this quasi-Rome environment. There aren’t many good jobs to go around.
The haunting ghouls of the Gulen chain have been exorcised from Georgia.
Great start! How do we shut down the remainder?
you make sure your families, friends, co workers and neighbors have a list of their charter schools especially in your area. educate everyone on who they are and what they are doing to not only the educational system but to the economics of this country. show up to the school board meetings when they apply for new schools (lately they have been quiet) and when they RENEW their charter school – oppose it. do the research on what and why these schools are not good for America or your community. because they are muslim cult or organized crime is not good enough, you have to have tangible reasons usually it has to do with their horrid financial management. also become accounted with your areas OIG (office of the inspector general) and District Attorney and FBI Field offices. understand their structure in your area. They usually have several layers of businesses, organizations and dialogue groups layered around each school where the money from the schools is laundered to. http://www.gulencharterschoolsusa.blogspot.com
Just one more example of how state leaders, across the nation, have rolled over and played dead, before the gods of commerce, as if these gods, and their human ambassadors, are miracle-workers. Give them our money, give them our children, and all will be well. America has swallowed poison when it comes to education and a whole lot of other matters, bowing down before the gods of commerce. The problem is clear: believing an illusion foisted on us by the 1% – give us your money and we’ll work wonders with it. But such is not the case. Our publics institutions may not always work well, or as well as we’d like, but the promises of the 1% fail repeatedly, and fail badly, and there are no miracles. Our public institutions, on the other hand, when rightly funded and supported, deliver well on the American Dream. Monies in the public system go for salaries, supplies and good buildings. In the charter system, monies go to shareholders and private interests first, with the leftovers for the children.
“. . . believing an illusion foisted on us by the 1% – give us your money and we’ll work wonders with it.”
That 1% has never ever thought about “asking” for our money. They take all that they can and the hell with the rest of us peons. They don’t give a shit about “working wonders with it” except as to how those “wonders” will enrichen them all the more.
An important question is this: Are the Gulen schools really faith-based schools disguised as charters?
My sense is that the “faith” thing is far less relevant than the money & power thing.
They are both supremely relevant. Tax aid to faith-based schools violates most state constitutions, and millions of voters from coast to coast have voted down tax aid for faith-based schools by a 2 to i margin.