How charter and tribal schools fare under public audit

Published: May 3, 2022

Just like established public schools, charter and tribal schools are subject to public audit. In the 2020-21 school year, Washington’s charter and tribal schools served more than 5,600 students. SAO audits the public funding that each type of school receives.

Recent audits of tribal schools have found that they keep records to support revenue and expenditures, and that they have quickly implemented audit recommendations.

Charter schools in Washington began serving students in the 2014-15 school year. Recent audits of charter schools have found that school personnel are still learning about Washington’s legal requirements. Seven new charter schools have opened for the 2021-22 school year. Based on SAO audits, some key areas of continued focus for the charter schools include:

• Documenting and reporting requirements for student enrollment
• Keeping straightforward records to show schools are separating public and private transactions and maintaining supporting documentation
• Identifying public assets and tracking them
• Following meeting requirements under the Open Public Meetings Act, including maintaining meeting minutes, and approving expenditures in a timely manner
• Employing Washington certificated instructors and ensuring they are keeping their certifications current

SAO continues to encourage charter schools to work closely with their authorizer to ensure they comply with their charter contracts and receive relevant guidance to comply with Washington laws.

CHARTER SCHOOLS, AT A GLANCE: 2020-21 school year: 12 charter schools served 3,640 students

School locations	Location	Grades	Students
Green Dot Rainier Valley Leadership Academy	Seattle	6th – 11th	164
PRIDE Prep	Spokane	6th – 12th	704
Rainier Prep	Seattle	5th – 8th	344
Spokane International Academy	Spokane	K – 8th	599
Summit Schools Olympus	Tacoma	9th – 12th	196
Summit Schools Sierra	Seattle	9th – 12th	375
Summit Schools Atlas	Seattle	6th – 12th	465
Innovation (Willow) Public Schools	Walla Walla	6th – 8th	56
Impact Public Schools-Puget Sound Elementary	Tukwila	K – 3rd	409
Impact Public Schools-Salish Sea Elementary	Seattle	K – 1st	125
Lumen High School	Spokane	9th – 12th	37
Catalyst Public Schools	Bremerton	K – 1st, 5th – 6th	166

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TRIBAL SCHOOLS, AT A GLANCE: 2020-21 school year: 7 tribal schools served 1,997 students

School locations	Location	Grades	Students
Chief Kitsap Academy	Suquamish Tribe, Suquamish	6th – 12th	89
Chief Leschi Schools	Puyallup Tribe, Puyallup	K -12th	556
Lummi Nation Schools	Lummi Nation, Bellingham	K – 12th	398
Muckleshoot Tribal School	Muckleshoot Tribe, Auburn	K – 12th	556
Quileute Tribal School	Quileute Tribe, La Push	K – 12th	130
Wa He Lut Indian School	Olympia	K – 8th	140
Yakama Nation Tribal School	Yakama Nation, Toppenish	8th – 12th	128