investigating subsidized tutoring



Michael LaForgia
Tampa Bay Times


mlaforgia@tampabay.com
@laforgia_


STEP ONE: 

GET A LIST OF CONTRACTORS



FROM YOUR STATE'S ED DEPARTMENT


















OR FROM YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT




STEP two: 

figure out who'S GETTING PAID

bY SEARCHING CORPORATE RECORDS








(Be careful. Verify you're looking at the right business filings by cross-referencing with addresses, phone numbers and other information.)

(And be aware that the company you're searching for might be a fictitious name owned by another company or individual.)

By pulling state provider applications


Or by reading your district's
contract documents. 




Who's signing for the companies? 


STEP three: 

check them out

(get organized)



criminal records





Don't assume you won't find anything.






civil courts

(Both state and federal)


State educator certification data & district employee directories



Self-dealing? 

Keep an eye out for relatives of employees
running contracting companies.

state educator discipline records





STEP four: 

count the money

does your state keep a central list of payments to tutoring vendors?


if not, then do it the hard way

Go to individual school districts and ask for a breakdown
of payments by provider for a given time period.
Then build your own list. 

check state applications

Detailed financial information often included.

nonprofit? grab their 990s






STEP five: 

check the regulators

ask state ed department for: 


  • Lists of barred vendors. Have any reopened
    under new business names?
  • All complaints from parents, teachers, competitors and tutors, with records of any follow-up investigations. 
  • Lists of contract terminations, with reasons 
    for the termination.
  • Inspector general reports and audits.



ask your districts for:


  • Contract termination letters.
  • Auditor or inspector general reports.
  • District complaint files.





  • And that's it.