State boots voucher school from program; investigates 3 more

State officials have ordered one of Milwaukee's private voucher schools out of the state-funded program.

Ida B. Wells Academy, which received more than $94,000 from the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program last year, has not met several requirements – recently missing a deadline for submitting financial and student lists to the state Department of Public Instruction.

Three other voucher schools are under investigation – Dr. Brenda Noach Choice School, L.E.A.D.E.R. Institute and Northside High School, which have received more than a total of $700,000 this year.

State officials said Brenda Noach has not shown that it "provides a sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday (Oct. 17, 2005). L.E.A.D.E.R. Institute's program did not meet state requirements to provide 875 instruction hours a school year. Both schools are expected to appeal the decision and remain in the program.

DPI will make a ruling on Northside High School pending more investigation into whether the school is meeting the requirement of 875 hours of instruction.

Tony Evers, deputy state superintendent of schools, told the Milwaukee newspaper that it's frustrating the schools have not provided required reports. He said the legal standards for a private school are "an almost minimalist standard," and DPI expects to more actively enforce rules.

Missed deadlines

Ten schools in Milwaukee's private school voucher program had trouble complying with state funding regulations this fall.

Eight of the schools did not submit the required financial reports on time, and two did not submit the required student lists on time. One of the 10 schools didn't turn in either one.

The number of voucher schools failing to meet state deadlines is up from the same time last year when the state Department of Public Instruction, which oversees the voucher program, withheld payments from four schools. And in January 2005, the state withheld checks from seven voucher schools - some for financial misconduct.

The controversial program allows private schools to apply for state-funded tuition vouchers for low-income students – up to $6,351 per student. The schools receive installment payments throughout the school year – the first in late September. The next payment comes in November.

Schools that missed the financial report deadline for September checks are: D.J. Perkins Academy of Excellence, Excel Learning Academy, Family Montessori School, Howard's Learning Academy, Ida B. Wells Academy, Kindergarten Plus, Malaika Early Learning Center and Veritas Academy.

Bridge of Hope Christian Academy and Loving A Generation Preschool missed the student list deadline. Ida B. Wells missed both deadlines, said DPI spokesperson Joe Donovan.

"We have gotten some reports in since the deadline," Donovan said Tuesday (October 11, 2005). "And those schools will get their checks, but there is a cutoff, depending on how late they are. Or they may have to wait until the next deadline."

Three schools submitted forms late and will receive checks: D.J. Perkins Academy of Excellence, Kindergarten Plus and Malaika Early Learning Center, Donovan said.

The state began requiring the financial and enrollment reports in 2004 in an effort to increase accountability in the voucher program.

In February, DPI launched an investigation of Louis Tucker School after the principal announced the school would close amid allegations that school officials submitted fraudulent attendance records and progress reports to the state. DPI also asked for an investigation at another voucher school, Academic Solutions for Learning Center, for similar allegations. That school was dropped from the voucher program in January.

Governor Jim Doyle wants schools in the voucher program to adopt the same academic standards and administer the same academic assessments as public schools, saying the Milwaukee voucher program lacks "accountability to ensure that taxpayers are getting their money's worth and children are receiving the quality of education that they deserve."

Doyle has repeatedly vetoed legislation that would expand the program - recently in April when he vetoed Assembly Bill 3, which would have dropped the enrollment limit.

This year, 128 schools are listed with DPI as having filed an intent to participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Last school year, there were 117 private schools participating in the MPCP, with a total enrollment of 13,978 students in the program in January 2005, according to DPI statistics.

Resource page on private school vouchers

Posted October 13, 2005