SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state’s largest charter-school chain improperly received about $790,000 in state funds when it enrolled more than 60 4-year-olds in kindergarten, according to the state’s charter school oversight agency. KUOW reports the agency referred the matter to the State Auditor’s Office for investigation, which could result in repayment of the funds. In Washington state, children must be 5 years old by Aug. 31 to start kindergarten in the fall. But Impact, the state’s largest charter-school chain, said it was within its rights to enroll underage children as “early entrance” kindergarteners after the state barred it from opening a planned pre-kindergarten program in fall 2020 at Salish Sea Elementary, then based in Tukwila.
Washington charter school under audit over state funding
