HARRISBURG, PA — In a recent performance audit conducted by Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor, the School District of Philadelphia’s Charter School Office was found to be in compliance with state laws, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) guidelines, and its own operational policies while managing charter school applications and monitoring. Despite the positive outcome, the audit suggests areas for improvement to enhance oversight and transparency.
The audit, covering the period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023, aimed to assess how effectively the Charter School Office oversees new and existing charter schools, including their annual evaluations. Auditor General DeFoor conveyed that the findings were largely favorable, indicating a functioning system, but highlighted opportunities to refine the process further.
Among the recommendations for process improvement were the introduction of external reviewers to evaluate the charter school framework, incorporation of charter schools’ responses in public annual monitoring and renewal reports, and more frequent audits of admission lotteries.
A significant concern arose regarding Franklin Towne Charter High School’s admissions lottery. Allegations suggested the school selectively excluded certain city zip codes, which predominantly consist of minority households, from its admissions process. The Charter School Office conducted an investigation and confirmed the school violated state charter law and its charter agreement. This incident underscored the need for more rigorous evaluations of charter schools’ admission practices to prevent discrimination and ensure fairness.
DeFoor pointed out that integrating charter schools’ admission process reviews as part of the annual monitoring could swiftly identify and address such issues, facilitating quicker corrective actions.
Furthermore, the audit revisited the findings from a prior 2016 audit and determined that all previously identified issues had been resolved, showcasing the Charter School Office’s commitment to continuous improvement.
The School District of Philadelphia’s Charter School Office is tasked with the oversight of brick-and-mortar charter schools within the district, with the Board of Education being responsible for the approval of new charter applications. Notably, no new charters were approved during the audit timeframe.
This audit not only sheds light on the operational efficiency and adherence to regulations by the Philadelphia Charter School Office but also emphasizes the importance of ongoing scrutiny and reform in the charter school sector. By addressing the audit’s recommendations, the Charter School Office can further bolster transparency, fairness, and accountability in Philadelphia’s charter school admissions and monitoring processes, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.