My child was a student at the Gulen Harmony Science Academy School in Texas, we served on the Parent Association and were involved with many fundraisers. Gulen Charter School- We were very dedicated to this group until we realized there was more to these schools than just "education". Our posts are from actual news sources and government data such as IRS tax returns, H1-B Visa information and other documentation.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
KCBD INVESTIGATES: Did Gulen charter school administrator cheat students?
KCBD - TV NewsChannel 11
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Toll Free: 1-800-9-NEWS11
Officials with the Houston District office for Public Harmony Schools, head of the cluster of Texas charter schools, expressed they are actively working to get answers about the alleged grade changes. KCBD NewsChannel 11 is keeping the former administrator's name confidential, since the investigation is still pending and no charges have been filed. When we began our investigation, parents told us this former administrator was still employed at HAS, but parted ways last week. The district office said they are unable to confirm dates of when this investigation began or when this administrator ended her employment.
Public Harmony Schools Spokesperson Julie Shussler confirmed Monday the Harmony Science Academy administrator is no longer employed at the charter school.
"As a precautionary measure, we have taken additional steps to protect the integrity of the school's computer technology and grading system," Shussler said in a written statement.
KCBD NewsChannel 11 spoke with several parents who claimed they knew the former administrator changed grades to hurt some students academically, which they claim helped her own children to excel and graduate with honors.
Jeffrey Ramirez, who has 2 step-children who currently attend HAS, volunteered at the Charter school. Ramirez said despite his effort to help out, he noticed problems between students and school officials from the very start.
"Pretty much when I started volunteering there right off the bat, I started seeing all kinds of things like teachers mistreating the students, screaming at them," said Ramirez.
Ramirez said he was dismissed after he exposed several incidents to administrators, including a school official who he said changed grades.
Ramirez said he witnessed the administrator change grades with his own eyes and said it explains why her son graduated as valedictorian.
NewsChannel 11: "Do you think she's using that same system to hold other kids back?" Ramirez: "Yeah, in fact, I'm positive that she is. She has a problem with one of the parents because this parent does voice her concerns."
We met a few mothers who did voice their concerns. Although they did agree to an on-camera interview with NewsChannel 11, we respected their wishes and concealed their identity.
One of the mothers said she checked her daughter's grades through the school's online grade checking system. She checked it on a continual basis since she participated in an after school extracurricular activity and is a member of a club, which helps to provide a scholarship for college.
This mother noticed a drastic change in her daughter's grades over a 2-day period. She checked with her daughter's teachers. The teachers confirmed the grades in the system were not accurate.
Ramirez provided KCBD NewsChannel 11 a few text messages between him and the former administrator. According to the message provided, it read, "Please don't tell him (Principal Bayar) about me changing the grades over the summer. I don't want to get fired. If you keep my secret, I'll help you as much as I can."
Shussler provided the following statement in regards to the accusations of altering grades:
"The matter is under an ongoing investigation, which is not yet complete, and until it's complete we are not in a position to comment."
Harmony Science Academy declined our request for an on camera interview, due to the pending investigation.
We reached out to the Texas Education Agency to see if they had any insight about this particular investigation. TEA said this matter is considered an "internal investigation" and only involves the Houston-based district office.
NewsChannel 11 will continue to stay on top of this investigation. We will bring you the latest results as they become available.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Harmony Science Academy audit finds misspent funds
Gulen "Inspired" charter schools and their layers of Gulen NGOs like: Raindrop Turkish House, Grace Institute, Istanbul Center, Turquiose Council, East West Institute, Niagara Foundaton, Rumi Forum, and much more....have an elaborate scheme of money laundering among these groups and their businesses created to service the schools. Food Catering, Construction companies, janitorial business and much more. This money was intended for use to educate Special needs, handicapped and disabled children.
