12/11/2023 0 Comments Torchlight academy newsMcQueen said parents don’t ask if the school is in compliance with state and federal laws when they enroll their children. “Based on that fact alone, we should have common ground to find a way to rectify whatever is wrong.” “How will our children benefit? How does our community benefit? How does our future benefit in the Black and Brown community by closing a school that has exceeded growth for the last four years?” McQueen asked. On Monday, McQueen acknowledged that mistakes were made, but said the nearly 600 Black and Hispanic children in grades K-8 the school serves will be harmed if the school is closed. “So, we have a financial statewide obligation that could impact us if we are not vigilant.” “If we are in violation of not ensuring that a school or a district is providing a free and appropriate public education, then our federal dollars can be delayed, they can be reduced, they can be pulled back,” Thomas said. Sherry Thomas, director of the Exceptional Children’s Division at the State Department of Public Instruction, told the CSAB last month that the federal money must be used as intended. The grant provides federal funding to ensure free and appropriate education is provided to students with special needs at no cost to parents. Torchlight is also being scrutinized for its handling and reporting of grant funds received under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Generally, educators must meet with parents and submit new data before IEP changes are made. IEP’s are required to ensure students with disabilities receive specialized instruction and related services. The questionable record changes made by Andrews had the effect of making old student IEP’s look like new ones. She reportedly remains employed by the school as a special education teacher. Some Charter Board members contend Andrews was not qualified to hold the management-level position for which she was reportedly paid $65,000 a year. Torchlight’s Exceptional Children program was under the leadership of McQueen’s daughter, Shawntrice Andrews when the violations occurred. An IEP ensures students with disabilities receive specialized instruction and related services. McQueen has been dogged by claims that students’ Individualized Education Program (IEPs) documents were altered in a student data management system monitored by the state. Three Rivers Academy, a Bertie County charter school managed by McQueen, has been ordered closed by the SBE because of fiscal and operational shortcomings. Raleigh businessman Don McQueen operates the for-profit education management organization (EMO) that manages Torchlight Academy. “The fiscal management and operations, they’ve got issues, they’ve got serious issues, and the issues escalated to the place that they became a threat to the entire state of North Carolina in terms of funding from the federal government,” Turner said. The State Board generally follows CSAB recommendations.ĭespite its academic successes, CSAB Chairwoman Cheryl Turner said the missteps at Torchlight threatened federal school funding for the entire state. The State Board of Education (SBE) is expected to consider the recommendation when it meets on Thursday. The Charter School Advisory Board (CSAB) on Monday recommended that Torchlight Academy be closed due to glaring “conflicts of interests” and a pattern of “self-dealing” by the school’s management firm, Torchlight Academy Schools LLC.
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