Report puts focus on Minn. charter schools
by The Associated Press

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota charter schools are given wider latitude than traditional public schools. But a new audit is calling for tighter regulation when it comes to the schools' finances.

The Office of the Legislative Auditor is recommending that lawmakers and the Minnesota Department of Education impose additional controls on school operations.

Among the suggestions: Mandatory financial management training for charter school board members and a law change to remove a requirement that teachers make up a majority of a charter's board. The auditor says the teacher requirement poses a conflict of interest and sets Minnesota apart from all other states.

Education Department officials say they generally support the recommendations.

Charters are public schools run by parents and teachers and are designed to encourage innovation in education. Last school year there were 143 of them in the state.