Authorizers of charter schools are tasked with deciding which schools are running properly and which ought to be shut down. But according to a ProPublica investigation, these officials can lack the experience, resources, and vision to do their jobs successfully. And some schools are overseen by organizations for which authorization is not their main focus, such as the Audubon wildlife rehabilitation center.
From the story: “In 2010, an investigation by the Philadelphia Controller’s Office found lavish executive salaries, conflicts of interest and other problems at more than a dozen charter schools, and it faulted the authorizer – the School District of Philadelphia’s charter school office – for ‘complete and total failure’ to monitor schools.”
Read the full story by ProPublica.