Charter school under federal investigation caught charging illegal enrollment fees
07/18/2014

 

The Indiana Math and Science Academy charter school, which is currently under a federal investigation for ‘white collar’ crime, has been exposed for requiring students to pay a non-refundable enrollment fee.

 

Chalkbeat Indiana picks up the coverage.

 

An Indianapolis charter school system’s nonrefundable fee, due at the time of enrollment, has sparked questions from the mayor’s office and public education advocates who say it may violate the spirit of Indiana law requiring public charter schools to be free, open enrollment institutions.

 

An enrollment form for Indiana Math and Science Academy’s North campus states that a $25 nonrefundable fee, required before students can start classes, will go toward the school’s costs for classroom supplies.

 

Charter schools, like public schools, are not allowed to require enrollment fees of their students.

 

Early last month the charter school was raided by FBI agents who were witnessed removing several boxes of documents. The school is part of a network of 19 charter schools run by Concept Schools, Inc.,  a charter school management company based in Illinois.