Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

A California charter school organization could see a criminal investigation after a state audit report released on June 13 of 2012 found evidence of illegal activities including financial fraud and conflicts of interest. The organization operates three American Indian public schools whose standardized test scores are among the highest in the state.

Sheila Jordan, who is the Alameda County Superintendent, urged Oakland Unified School District officials to consider revoking charters of the schools. Lumbee Indian Ben Chavis, who is the founder of American Indian Model Schools, refused to comment. There was also evidence of possible fraud by Chavis himself, along with his wife and their businesses.

Even though there was evidence of these crimes, the Oakland school board voted in favor to keep the schools open for the time being because they felt it would hurt the students.