Posted on: Thursday, January 20, 2005

State audit faults law on charter schools

Advertiser Staff

Defects in the state's charter school law and a lack of oversight by the state Board of Education have contributed to management problems at Waters of Life, a Big Island charter school, according to a state audit.

The audit, released publicly yesterday, urges the state Legislature and the school board to create a panel that would recommend improvements to the law. It also recommends that Waters of Life, which serves 130 students from kindergarten through 12th grade from the Puna and Hilo areas, take "sweeping steps" to resolve its management and financial conditions.

As reported in The Advertiser last week, the audit found that the law is confusing and that its interpretation by the school board has led to a lack of accountability at the state's 27 charter schools.

Charter schools were created as alternatives to traditional public schools but have to meet the same academic standards. The schools, which are exempt from many state regulations, are governed by their own school boards.

Gov. Linda Lingle wants to increase a cap on the number of new start-up charter schools, but Democrats in the state Legislature have pointed to the audit as a reason to make sure adequate oversight is in place before any expansion.