February 2022 ACCS - Item 1 Public Comment 1

To receive an electronic copy of the below communication, contact the Charter Schools Division by email at charters@cde.ca.gov.

(The following information was provided on California Teacher's Association [CTA] letterhead.)

February 11, 2022

RE: CTA Comments Regarding Item #1 Eagle Collegiate Academy

Consider Evidence Regarding a Notice of Violation Issued by the California State Board of Education, pursuant to California Education Code Section 47607(g), and Propose that the California State Board of Education Issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke with Notice of Facts, Pursuant to California Education Code Section 47607(h)

Dear ACCS Commissioners,

On behalf of the over 300,000 members of the California Teachers Association (CTA), CTA supports the California Department of Education (CDE)’s recommendation that the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) recommend that the State Board of Education (SBE) issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke with Notice of Facts to Eagle Collegiate Academy (ECA), pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 47607(h), at its March 9–10, 2022, meeting.

The issues with ECA outlined by the CDE in the item are egregious. The CDE has concluded that there is substantial evidence of fiscal mismanagement, violation of several conditions, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter, and violation of provisions of law.

CTA would also like to highlight that on page three of the item there seems to be a consistent pattern of shifting information regarding ECA’s prospective enrollment and actual enrollment and the result of that led to ECA being overfunded by 412% or almost $500,000 in public funds.

Perhaps the most troubling development is that ECA reported to the CDE on September 30th, 2021 that the charter began school on September 7, 2021 with 131 students and then their 20-Day Attendance Report stated only 12 students. Additionally, ECA submitted the summary of enrollment for September being 13 students.

This seems to be much more then just overestimating of enrollment. These actions regarding enrollment are reminiscent of the A3 scandal and we believe it would be prudent of the CDE to investigate whether this occurred because of gross mismanagement, gross incompetence, or fraud.

CTA supports the CDE’s recommendation that the ACCS recommend that the SBE issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke with Notice of Facts to Eagle Collegiate Academy (ECA), pursuant to EC Section 47607(h), at its March 9–10, 2022, meeting.

Sincerely,

E.Toby Boyd, President
California Teachers Association

C: CTA Executive Officers
Teri Holoman, Associate Executive Director, CTA
Lori Easterling, Manager, CTA Legislative Relations
Commissioners, Advisory Commission on Charter Schools
Stephanie Farland, California Department of Education
CTA Liaison to the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools

Return to February 2022 ACCS Meeting Agenda