DeLaney passes amendment to expand charter school transparency

Monday, Jan. 29, State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) successfully amended House Bill 1243 to expand transparency for charter schools. The amendment requires charter schools to publicly disclose on their website whether there is a familial or business relationship between the school organizers, owner or operator and the owner of the building. 

“Charter schools are no longer tiny, experimental programs but are now multi-million dollar operations,” DeLaney said. “We recently saw three virtual charter school officials indicted for defrauding Hoosier taxpayers out of millions of dollars. It is clear that we need to tighten reporting requirements on the financial activities of charter schools. 

“Unelected authorizers have failed in their responsibility to supervise charter schools. We must require transparency so the public knows who is benefitting from rent for the buildings that charter schools are using. 

“This amendment is a step in the right direction to enact proper oversight of charter schools and to prevent future wrongdoing.