Kasich Campaign Hit By Charter School Data Rigging Scandal

Kasich Campaign Hit By Charter School Data Rigging Scandal

by Dr. Susan Berry 5 Sep 2015

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/09/05/kasich-campaign-hit-by-charter-school-data-rigging-scandal/

Newly-released documents indicate that the husband of Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s presidential campaign manager participated with other Ohio Department of Education (ODE) staff in a coordinated effort to falsely inflate the evaluations of some charter school sponsors.

In July, former state Department of Education Director of School Choice David Hansen – husband of Beth Hansen, Kasich’s former chief of staff in the governor’s office and now his presidential campaign manager – resigned after admitting he manipulated evaluations of some charter sponsors, reports the Columbus Dispatch. The data rigging allowed the sponsors of poor-performing online schools to appear to be engaged in adequate supervision of those schools.

State Superintendent of Schools Richard Ross said the records show that neither he nor Kasich had any involvement in the data manipulation. The Dispatch, however, reports “emails show that some outside the department were asking for explanations.”

“We had a breakdown in our system which undermined the progress we were making in holding charter schools accountable,” Ross said. “Excluding e-schools didn’t cross my mind. It’s not what I believe; not what I’m about.”

Hansen, whose position was created in 2013 by Kasich to oversee the expansion of charter schools in the state, told the Associated Press that the state law pertaining to the evaluation of Ohio’s charter schools was “not a model of clarity.”

“I certainly believed that I was acting in good faith and that the design created a reasonable and workable reporting process which was consistent with the goal of the statute as I understood it,” he said. “Suggestions that my design was somehow ‘illegal’ ignore the ambiguity in the statute and the design’s goal of accurately evaluating Ohio’s charter sector.”

The controversy comes at a time when Ohio’s charter schools are under significant scrutiny, with problems of attendance and accountability surrounding the schools that are billed as an alternative to public schools.

And Hansen himself is not new to data rigging.

As Ohio Political blog Plunderbund reports, in 2009, while Hansen was president of the Buckeye Institute, he was also caught manipulating data about Ohio’s charter schools, yet was still chosen to be school choice director in 2013. Many of the schools involved were owned and operated by for-profit company White Hat Management, which itself is owned by David Brennan, a big donor – through his family’s foundation – to the Institute, to the Republican Party, and to Kasich’s campaign in Ohio.

Some state lawmakers and members of the state school board have recommended an independent investigation into the matter, particularly with some charging Hansen’s manipulations were meant to benefit Republican donors invested in charter schools and seeking high performance evaluations.

On Thursday, Kasich said he stood behind Ross.

“We will find out exactly what was involved in what he (Hansen) was doing and why he was doing it,” the governor said. “But we want top-rated, high-profile charter schools. And when we thought that the numbers weren’t right, Dick Ross talked to him and he no longer works for the state.”

In a review of the documents, Plunderbund reported, “Hansen was actively communicating with representatives of charter school sponsors who would eventually benefit from his data manipulation.”

“It also shows that ODE staff members intentionally avoided sharing the manipulated calculations via printouts or email, potentially shielding those calculations from public records requests,” the blog added.

In 2013, when Kasich created Hansen’s new position as state school choice director, current GOP presidential contender and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush visited Ohio Republican leaders to discuss education policy and attend a GOP fundraiser.

Bush, the founder and then-chairman of the Foundation for Excellence in Education (FEE), was in Ohio to push his national education reform agenda, reported State Impact, which consists of six main agenda items, one of which is “adding charter schools, private school vouchers (since struck down by a court) and online schools to offer parents more choices.”

Additionally, both Bush and Kasich have been avid champions of the Common Core Standards.

“If those policies sound familiar, it’s because Ohio GOP leadership has successfully pursued similar policies,” says State Impact. “In fact, officials from Bush’s foundation have traveled to Ohio several times in the past couple years to lobby for those policies.”

Since Bush’s visit, Ohio’s legislature has raised limits on online charter schools and repeatedly expanded the state’s private-school voucher programs.

