CEA Blog Examines Charter School Chain Statistics

From Phil Hayes, March 28, 2008

The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) sent the IRS a letter asking it to investigate whether charter schools managed by White Hat Management, Inc. and its affiliates can properly claim 503(c) tax-exempt status.

White Hat Management and its affiliates operate the “Life Skills” and “Hope Academy” charter schools in Ohio, Florida and Arizona. OFT states that the schools are merely a tax-exempt “pass through” to funnel money to the management company– $84 million tax dollars per year. The Ohio Department of Education database recorded information for 17 Life Skills Centers and 12 Hope Academy locations throughout the state; when examined, the data paints a disturbing picture of what results Ohioans are receiving for their $84 million dollars in tax money diverted from public school districts.

The CEA [Columbus Education Association] Blog has done a series of posts regarding these recent developments: Click here to examine ODE’s information on Life Skills Centers including state and federal standards met, enrollment, class size and teacher pay. Click here to examine ODE’s information on Hope Academy locations including state and federal standards met, enrollment, class size and teacher pay. Click here to see what bloggers and traditional media outlets have to say about the OFT’s letter.

Mr. Hayes Social Studies Teacher Legacy Small School on the Brookhaven Campus 4077 Karl Road Columbus, Ohio 43224 Voice:(614) 365-5985 Fax: (614) 365-6965 http://misterhayes.homestead.com http://projectovercome.homestead.com