Charter Pot o' Gold

Some things you may or may not know about charters:

1. Very few are started by actual teachers--those that are are started for a specific population --SPED students, processing students, extremely poor who spend from 6am until 11pm at school while their parents work.
2. As soon as the charter is approved the first check for $350,000.00 is cut and given to the charter school. No, I did not get those zeros wrong.
3. For 3 years, the charter will get $350,000.00 each year from the state as "start-up" money to be used for the building, furnishings, salaries.
4. In addition, the school gets FTE money just like any other district. They are paid only for those students that are present during "FTE week"--we all know what that is.
5. After Jan, they don't have to pay any of that FTE $ back if the student leaves the school
6. In order to remain solvent a school needs 100 students on average
7. There is more grant $out there that they can add to the pot
8. They have equal access to all district amenities--warehouse, free furniture, therapy services from the district, PD training for the staff, district copy center,etc
4. In addition, the school gets FTE money just like any other district. They are paid only for those students that are present during "FTE week"--we all know what that is.
5. After Jan, they don't have to pay any of that FTE $ back if the student leaves the school
6. In order to remain solvent a school needs 100 students on average
7. There is more grant $out there that they can add to the pot
8. They have equal access to all district amenities--warehouse, free furniture, therapy services from the district, PD training for the staff, district copy center,etc
The numbers are staggering to me--imagine if the district got that money for their schools...




Now my question is for those that close because they are not financially solvent--what the heck did they spend THAT kind of $ on?