NAACP calls for investigation of all Gulen Charter Schools

Did you know that Muhammed Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi (pictured), an Imam who exited Turkey and is sequestered in rural Pennsylvania, is operating the second largest affiliated network of charter schools in the United States? (Yes, this is the same Gülen that Michael Flynn allegedly was trying to have extradited from the United States)

In the past I have blogged about the Gülen-affiliated charter schools in the posts Bad Charters, Bad Charters, “Whatcha gonna do when they come for you” and Gulen-affiliated charter schools are bad apples? and Empire of Deceit says charters squandering taxes and violating immigration laws.

When I watched the film Killing Ed, I was skeptical, as I am paid to be. So when I was in Houston to give a talk at Rice University, I ran into a former Gülen Harmony student and asked a few questions.

Q: Was it true that the Gülen schools were populated with many teachers from Turkey who had difficulty speaking English

A: Yes

Q: Was it true that some students didn’t actually do their own science projects as alleged in the film Killing Ed.

A: Yes

I spent more time confirming with the student some of the other allegations about lack of playgrounds, self-dealing, and aberrant behavior from administrators. I was shocked their behavior was being allowed in Texas.

So, I am announcing today, in addition to getting the negative attention they deserve from law enforcement and the media, the California NAACP has now stepped up to the plate with a resolution to call for an investigation of ALL the Gülen charter schools.

RESOLUTION #16 CONCERNING THE IMPACT OF GÜLEN CHARTER SCHOOLS

WHEREAS, there exists over 200 schools in the United States operated by the Gülen Organization, teaching over 80,000 American students. This organization operates under the names Magnolia Science Academy (CA), Horizon Science Academy (OH , IL), Harmony Science Academy (TX), Sonoran Science Academy (AR), Coral Academy of Science (NV), Dove Science Academy (OK), as well as others.

WHEREAS, audits having been conducted in LAUSD, the State of Oklahoma, the State of Georgia (resulting in their closure), the State of New York, have resulted in a pattern of massive accounting irregularities involving without limitation the use of Gülen related landlords such as Terra (NY, NJ), the Sky Foundation (OK), Harmony Public Schools (TX), Concept Schools (IL, OH), the use of Gülen Related Management Companies such as Accord (CA), Concept Education Services (OH), Apple Education (NJ), Terra Science and Education (NY), as well as others.

WHEREAS, Gülen schools; such as Magnolia (CA) have targeted the African American and Hispanic communities as shown in the documentary film Killing Ed.

WHEREAS, all 200 Gülen schools recruit teachers from Turkey under the H – 1B Visa program thereby replacing fully qualified American teachers.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the California NAACP urges federal, state and local authorities to conduct forensic audits of both the schools, and the management organizations operating them.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the California NAACP further urges that these investigations be conducted by state and federal auditors as opposed to state boards of education, as well as other relevant investigations necessary to evaluate fully the apparent, suspect financial dealings, visa misuse, and highly suspicious conduct.

If you want to understand depth, breadth and shocking nature of the alleged malfeasance against Gülen-affiliated charter schools, I highly recommend you check out the film Killing Ed. (Also, check out the Empire of Deceit website) As shown in the film, the Gülen-affiliated charter schools are some of the worst proverbial bad apples in the charter sector.

What is really disconcerting about charter schools is that they stick together like glue no matter the malfeasance shown to them. They use their charter lobbying associations in California, Texas and elsewhere to fervently protect these bad apples regardless of alleged illegal activity. While charter schools, their leaders, and supporters say vehemently in public that they support transparency and accountability, the $$$$$$$ that they spend in legislatures says loudly otherwise.

Incidentally, one of the Gülen-affiliated Magnolia schools petitioning for re-authorization was rejected recently by the LA school board. Although, the LAUSD board did broker a political deal to allow many, many other charters through. However, in the past the LA County board has overruled LAUSD’s local-control to keep the “embattled” Magnolia.

Please stay tuned to Cloaking Inequity for the other education resolutions passed by the California NAACP. Also, here is another controversial resolution we passed at the convention— but right and important. California NAACP seeks to remove ‘Banner’ as anthem, supports Kaepernick

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Deep State Gives Muslim Turkish Cleric Fethullah Gulen US Schools

Experts warns Americans on dangers of FETO and Gulen operated charter schools

BOOK 

EMPIRE OF DECEIT can be purchased or downloaded from 

http://www.empireofdeceit.com

FILM 

KILLING ED

http://www.killinged.com 

U.S. experts have warned of growing threat posed by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in the country.

