A recent audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor has raised serious allegations against Chakesha Scott, CEO of the charter school nonprofit Education Explosion.
The audit accuses her of misusing more than $2 million in public funds for personal expenses.
However, Scott and her school vehemently dispute the findings, setting the stage for a legal battle over the legitimacy of the report.
What the Audit Found
The audit alleges that Scott transferred over $1.5 million of Education Explosion’s funds into a separate account under the name of Friends of Impact Charter School (FICS), an entity not controlled by the school.
Additional findings claim:
- $171,659 was diverted to a third party from the FICS account.
- $221,506 in student and parent payments were funneled into unauthorized accounts.
- $71,487 in cash collected by the school was never deposited.
The report also details extravagant personal spending, including:
- At least $130,494 charged to an Education Explosion credit card for Scott’s family trips to Egypt, Disneyland Paris, and other destinations.
- $166,520 in school funds used to lease or purchase a 2017 Acura MDX and a 2021 Land Rover Velar over several years.
- A $42,371 withdrawal from FICS to purchase a Tesla Model S from NOLA Motorcars.
- Purchases of Louis Vuitton designer bags.
The audit summary states that Scott’s alleged actions may have violated the Louisiana Constitution and state and federal law.
School Leaders Push Back
Impact Charter Schools and Scott have forcefully denied the allegations, arguing that all financial transactions were board-approved, legally compliant, and fully documented.
“The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report contains misleading and inaccurate claims that misrepresent the reality of our school’s operations and financial integrity,” a statement from the school said.
It further argued that the audit was not a formal financial review and failed to meet standard auditing procedures.
Education Explosion also announced plans to take legal action against the auditor, claiming the report contained factual inaccuracies despite providing counter-evidence.
What’s Next?
With the audit findings in dispute and legal challenges looming, the case has sparked broader questions about financial oversight in Louisiana’s charter school system.
Since 99% of Education Explosion’s funding comes from public sources, any misuse of funds could have significant legal and regulatory consequences.
The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office has not commented on the school’s objections, and no formal criminal charges have been announced against Scott as of now.
The situation continues to unfold, with potential legal and financial repercussions for all parties involved.