Abuse of Disabled, Handicapped and Special needs students contintue at the Gulen "Inspired" charter schools. Read here how the Minnesota School of Science (another GULEN school) threw out 40 special needs students. http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2012/07/24/cityview-leaves-north-minneapolis-special-education-students-behind
Auditors say funds misspent for Harmony campuses
By Lindsay Kastner
Updated 12:23 a.m., Tuesday, July 31, 2012
A months-long state audit of the Cosmos Foundation — which operates the Harmony network of charter schools — found $186,197 in misspent federal grant money intended to improve education for students with disabilities or those from low-income families.
Texas Education Agency auditors determined as “unallowable” 34 percent of expenses they examined, which is 16.1 percent of the total expenses associated with the grants, according to the report.
Cosmos could be required to pay back some or all of the money in question, TEA spokeswoman Suzanne Marchman said.
The audit, dated July 17 and released to the San Antonio Express-News on Monday in response to a public information request, was launched in October 2010. Marchman said she did not know what prompted the review.
Harmony Public Schools Superintendent Soner Tarim issued a statement that said the network had “implemented a range of accountability and transparency improvements to address the original issues highlighted by the TEA” while the audit was being conducted.
“We believe we have addressed those concerns effectively, and we are pleased that the TEA considers this audit closed,” the statement said.
He did not return a call seeking comment.
The swiftly growing charter network serves more students than any other such network in Texas, and last year, two Harmony schools were dubbed “miracle high schools” by Newsweek magazine.
Based on state test scores, Harmony schools are some of the highest rated in the state. Its two San Antonio campuses were rated “academically acceptable” in 2011, the most recent year available.
But the state's audit is not the only time the schools have come under scrutiny.
Founded by Turkish immigrants, the schools have become a lightning rod for criticism over murky ties to religious leader Fethullah Gulen, procurement practices that often favor other Turkish-run businesses with lucrative contracts, and the hiring of large numbers of foreign — often Turkish — employees on H1-B visas.
Supporters have condemned the criticism as little more than thinly-veiled xenophobia. But this year, the Republican Party of Texas included in its platform a statement about “foreign culture charter schools,” including a demand for U.S. citizenship of board trustees.
Last year, such concerns nearly caused a second special legislative session, until lawmakers agreed to launch a House investigation of all Texas charter schools.
“It's still an ongoing investigation for us. We haven't closed the books,” said Rep. Chuck Hopson, R-Jacksonville, chairman of the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee.
“It started out originally we were looking at some of the Turkish charter schools, and it's evolved from there,” he said.
The TEA audit did not evaluate Harmony's procurement practices or reliance on foreign workers, sticking instead to the organization's use of federal dollars awarded for two grant programs: Title I, Part A, for high-poverty schools, and IDEA-B, for students with disabilities.
In one instance, Title I money was spent at a noneligible campus. In another, the grant money was improperly used to cover payroll costs.
In response to a preliminary version of the audit released to Cosmos last year, the organization's attorney, Joseph Hoffer of San Antonio, issued a letter disagreeing with many of the state's findings.
“While Cosmos respectfully disagrees with the report's determination that it ‘misused' funds, Cosmos recognizes that the unparalleled success of its educational programs has fostered unprecedented growth and with it a need for constant introspection, self-evaluation and system improvements,” Hoffer wrote.
lkastner@express-news.net
Twitter: lkastner
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Students delight thousands in glorious Turkish Olympiads finale
Texas Harmony Science Academy students performed at this event. How many of them heard PM Erdogan invite Gulen back to Turkey? Any doubt now that your school is operated by Gulen followers you are kidding yourself.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Herenton Suspects Ulterior Motive with Lack of Charter Funds - Gulen Cha...
This is CLASSIC COMEDY.
Say "Good Bye" to Herenton
Although Herenton listed "Csomos Foundation" as his partner on the charter school applications, and "Harmony Schools" as a possible strategic partner Herenton is now denying any affiliations.
MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton won't be able to open several charter schools this coming year because the state ran out of money for his operations. The former mayor says one reason he thinks it happened is over allegations that a company he is considering working with has ties to a Turkish Islamic group.
Harmony Schools of Innovation operate charter schools in the southwest, and one in Memphis. There have been allegations over the years that they put money into the hands of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher who describes himself as a peaceful Muslim
But Herenton says one reason he thinks the state ran out of funding for his schools is because people in Nashville are linking Herenton with the Turk.
The man is an educator. It is how he started his professional career and it's how he's ending it.
"Very few people care about kids that are at the bottom," Herenton said. "I came from the bottom. I have a deep passion for helping these kids do better."
This is the reason Willie Herenton is working.
He's gone to the unified school board to get permits for charter schools, and was turned down along with a group of other charter applicants. He then went to the state and got his permits.
But while the other schools received start up money from Tennessee, when they got to the former mayor he was told, 'Sorry, we're out of money.'
"You know what this is really about? It's about power, control and money," he said.
Herenton isn't certain, but thinks the lack of money might be because of Harmony Schools.
It is headquartered in Texas; Harmony also operates one school in Tennessee. The group is controversial. Critics say they hire mostly Turkish teachers, buy Turkish furniture, and the money goes to support what is called the Gulen Movement. Gulen is what has been called a moderate form of Islam, with a goal of becoming world wide.
Critics say the followers are using Harmony Schools to get a foothold in the U.S. But, there has never been direct evidence linking the schools to the group, and the schools do not teach religion.
Herenton stated, "We do not have any relationship with Harmony. Harmony is mentioned as a potential strategic partner. I want to make a statement that from all ongoing research it is an outstanding charter managing organization."
Herenton said if he had ties to this group, which has been very successful in Texas, he wouldn't need the state's help for money. They'd fund the schools. But there is no relationship between the former mayor and Harmony Schools, so there is no money.
Harmony Schools of Innovation operate charter schools in the southwest, and one in Memphis. There have been allegations over the years that they put money into the hands of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher who describes himself as a peaceful Muslim
But Herenton says one reason he thinks the state ran out of funding for his schools is because people in Nashville are linking Herenton with the Turk.
The man is an educator. It is how he started his professional career and it's how he's ending it.
"Very few people care about kids that are at the bottom," Herenton said. "I came from the bottom. I have a deep passion for helping these kids do better."
This is the reason Willie Herenton is working.
He's gone to the unified school board to get permits for charter schools, and was turned down along with a group of other charter applicants. He then went to the state and got his permits.
But while the other schools received start up money from Tennessee, when they got to the former mayor he was told, 'Sorry, we're out of money.'
"You know what this is really about? It's about power, control and money," he said.
Herenton isn't certain, but thinks the lack of money might be because of Harmony Schools.
It is headquartered in Texas; Harmony also operates one school in Tennessee. The group is controversial. Critics say they hire mostly Turkish teachers, buy Turkish furniture, and the money goes to support what is called the Gulen Movement. Gulen is what has been called a moderate form of Islam, with a goal of becoming world wide.
Critics say the followers are using Harmony Schools to get a foothold in the U.S. But, there has never been direct evidence linking the schools to the group, and the schools do not teach religion.
Herenton stated, "We do not have any relationship with Harmony. Harmony is mentioned as a potential strategic partner. I want to make a statement that from all ongoing research it is an outstanding charter managing organization."
Herenton said if he had ties to this group, which has been very successful in Texas, he wouldn't need the state's help for money. They'd fund the schools. But there is no relationship between the former mayor and Harmony Schools, so there is no money.
Roland Wants Closer Look at Herenton's Charter Affiliations Gulen Charte...
MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton denies charges that his charter school group is affiliated in any way with a controversial organization from Turkey.
Harmony Schools is a Texas-based group that runs charter schools in several states. There have been allegations that Harmony is tied to an Islamic cleric who is trying to spread Islam into the U.S.
