The audits were conducted on the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and the Midland Borough School District.
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says that the audits illustrate how poorly the charter school law is protecting students and taxpayers as well as ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being used to help students learn, rather than turning individual profits.
One of the reasons he says that the charter school law needs an overhaul is that the charter school management company was operating without boundaries or accountability to charter school officials or to the taxpayers. The major issues found in the audits include problems with curriculum and the management company and failure from the board and administration to govern.
DePasquale has a special report on charter school law reform where he outlines recommendations on how to improve accountability, effectiveness and transparency. He says his criticisms shouldn’t be an indictment on charter schools in general and that there are excellent charter schools and performing arts centers in Pennsylvania.