Washington charter school under audit over state funding
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state’s largest charter-school chain improperly received about $790,000 in state funds when it enrolled more than 60 4-year-olds in kindergarten, according to the state’s charter school oversight agency.
KUOW reports the agency referred the matter to the State Auditor’s Office for investigation, which could result in repayment of the funds to the state.
In Washington state, children must be 5 years old by Aug. 31 to start kindergarten in the fall. But Impact, the state’s largest charter-school chain, said it was within its rights to enroll underage children as “early entrance” kindergarteners after the state barred it from opening a planned pre-kindergarten program in fall 2020 at Salish Sea Elementary, then based in Tukwila.
The way the school switched these students’ enrollment to kindergarten ran afoul of state charter-school rules, according to a court ruling and the state Charter School Commission.
Impact declined to comment to KUOW. Charter School Commission Interim Executive Director Jessica de Barros said an interview was not possible given ongoing litigation between Impact and the commission.
Impact had originally asked the commission in early 2020 for permission to create a transitional kindergarten program, state-funded pre-k for children who lack high-quality early learning opportunities, or who are determined to lack the skills needed for kindergarten. However, the commission voted that transitional kindergarten, which the state first approved in 2019, could begin no earlier than 2021 in the charter schools it oversees.
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This story has been updated to remove an erroneous statement that Washington state’s largest charter-school chain misappropriated state funds and must repay about $790,000. The state Charter School Commission said Impact Public Schools improperly received the funds and the matter has been referred to the state Auditor’s Office, which could result in repayment to the state.
