How A Charter School Scheme Allegedly Siphoned $50M In Taxpayer Money | Kristen Taketa, Morgan Cook - a podcast by San Diego Union-Tribune

Two charter school leaders illegally pocketed more than $50 million of state funds by siphoning the money through a network of 19 online charter schools across California which falsely enrolled thousands of students, prosecutors alleged Wednesday.

The schools include three that were authorized to operate by the Dehesa Elementary School District in San Diego County: Valiant Academy of Southern California, California Academy of Sports Science and University Prep. Dehesa’s superintendent also is facing charges and has pleaded not guilty.

San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan said that leaders of the charter schools enrolled thousands of students into their schools, often without their knowledge, and collected millions of dollars in state funds. Many students were already enrolled in private schools or in youth athletic groups, and the charter school leaders bought their information to claim them as their students, Stephan said.

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