This is a press release from the Texas Education Agency about the revocation of the charter of Prime Prep Charter School, the school founded by football great Deion Sanders. Nowhere does TEA admit that the original flaw was handing students and public funds to a non-educator with no qualifications to run a school.
TEA News Releases Online Jan. 30, 2015
Statement of Commissioner Michael Williams regarding closure of Prime Prep Academy
AUSTIN – The Board of Managers for Prime Prep Academy today voted to cease operations of its Dallas and Fort Worth campuses effective at the end of the school day today. Commissioner of Education Michael Williams issued the following statement:
“After reviewing the financial information discovered over the past week, I agree with the Prime Prep board of managers’ decision to cease operation immediately. I recognize this was a difficult decision for board members to make. While there was hope this charter could survive through the end of the school year, the financial resources simply aren’t there. It is unfortunate that those who remained committed to learning on these campuses – the students and teachers – are the ones who will be affected most by circumstances out of their control.
“Parents, students and teachers at Prime Prep are now forced to find an education alternative in the middle of the school year. I have directed Texas Education Agency staff to begin providing whatever information we can to help them maneuver through this unexpected transition. In light of what we now know, such upheaval could have been avoided by the previous school leadership had they acknowledged their financial issues and worked with us toward an orderly transition that put students first.”
Commissioner Williams announced his decision to appoint a board of managers and an interim superintendent to oversee the management of Prime Prep Academy (a charter held by Uplift Fort Worth) on Jan. 13, following multiple reports of deteriorating financial conditions at the charter school. The board of managers was sworn into office on Jan. 23.
In addition, an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearing granted a default judgment on Jan. 27 regarding revocation of the Uplift Fort Worth CDC charter. A final order from the judge is pending.
Prime Prep Academy was awarded its charter by the State Board of Education in September 2011. The school opened its doors on Aug. 14, 2012.
http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Press_Releases/2015/TEA_offers_transition_information_to_students,_parents_and_staff_following_Prime_Prep_Academy_closure/
TEA News Releases Online Jan. 30, 2015
TEA offers transition information to students, parents and staff following Prime Prep Academy closure
AUSTIN – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will provide transition information to students, parents, teachers and staff of Prime Prep Academy following a vote this afternoon by the charter’s board of managers to cease operations immediately. Due to the charter school’s current financial situation, board members determined that continued operation through the end of the school year was not a viable option.
Information packets will be distributed to students and staff at both the Dallas and Fort Worth campuses at the conclusion of the school day. The packets provide information regarding educational and enrollment opportunities at area schools for the remainder of this school year, as well as the process for acquiring student records necessary to transfer to another school.
In addition, TEA staff will be available at both campuses to answer questions from students, parents and staff. Parents can access much of the information on the TEA website athttp://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/Charter_Schools/Resources_for_Parents_and_Students/Charter_Schools_Resources_for_Parents_and_Students/. Prime Prep parents can also contact the Division of Charter School Administration at (512) 463-9575 for assistance and direction to available resources.
TEA staff will also provide Prime Prep staff with transition information regarding applying for unemployment benefits and continued health coverage through COBRA through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). Staff members needing assistance resolving an issue can contact the TEA Complaints Management Department at (512) 463-3544.
Commissioner of Education Michael Williams announced his decision to appoint a board of managers and an interim superintendent to oversee the management of Prime Prep Academy – a charter held by Uplift Fort Worth – on Jan. 13, following multiple reports of deteriorating financial conditions at the charter school. The board of managers was sworn into office on Jan. 23.
In addition, an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearing granted a default judgment on Jan. 27 regarding revocation of the Uplift Fort Worth CDC charter. A final order from the judge is pending.
Prime Prep Academy was awarded its charter by the State Board of Education in September 2011. The school opened its doors on Aug. 14, 2012.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Prime Prep Academy was awarded its charter by the State Board of Education in September 2011. The school opened its doors on Aug. 14, 2012.
The clear source of malfeasance. But Texas has a long history of malfeasance in education, not least the elevation of Rod Paige to Secreatry of Education on the basis of his trumped up test scores, NOT a Texas miracle.
LikeLike
The owners of the school should pay back the monies they stole. This is what should happen every time a charter ceases to be. A charter that was touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread, and took kids away from rock solid public schools, then throws them back mid year. Shame on these scammers, and sadly it will continue because that is what the reformers want.
LikeLike
But what about the kids…..Oh, that’s right, they go back to public school and don’t matter anymore. We can take they money they needed at Prime Prep, not bother auditing and getting that back, and make those slackers and their crummy public school pick up the slack. (sarcastic snark off). I know my Texas colleagues will do their best to welcome these children into their crowded, under supplied, classes. The football coaches might also be happy to see them. In my class I just received two high functioning autistic children that were rejected by the in town charters, and three other charter rejects who could not afford their uniforms and food at the same time. I do not call them seats, units, or other such nonsense, they are my students and I am glad to see them!
LikeLike
Same here. I got two students just this week from online charters. They’re both really behind academically, but they’re good kids and I will work to get them caught up.
LikeLike
Charter schools should be required to have insurance to cover expenses so a school doesn’t have to close midyear.
LikeLike
But that’s the kind of regulation that public schools must follow. That would stifle the reformy, rigory innovation of charter scammers. And mean far less profits for the grifters.
Not gonna happen, right Joe Nathan?
LikeLike
I believe Joe is already on record saying he’s opposed to making charters carry insurance to stay open.
LikeLike
Links to Dallas Morning News story here. But, maybe I’m just dense, but this school sent teams to faraway tournaments when it can’t even pay its teachers or cover benefits? This story belongs in the “Crime” section, not under “Education”.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/south-dallas/headlines/20150130-future-of-prime-preps-college-prospects-up-in-the-air.ece
I do feel bad for the student-athletes who transferred there, sort of, but if they are as hot as the article indicates, some elite private schools might pick them up if they haven’t blown their eligibility to play. Lord forbid they go back to *gasp* district schools!
More details and comments here:
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20150130-prime-prep-shuts-dallas-and-fort-worth-campuses-amid-steep-debt.ece
LikeLike
The public schools will welcome these kids back despite no funding, try to catch them up, and eventually be blamed for their test scores, resulting in more calls for charters to replace “failing” public schools. More public funding goes into private pockets, they walk away scot-free and with extra money to boot, and the kids and public schools suffer the consequences. It’s the perfect scam for the greedy and heartless!
Added bonus, they just go to another state, repeat the process, and pretty soon they’ll be a yacht owner like the fraud of Charter Schools USA. Yay for free-market ideology!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
LikeLike
This charter school needs to be sued by all of the parents whose children were affaceted and an inquiry into why the charter was created needs to be pursued.
LikeLike
That is exactly the worst case scenario that I anticipated. Parents have to go and find schools to enroll their child or children in the middle of the school year just when test prep is being conducted.
LikeLike
The only thing that mattered to TEA was the financial situation. Students, parents, and staff-faculty can get in line and go through their bureaucracy at whatever speed the TEA works at.
LikeLike