HOUSTON – A Houston charter school system has more than doubled the dollar amount of certain fees collected since 2012, but there are questions about whether those fees were accurately represented to parents.
Channel 2 Investigates has learned the Texas Education Agency may still compel the successful charter school system to refund some of those collected fees.
[READ: KIPP student fees]
“It was definitely malicious how they presented these fees to the underserved community,” Cher Dawson, a KIPP parent said.
By law, Texas Charter Schools can collect certain fees for optional activities and materials, but it must be clearly denoted that the payments are not mandatory.
[READ: KIPP statement on optional school fees]
An investigation by the Texas Education Agency found that KIPP Sunnyside High School violated the Texas Education Code by presenting registration fees as mandatory, but in late 2016, the TEA did not order or recommend that parents be reimbursed.
[READ: KIPP Inc. Charter final report]
“We will not refund the money,” Sharon Simpson, KIPP Houston’s community liaison, told Channel 2 Investigates.
But the matter is not closed, according to TEA.
“TEA continues to be in discussion with the school concerning this matter,” DeEtta Culbertson, a TEA communications liaison, said via email.
Channel 2 Investigates found examples of unclear language regarding fees at two other KIPP Houston schools. One example was in a letter sent before the current school year.
Another letter that was sent to KIPP parents across the charter school system does appear to clarify the issue, but some parents believe the clarification came too late and refunds are due.
“We're going to get our money back and then some, because they're making me go through entirely too much,” Dawson said.