Bush’s interest in expanding charter schools in Florida came under scrutiny in September of 2014, when the St. Augustine Record reported that the St. John’s County School District found numerous “errors” in the charter application of New World Academy.

“I think we identified a number of errors in the application because it was a generic application that was applied to seven different districts,” said Tim Egnor, executive director for curriculum services for the school district. “The numbers for enrollment didn’t make sense, the budget aspects didn’t make sense, and so now we see that those projections were probably for larger counties.”

Additionally, district officials questioned a possible conflict of interest with corporations that were involved in New World Academy’s application process. Ultimately, the officials were unsure of who was backing the charter school’s application.

According to the Record, Stephanie Velez, manager of operations for InterVisual Technology (IVTI), had been appointed a board member of New World. IVTI is a nationally accredited private school based in Florida with a physical campus – American High School – located in Fort Lauderdale. One of IVTI’s supporters and board advisors was John Ellis “Jeb” Bush, Jr., the former governor’s son, who enabled the school to establish vigorous business relationships, networks for investment and real estate opportunities.

In 2013 as well, former Florida schools superintendent Tony Bennett resigned after the Associated Press reported that it had acquired e-mails written by Bennett in 2012, while he was running Indiana’s schools. As the Washington Post reported, in the e-mails Bennett directed his staff to alter the state evaluation grade for Christel House Academy, a charter school that was founded by Christel DeHaan, who has donated more than $2.8 million to Republicans since 1998, including $130,000 to Bennett.

John Kasich

John R. Kasich is a presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential election, and was a frequent contributor for Fox News.

Note: Media Matters monitors Fox News.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for Media Matters, the Robin Hood Foundation, the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a partner with Rocketship Education.

Sheryl K. Sandberg was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a funder for Rocketship Education.

Charter School Growth Fund was a lender for the Rocketship Education.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Arizona Charter Schools Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Association of Missouri Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the California Charter Schools Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Georgia Charter Schools Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Institute for Innovation of Public School Choice.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Milwaukee Charter School Advocates.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the New York Charter Schools Association, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the New York Charter Schools Association, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the New York Charter Schools Association, and the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was a funder for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Newark Charter School Fund.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Northeast Charter Schools Network.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Pacific Charter School Development.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Success Academy Charter Schools.

Success Academy Charter Schools is an organization for the charter schools.

Daniel S. Loeb is the chairman for the Success Academy Charter Schools, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Clifford S. Asness supported same-sex marriage in New York, and a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Tennessee Charter Schools Association.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Texas Charter Schools Association.  

James M. Walton is a director at the Walton Family Foundation, an emeritus life trustee at the Carnegie Mellon University, a trustee emeritus for the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and the vice chairman for the Heinz Endowments.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an emeritus life trustee at the Carnegie Mellon University, a trustee emeritus for the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the chair for Heinz Endowments, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and married to John F. Kerry.

Andrew Carnegie was the endowed predecessor schools for the Carnegie Mellon University, the founder of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Heinz Endowments was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Charter School Growth Fund, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and Achieve Inc.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Charter School Growth Fund, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Jessica Tuchman Mathews was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982

(The investigation into the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population control by involving the United States in war)

http://www.illuminati-news.com/110106a.htm 

He shows us that the Carnegie Endowment, the Ford Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation joined together to alter American history and take over the whole education system in America, so the children can be indoctrinated into accepting a World Government.

We are now at the year 1908, which was the year that the Carnegie Foundation began operations. In that year, the trustees, meeting for the first time, raised a specific question, which they discussed throughout the balance of the year in a very learned fashion. The question is: “Is there any means known more effective than war, assuming you wish to alter the life of an entire people?” And they conclude that no more effective means than war to that end is known to humanity.
        So then, in 1909, they raised the second question and discussed it, namely: “How do we involve the United States in a war?”
        Well, I doubt at that time if there was any subject more removed from the thinking of most of the people of this country than its involvement in a war. There were intermittent shows in the Balkans, but I doubt very much if many people even knew where the Balkans were. Then, finally, they answered that question as follows: “We must control the State Department.” That very naturally raises the question of how do we do that? And they answer it by saying: “We must take over and control the diplomatic machinery of this country.” And, finally, they resolve to aim at that as an objective.
        Then time passes, and we are eventually in a war, which would be World War I. At that time they record on their minutes a shocking report in which they dispatched to President Wilson a telegram, cautioning him to see that the war does not end too quickly.

