LAUSD Steps Up Oversight Of Stumbling Charters

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Unified School District has stepped up its oversight of charter schools in the wake of a rash of problems at the publicly funded, independent schools.

Over the past year, LAUSD, which hosts the most charter schools of any district in the nation -- 183 currently, with roughly another 20 slated to open in the fall, has had to deal with financial mismanagement at ICEF Public Schools and a test cheating scandal at Crescendo Schools.

That's in addition to the former principal at the New Academy Canoga Park being sent to prison for embezzlement.

Earlier this year, the district also closed another charter -- Cornerstone Prep Academy -- for a poor academic record.

The district has now increased its scrutiny of charters' finances and academics.

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