April 27, 2020

The Honorable Betsy DeVos

Secretary
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary DeVos:

I write to express my concern over the administration of the 2020 Charter School Grants to
Charter Management Organizations (CMO) for the Replication and Expansion of High-Quality
Charter Schools Competition. Allegations of irregularities and possible improprieties have been
relayed to my office.
As you are aware from the Appropriations Committee hearing you appeared at less than two
months ago, I have previously expressed concerns about awards to CMOs with records of
mismanagement and misuse of public dollars – specifically, entities such as IDEA Public
Charter Schools which has received more than $100 million in awards from your agency.
Unfortunately, the allegations relayed to my office go beyond mere incompetence or the poor
policy decision-making that has embroiled the Department over the past three years. These
allegations cover conduct that may be violations of law. Therefore, I wish to know the
following:
1) Was any 2020 awardee initially ruled ineligible by any Department staff? If so, which
awardees and for what reasons?

2) If any 2020 awardee was initially ruled ineligible, but subsequently awarded a grant, was
a political appointee involved in the change of decision in any manner? If so, whom?

3) How many instances of changes in CMO eligibility determinations have occurred in the
past three years?

I request responses to these questions, as well as every communication to or by a Department

employee pertaining to the 2020 Charter School Grants to CMOs for the Replication and
Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools Competition, or any awardee, by May 8, 2020. The
House Appropriations Committee must be aware of any improprieties within the Department, or
this program, before considering fiscal year 2021 legislation.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Mark Pocan
Member of Congress

Cc: The Hon. Frank Brogran, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education
Mr. Christoper Rinkus, Deputy Asst. Secretary for Discretionary Grants and Support
Services
Ms. Ellen Safranek, Director of the Charter School Programs, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education
Ms. Sandra D. Bruce, Acting Inspector General, Department of Education Office of the
Inspector General
The Hon. Bobby Scott, Chairman, House Education and Labor Committee
The Hon. Virginia Fox, Ranking Member, House Education and Labor Committee
The Hon. Lamar Alexander, Chairman, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee
The Hon. Patty Murray, Ranking Member, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee