Lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the charter network that wants to take over the Shreveport school

Dan Jovic and Matthew Stephens

12 minutes ago

TEXAS (KTAL/KMSS) – A Texas lawmaker is calling for an investigation into a charter school network that plans to take over a Shreveport school amid allegations of misusing taxpayer funds.

Third Future operates 11 charter schools in Colorado, Texas and Louisiana and is expected to take over Fair Park Middle School in Shreveport after the Caddo Parish School Board recently voted to convert Fair Park Middle into a charter school operated by Third Future.

Texas Representative Ana Hernandez is asking the Texas Education Agency to investigate allegations that Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles used Texas tax dollars to pay off debt at Third Future schools in Colorado.

The report claims that 10 million public tax dollars were spent on administrative costs and services in 2023, including paying off debt at Third Future schools in Colorado.

State Education Secretary Cade Brumley pushed for the plan, saying the third future has shown great academic success at her other school in Louisiana, Prescott Academy in Baton Rouge.

In response to the allegations, Third Future issued the following statement:

Given the recent media coverage of Third Future Schools, we would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight.

No Texas funds have ever been redirected to subsidize schools in Colorado. Such an action would be a direct violation of our strict financial protocols. Each of our state networks oversees funding for that state and they do not move from one state to another.

Because our principal office is located in Colorado, most checks and invoices are mailed to that location and then deposited into separate bank accounts. Each school has its own bank account. A check destined for a school in Texas may arrive in Colorado but is immediately deposited into that school’s bank account in Texas.

Some of the confusion in the media coverage stems from the fact that the network organization charges administrative fees to all schools to provide centralized support services such as payroll, accounting, human resources and school leadership. This is common practice in such partnerships.

Third Future Schools conducts annual independent audits to ensure financial accountability and transparency. All of our audits were clean – the highest standard that can be achieved in public accounting.”

Third future

Superintendent Brumley and Caddo Schools did not respond to requests for comment.