Daily News Covers Conflicts Of Interest At Charter Schools

Today Bill Perkins is holding hearings on charter school oversight.

Charter proponents say they already have more oversight than regular public schools and should be left alone.

But as we have seen in Philadelphia where 13 charter schools have been investigated for criminal activity, fraud and corruption and 9 are being investigated by the US attorney's office, oversight often turns up funky things.

Here in NYC, the Daily News found lots of conflicts of interest at charter schools - things like principals hiring family members for services at the school and paying them hundreds of thousands of dollars - while pointing out that

Employees of public schools face penalties and suspension for even minor conflicts of interest, such as the teacher fined $1,250 last week for lending her parking permit to her husband.

But of course charter proponents continue to say NO outsight oversight is necessary.

It will stifle innovation.

If by innovation, they mean stealing, I think they're right.