California Charter Academy

More than 2,600 students who were displaced last month after their campuses closed due to legal and financial turmoil are now enrolled in charter schools, according to a report Monday by a state charter school group. The findings were released a month after the Victorville-based California Charter Academy shut down 60 campuses under pressure from new state laws and a California Department of Education investigation into its academic and financial practices.

A San Bernardino County grand jury on Tuesday indicted the founder of a charter school network that was once the largest in California, charging him with grand theft and misappropriation of public school funds. A Hesperia city councilman was also indicted.

Education officials investigating California's largest charter-school operator subpoenaed the nonprofit organization's academic and financial records Thursday. State Supt. for Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said investigators are seeking all records from the California Charter Academy to ensure that paperwork does not get lost as the organization closes campuses amid the inquiry and changes in charter-school law.

A California Department of Education investigation into a now-defunct charter school operator that served more than 4,500 children found financial improprieties involving its executive director. California Charter Academy director C. Steven Cox misused millions of dollars in state funds, distributed money to his family and friends and profited by serving in a dual role as president of a company serving the campuses, according to an audit released Thursday.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus last week voted to approve a $77,000 contract for a charter school that employs his father and is run by a longtime friend and generous campaign donor.

The chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has requested a probe into who approved $7,000 in funding to a charter school that is under a state investigation for allegedly misusing public funds, according to a memo obtained by The Times.

California education officials say the state's largest charter school opened 11 schools in violation of state law and wasn't spending enough money on teacher salaries for home-school students. Last year the state docked the California Charter Academy nearly $6 million and cut its home-school budget by a third.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to award a $77,000 contract to a charter school that is under investigation by the state Department of Education for alleged financial mismanagement and questions about administrative oversight. Victorville-based California Charter Academy, the state's largest operator of charter schools, was one of 18 agencies that won county contracts to provide summer programs for youths between 14 and 21.

The Orange Unified School District board recently voted unanimously to allow the California Charter Academy of Orange County to operate under the district's supervision. The nonprofit charter school offers classes to students mostly 18 years of age or older who are academically low-achieving. "We will be making sure the program is running effectively and they are delivering the program they say they are going to," said Neil McKinnon, assistant superintendent of education services.

California's schools chief on Friday opened an investigation and audit into what is believed to be the state's largest operator of charter schools over questions about funding practices. State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell launched the probe of the California Charter Academy one day after a state charter school oversight commission raised concerns about how much the group's schools spend on teachers and administrative overhead.

More than 2,600 students who were displaced last month after their campuses closed due to legal and financial turmoil are now enrolled in charter schools, according to a report Monday by a state charter school group. The findings were released a month after the Victorville-based California Charter Academy shut down 60 campuses under pressure from new state laws and a California Department of Education investigation into its academic and financial practices.

California's largest charter school operator has shut down at least 60 campuses amid new state restrictions and an investigation into financial and academic practices -- leaving nearly 10,000 students to find new schools just a few weeks before the new semester begins. Many campus officials and parents learned over the weekend that their schools had been closed.

Education officials investigating California's largest charter-school operator subpoenaed the nonprofit organization's academic and financial records Thursday. State Supt. for Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said investigators are seeking all records from the California Charter Academy to ensure that paperwork does not get lost as the organization closes campuses amid the inquiry and changes in charter-school law.

The chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has requested a probe into who approved $7,000 in funding to a charter school that is under a state investigation for allegedly misusing public funds, according to a memo obtained by The Times.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Bill Postmus last week voted to approve a $77,000 contract for a charter school that employs his father and is run by a longtime friend and generous campaign donor.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to award a $77,000 contract to a charter school that is under investigation by the state Department of Education for alleged financial mismanagement and questions about administrative oversight. Victorville-based California Charter Academy, the state's largest operator of charter schools, was one of 18 agencies that won county contracts to provide summer programs for youths between 14 and 21.

A California Department of Education investigation into a now-defunct charter school operator that served more than 4,500 children found financial improprieties involving its executive director. California Charter Academy director C. Steven Cox misused millions of dollars in state funds, distributed money to his family and friends and profited by serving in a dual role as president of a company serving the campuses, according to an audit released Thursday.

California's largest charter school operator has shut down at least 60 campuses amid new state restrictions and an investigation into financial and academic practices -- leaving nearly 10,000 students to find new schools just a few weeks before the new semester begins. Many campus officials and parents learned over the weekend that their schools had been closed.

California's schools chief on Friday opened an investigation and audit into what is believed to be the state's largest operator of charter schools over questions about funding practices. State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell launched the probe of the California Charter Academy one day after a state charter school oversight commission raised concerns about how much the group's schools spend on teachers and administrative overhead.

California education officials say the state's largest charter school opened 11 schools in violation of state law and wasn't spending enough money on teacher salaries for home-school students. Last year the state docked the California Charter Academy nearly $6 million and cut its home-school budget by a third.