PA Auditor General Blames State For Philly Charter School Problem
by Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's Auditor General is blaming the state's charter school law for Philadelphia's inability to effectively oversee charter schools.
"This is one where all of the challenges can directly be laid at the feet of Harrisburg," said State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
DePasquale says his audit of Philadelphia schools finds Philadelphia can't adequately monitor the city's 83 charters. But he says the reasons are mostly out of Philadelphia's hands, because the state's 19-year-old charter school law has never been updated.
"Our charter school law is simply the worst charter school law in the United States," he said.
State Senator Vincent Hughes says charters can't be held accountable under the current structure.
"It is a sieve. You pour money, and the money just flows right out. And who knows where the money is going?," said Vincent.
The 2014 cigarette tax law required Philadelphia to accept applications for new charter schools. DePasquale says that overburdened an already strained district staff.
DePasquale made similar recommendations for charter reform two years ago.