Harmony denies it, and Willie Herenton says they aren't working with him. Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland now says he wants to know the truth.
Nobody has ever connected Harmony Schools with the Islamic group headed by a man named Fethullah Gulen, but they do business with groups that the government says sends money to the Gulen groups.
Willie Herenton listed Harmony as a consultant when applying for charter schools. Terry Roland says he wants officials to look into everything.
It's a long way from terry Roland's tire store in Millington to Turkey. The Shelby County Commissioner says if there's a possibility of taxpayer money being spent improperly, he'll look into anything. Even a group that so far, has no official ties into supporting any Islamic movements.
"If there is any connection to the Islamic movement or if they're just taking our public dollars and using them wrong, we need to know that too," Roland said.
Harmony Schools operates one charter school in town already, located in a business park in southeast Memphis. They operate dozens of other schools across the country.
When former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announced that his group, the W.E.B. Du Bois Consortium of Schools, wanted to open charter schools, he listed Harmony as a consultant.
He said, "We do not have any financial, any contractual, any strategic relationship with Harmony, while I recognize they're a fine organization."
For Terry Roland, he wants an investigation and a closer look at the Herenton application.
"Mayor Herenton clearly stated that he just put it in there for fluff. Well, does that mean he falsified that application?" Roland asked. "Does that mean his charter application should be denied because of falsification of references?"
The former mayor says this whole fuss is about power, control and money, and says again, he is not involved with any deal with Harmony schools.
"We do not have any relationship with Harmony. Harmony is mentioned as a potential strategic partner. I want to make a statement that from all of my research it is an outstanding charter managing organization."
Roland wants to know why the state board of education approved the Herenton permits after they were refused by the school board.
What Roland didn't say, and maybe it's because he didn't know, is the school board denied all charter school applications this year for financial reasons.
After the state treasurer ruled against them, the state board of education approved all the charter school applications, including Willie Herenton's
Harmony Schools is a Texas-based group that runs charter schools in several states. There have been allegations that Harmony is tied to an Islamic cleric who is trying to spread Islam into the U.S.
Harmony denies it, and Willie Herenton says they aren't working with him. Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland now says he wants to know the truth.
Nobody has ever connected Harmony Schools with the Islamic group headed by a man named Fethullah Gulen, but they do business with groups that the government says sends money to the Gulen groups.
Willie Herenton listed Harmony as a consultant when applying for charter schools. Terry Roland says he wants officials to look into everything.
It's a long way from terry Roland's tire store in Millington to Turkey. The Shelby County Commissioner says if there's a possibility of taxpayer money being spent improperly, he'll look into anything. Even a group that so far, has no official ties into supporting any Islamic movements.
"If there is any connection to the Islamic movement or if they're just taking our public dollars and using them wrong, we need to know that too," Roland said.
Harmony Schools operates one charter school in town already, located in a business park in southeast Memphis. They operate dozens of other schools across the country.
When former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announced that his group, the W.E.B. Du Bois Consortium of Schools, wanted to open charter schools, he listed Harmony as a consultant.
He said, "We do not have any financial, any contractual, any strategic relationship with Harmony, while I recognize they're a fine organization."
For Terry Roland, he wants an investigation and a closer look at the Herenton application.
"Mayor Herenton clearly stated that he just put it in there for fluff. Well, does that mean he falsified that application?" Roland asked. "Does that mean his charter application should be denied because of falsification of references?"
The former mayor says this whole fuss is about power, control and money, and says again, he is not involved with any deal with Harmony schools.
"We do not have any relationship with Harmony. Harmony is mentioned as a potential strategic partner. I want to make a statement that from all of my research it is an outstanding charter managing organization."
Roland wants to know why the state board of education approved the Herenton permits after they were refused by the school board.
What Roland didn't say, and maybe it's because he didn't know, is the school board denied all charter school applications this year for financial reasons.
After the state treasurer ruled against them, the state board of education approved all the charter school applications, including Willie Herenton's
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