Pa. auditor announces public meetings on charters

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Wednesday that his office would hold public meetings on improving the "accountability, effectiveness, and transparency" of charter schools across the state.

During DePasquale's first year in office, his staff released audit reports for more than 300 school entities, including charters. His office found several instances of administrative problems at charters and some improper state payments.

"We hope to use these public meetings to identify potential improvements to charter school oversight so we can be sure that Pennsylvanians are getting the best value for our tax dollars and that our children are receiving the best education possible," DePasquale said in a statement.

The state's 162 charter schools and 14 cyber-charter schools enroll 120,000 students; Philadelphia has 86 charters and three cyber schools.

Four two-hour meetings are scheduled to be held across the state in late February and early March.

The session for Southeastern Pennsylvania will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. March 7 at the Falls Township Administration Building, Suite 100, 188 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills.

Comments can be e-mailed to swoods@auditorgen.state.pa.us by Feb. 19.

The meetings come as the General Assembly considers several bills that would amend the 1997 charter school law.