Colorado Charter Law Funds Religious Schools, Says Denver Newspaper

An investigation by the Denver Post has uncovered several examples of tax funds flowing to religious schools through Colorado’s charter school law.

The newspaper reported that Hope Co-Op Online Learning Academy, a charter school approved by the tiny Vilas School District two years ago, has established 81 learning centers across the state. About half of them are situated in houses of worship and religious schools.

The Post noted that at least 17 religious schools host Hope programs. At these programs, students work on computers for two hours a day and then attend classes at a religious school.

Throughout the state, Hope has subsidized classes at Islamic academies, Roman Catholic schools and Protestant institutions.

Colorado’s charter law allows districts to authorize charter schools, even if those schools are not geographically close. The Vilas School District in rural southeastern Colorado gets $5,865 for each Hope student it accepts. The district takes a cut of $550 per student and then passes the rest to Hope.

Critics say the scheme is ripe for abuse and that the arrangement with religious schools runs afoul of state law.

Colorado Department of Education Commissioner William Moloney told the Post that if taxpayer money is subsidizing religious academies “that would be across the line, no question.” But Moloney admitted, “We wish there was a clear bright line, but there isn’t.”

Moloney’s views were echoed by Vody Herrmann, Colorado Department of Education school finance director.

“If I could say everything is perfect and they’re doing everything according to the law,” observed Herrmann, “it would be great, but I can’t. The laws are very loose. The whole thing is rather loose.”

Technically, Hope officials are supposed to ensure that church-state separation is respected. A Hope staffer visits the computer labs every week to make sure students are doing secular work. But directors at the churches where Hope centers are located told the newspaper no one visits the actual classrooms.

Many of those classrooms are decorated with religious art and icons, and many students take part in chapel services and other religious activities with parental permission.

A Colorado senator, Sue Windels, has tried to bring some accountability to the system. Windels has twice proposed legislation that would regulate online schools but has failed. She calls the schools a “backdoor voucher proposal.” Windels has requested a state audit of all online schools in the state, which is due out this month.

At Crescent View Academy, an Islamic institution in Aurora, 132 out of 182 students participate in the Hope program. Principal Siham K. Elsegeiny said all students have chosen to participate in voluntary Islamic classes.

In 2004, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down a state voucher law, saying it violates provisions of the Colorado Constitution requiring local school boards to maintain control over school district funds.