Turkey's Consulate General in Chicago hosted an event over the weekend, attended by Mark Hall, producer, screenwriter and director of the documentary ''Killing Ed'' and John Martin, a senior counsel for a law firm probing financial practices of FETÖ-linked charter schools in the U.S.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency after the event, Hall said he has been doing his research on the group's activities in the U.S. for more than half a decade.

According to the director, he heard about the July 15 defeated coup from news on television while he was in the process of filming a documentary and ''it was no surprise ''to him to learn that FETÖ'' was behind the coup attempt.

The documentary analyzed in detail the FETÖ’s activities in the U.S, Hall said.

He said the FETÖ's economic pool grows even bigger as the group operates 167 schools in the 26 states of the country.

Most of the Americans are unaware of the group and its activities, Hall said, adding if the U.S. would not put an end to the FETÖ’s activities, the group might pose a similar threat to America which Turkey is currently facing.

- Defeated coup

The FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Martin described the last year's coup attempt as a “great disappointment”.

He said the ongoing FETÖ’s activities in the U.S. pose a serious threat. The Gulen movement is very influential on politicians, local groups and authorities, the senior counsel added.

Amsterdam and Partners law firm has been retained by the Turkish government since at least December 2015 to investigate the FETÖ’s global operations, which include hundreds of educational institutes and businesses.

Umut Acar, Turkey’s consul general in Chicago, said that they were carrying out intensive works to inform American citizens about the FETÖ activities.

“Today’s event was part of these works. Today American speakers talked about FETÖ and corruption instances involving charter schools affiliated with this structure,” he said.

- Allegations of tax corruption

Acar said the allegations of tax corruption against the FETÖ-affiliated charter schools were also discussed in the event.

“We think that investigating such allegations is for the benefit of the U.S. citizens and government, which are very sensitive about tax issues,” he added.

Acar said the schools are serving as ''serious brainwashing centers.''

“American families should be very careful when sending their children to these schools,” he added.

The consul general said Turkey was expecting that those who are affiliated with this group would be extradited to Turkey.

Turkey has so far requested the extradition of more than 100 FETÖ-linked suspects from 40 countries, including the U.S. following the last year defeated coup, according to Turkish government figures.

There has been no progress on Turkey’s request to extradite Gülen.

https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2017/10/03/american-experts-warn-of-feto-as-threat-in-us

http://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/us-experts-warn-of-growing-feto-threat-2794854

Ex Gulen Charter School Student on Podcast "Stuff they Don't want you to know"

http://www.stufftheydontwantyoutoknow.com/podcasts/the-gulen-movement.htm

Robert Amsterdam Presents "Empire of Deceit: An Investigation into the Gulen Charter Schools

EMPIRE OF DECEIT book can be downloaded from website

http://www.empireofdeceit.com 

Magnolia Science Academy - A Gulen Charter School: Caprice Young and her Terrorist Gulen Schools care...

Magnolia Science Academy - A Gulen Charter School: Caprice Young and her Terrorist Gulen Schools care...: American charter schools have become embroiled in a proxy fight between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fethullah Gulen ...

Gulen Schools Investigation press conference Ohio 10/11/2016

Young Scholars of Pennsylvania - FBI Investigated wants accountability

STATE COLLEGE 

At least one local charter school leader is reminding the community that not all charter schools are bad.

It comes on the heels of a report the state Auditor General’s Office released Thursday afternoon regarding noted problems at some state charter schools including the misuse of taxpayer dollars.

THERE ARE GOOD CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THERE ARE BAD CHARTER SCHOOLS LIKE THERE ARE GOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL (DISTRICTS) AND BAD PUBLIC SCHOOL (DISTRICTS).

Levent Kaya, Young Scholars CEO

“There are good charter schools and there are bad charter schools like there are good public school (districts) and bad public school (districts),” Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School CEO Levent Kaya said. “I agree with the auditor general that we need a system in which public funds are spent in a responsible manner to the expenses that these funds are allocated for. We are all for transparency and accountability. We are upset to read such reports about charter schools, which gives all charter schools a bad reputation when, in fact, (a) majority of them work very hard to provide the best they can for the students.”

In the report, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale called out three schools, including the Beaver County-based PA Cyber Charter School that educates at least 77 students in Centre County. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS PAYTUITION PER STUDENT WHO ATTENDS A CHARTER SCHOOLCharter schools are funded through tuition paid for by local school districts that have students who live within their borders who attend the charterThe report also pointed out some charter schools that “had intermingled relationships that put individual self-interests above student needs while controlling hundreds of millions of taxpayer education funds from nearly every district in the state.”The goal for reform, DePasquale said, is to ensure education dollars help students learn, instead of help individuals profit.Charter school law reform, as presented by DePasquale, also includes improvement in accountability, effectiveness and transparency of charter schools, by creating an independent statewide charter school oversight board.

INTERESTINGLY, MOST OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS — PARTICULARLY THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS — THAT WE FOUND IN OUR AUDITS ARE PERMITTED UNDER THE CURRENT CHARTER SCHOOL LAW. THAT IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS, AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE NOW.

Eugene DePasquale, auditor general

“Interestingly, most of the serious problems — particularly those associated with the management company, lack of transparency and related-party transactions — that we found in our audits are permitted under the current charter school law,” DePasquale said in a statement. “That is beyond ridiculous, and it needs to change now.”

And some local public school district leaders are hoping charter school exposure by the state will help the community get a better understanding of the system and how it should change.

“The auditor general’s report on PA Cyber Charter School and other charter schools is disturbing because it shows that the state charter school law has permitted for-profit companies to misuse taxpayer dollars, as well as negatively impact the development of K-12 students,” State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell said in an emailed statement. “We hope that our community better understands the state’s charter law and how it gives neither local oversight nor control to the community. That is, the locally elected public school board does not have authority over or oversight of any cyber or brick-and-mortar charter school.”

But at the State College-based Young Scholars charter school, Kaya said they’re academically successful, financially sound, growing in enrollment and run by a board who Kaya said is “dedicated.”

WE ARE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDITS BY AN ACCOUNTING FIRM. OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS PRESENTED TO OUR BOARD IN ALL THE BOARD MEETINGS, REPORTED TO THE STATE, AND IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

Kaya

“We are required to conduct annual financial audits by an accounting firm,” Kaya said. “Our financial information is presented to our board in all the board meetings, reported to the state and is publicly available.”

In 2015, Young Scholars received $3,895,535 in total revenue.

Of the total revenue, Young Scholars sets aside 3 to 5 percent of the total budget for a “rainy day” fund balance used to help pay for projects like building expansions or emergency miscellaneous items, Kaya said.

That total averaged to $11,457.46 spent per student to educate them at Young Scholars, but in the same year, the school spent $3,530,299 — less than its revenue — which equaled $10,383.23 to educate per student.

Bald Eagle Area, in the 2015-16 school year, spent $11,877.77 for a regular ed student and $21,943.69 for a special education student to be educated by the district.

At Bellefonte Area, Director of Fiscal Affairs Ken Bean said the district spent an average of $16,936 per student last school year to educate at their district. That number includes special and regular ed students.

The cost of education per student is determined by individual district systems.

Bean said Bellefonte Area dishes about $12,000 for a regular ed student to attend a charter, and about $26,000 for a special education student to attend a charter school.

That amounted to more than $1.7 million in charter school costs last year, Bellefonte Area Superintendent Michelle Saylor said.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article103826406.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article103826406.html

In their own words: The Gulen Terror-Cult

8:15 American Teachers speak from documentary "Killing Ed"  http://www.killinged.com

Gulen Charter School Harmony Lubbock cheating scandal

Gulen Movement Charter schools -Shake Off Those Charter Chains!

Gulen Charter Schools in USA- Radical Imam Is Teaching At A School Near You!

Gulen Charter Schools USA- Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant For CIA backed U.S. - Based Cleric

Turkey Issues Arrest Warrant for CIA Protected Fethullah Gulen for Operating Terrorist Organization

An arrest warrant was issued by a Turkish court for U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, founder of the Gulen Movement schools and former ally, and now fierce critic, of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to the warrant, Gulen is accused of leading a criminal terrorist organization. The charges include operating an armed terror group, which includes a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, according to the Guardian. Istanbul Public Prosecutor Hasan Yilmaz said that there is "sufficient tangible evidence showing that Gulen committed a crime was collected during the investigation."

Turkish authorities are now appealing to Washington, D.C. to assist in extradition. Gulen came to the United States in 1999 due to health problems and has stayed in the United States after gaining his green card by convincing a federal judge that he was an influential education figure here.

I previously reported on Gulen-inspired charter schools, which use a tremendous amount of taxpayer money. Click here to read that story.

These charges stem from a string of orchestrated raids on media outlets with ties to Gulen. According to the Guardian, the warrant marks another escalation in the battle between Erdoğan and Gulen, whose movement, also known as Hizmet, has millions of followers worldwide.

Source

Editor's Note: Video recently surfaced of Gulen calling for jihadists to "explode" themselves "like a bomb against the US." Gulen is one of the most dangerous Islamists in the West.

Read more at http://freedomoutpost.com/2015/01/turkey-issues-arrest-warrant-cia-protected-fethullah-gulen-operating-terrorist-organization/#Y4KJHRTbqCZSsCSW.99