Thanks to the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Marshall Service, the government has recovered over $4,443,755.69 from the former owners of a charter school in Houston who are now serving time for their crimes.  Yowza.  That’s a lot of money.  A bit over $600,000 of the recovered money will be distributed to the parents of students who were defrauded by the criminal activities of Mr. and Mrs. Cluff. She was the superintendent. He was facilities and operations manager. 

There are some really good, well operated charter schools. And then there are some like the Varnett Charter School, a criminal enterprise masquerading as a public school.  This case shows why regulation of charters is so important, and must be tightened up.  Some folks really believe that parents and students will be best served by the unfettered free market.  As this sad story illustrates, that’s just not true.  Competition is a good thing, but “unfettered” markets unfetter those who would defraud and steal. 

Let us pause a moment to honor the good work of the Justice Department, the federal courts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshall Service. But it’s a shame that any of that was necessary. 

DAWG BONE: SIGH. 

Tomorrow: Toolbox Tuesday!!