John F. Kerry is the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration, married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Cameron F. Kerry’s brother.

Cameron F. Kerry is John F. Kerry’s brother, and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Diane S. Ravitch was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, and is a Common Core educational standards critic.

Race to the Top is a grant program for the U.S. Department of Education, and encourages the adoption of the Common Core educational standards.

Achieve Inc. helped develop the Common Core educational standards.

Michael Cohen is the president of Achieve Inc., and was the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for Achieve Inc, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the Charter School Growth Fund.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the Charter School Growth Fund.

Newton N. Minow was an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.                    

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Mark A. Angelson was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a trustee at the Institute of International Education.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.  

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and her great uncle is Vernon E. Jordan Jr.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Donald F. McHenry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a trustee at the Institute of International Education.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a trustee at the Institute of International Education, Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Linda Vester is a trustee at the Institute of International Education, and was an anchor for Fox News.

Media Matters monitors Fox News.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), Media Matters, and the NPR.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a benefactor for the NPR.

John R. Kasich was a frequent contributor for Fox News, and is a presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential election.

Juan Williams is a host for Fox News, and was a senior news analyst for the NPR.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the NPR, the Achievement First, the Arizona Charter Schools Association, the Association of Missouri Charter Schools, the California Charter Schools Association, the Georgia Charter Schools Association, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, the Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association, the New York Charter Schools Association, the Newark Charter School Fund, the Northeast Charter Schools Network, the Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools, the Pacific Charter School Development, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, the Success Academy Charter Schools, the Tennessee Charter Schools Association, the Texas Charter Schools Association, the Charter School Growth Fund, and is a partner with the Rocketship Education.

Charter School Growth Fund was a lender for the Rocketship Education.

Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation was a funder for the Charter School Growth Fund, Rocketship Education, Achievement First, the California Charter Schools Association, the Pacific Charter School Development, the Success Academy Charter Schools, and  the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Daniel S. Loeb is the chairman for the Success Academy Charter Schools, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Clifford S. Asness supported same-sex marriage in New York, and a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First, and the Success Academy Charter Schools.

Success Academy Charter Schools is an organization for the charter schools.

Kevin Hall is a director at the Success Academy Charter Schools, the president & CEO for the Charter School Growth Fund, a director at the Pacific Charter School Development, and was the coo for the Broad Foundations.

Broad Foundations is an affiliated foundation with the Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation, and a partner with the Rocketship Education.

Eli Broad is a co-founder for the Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation, and was a contributor for the Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools.

Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools is a charter school organization.

William H. Gates III was a contributor for the Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools, and is a co-chair for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the New York Charter Schools Association, and the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was a funder for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Robin Hood Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Achievement First.

Anne C. Dinning is a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and was a contributor for the Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools.

Clifford S. Asness a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Daniel S. Loeb supported same-sex marriage in New York, and is the chairman for the Success Academy Charter Schools.

Success Academy Charter Schools is an organization for the charter schools.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Success Academy Charter Schools, and the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Jeb Bush is the chairman for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a supporter for the Common Core educational standards, a presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential election, and was a Bradley Prize recipient from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.

Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation was a funder for the Charter School Growth Fund.  

Charter School Growth Fund is a charter school organization.

Walton Family Foundation was a funder for the Charter School Growth Fund.

Alice L. Walton is a director at the Walton Family Foundation, was a contributor for the Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools, and a major donor for the American Federation for Children Action Fund.

Jim C. Walton is a director at the Walton Family Foundation, and was a major donor for the American Federation for Children Action Fund.

David L. Brennan was a major donor for the American Federation for Children Action Fund, and is the founder of White Hat Management.

White Hat Management is a charter school organization.