The audit says the Department of Education didn't verify that school-reported data used to calculate performance was reliable. It says the department couldn't prove that it comprehensively reviewed the legal obligations required of charter schools.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A new audit says the state education department had gaps in its monitoring of the academic performance of Louisiana's charter schools.
The review, released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office, looked at charter school monitoring activities during the 2011-12 budget year.
The audit says the Department of Education didn't verify that school-reported data used to calculate performance was reliable. It says the department couldn't prove that it comprehensively reviewed the legal obligations required of charter schools.
Auditors say the education department complied with requirements for monitoring the schools' financial performance.
In a written response, Superintendent of Education John White says the department uses the same data verification process for traditional public and charter schools. He says the department has updated its method for ensuring legal obligations are met.