Two schools among the 19 founding members of the organization, Northwood Academy and New Foundations, have been the subject of investigations.
The Inquirer has reported that federal authorities are probing real-estate dealings involving Northwood, a K-8 school, at two locations: Castor Avenue and Orthodox Street, and Penn and Church streets.
Northwood was founded by Brien Gardiner, 64, who committed suicide in May 2009 amid reports that indictments were imminent regarding financial dealings at the Philadelphia Academy Charter School, another school Gardiner founded. Two former officials of Philadelphia Academy pleaded guilty to fraud charges and were sentenced to federal prison last October. Northwood changed its board of directors and cut ties to Gardiner and his associates during the investigation.
And earlier this year, City Controller Alan Butkovitz issued a report citing questionable financial dealings at 13 charter schools and noted several cases in which the charters leased or rented facilities from related nonprofit organizations. Among the schools cited was New Foundations, founded in 2000 by Sheryl Perzel, wife of Republican state Rep. John Perzel, R-Northeast.
New Foundations is on Torresdale Avenue near Rhawn Street. Sheryl Perzel sat on the school's board for many years, but her name is no longer on the school's Web site.
As part of its mission statement, Philadelphia Charters for Excellence said its members must "Comply with the Conflicts of Interest Policy under the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act and the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Act and Ensure that the CEO and Principal are accountable."
Booker said all of the founding members have pledged to operate by ethical standards.
As for Butkovitz's report, Booker said her group isn't "here to decide the guilt or innocence of any school."
Despite negative reports about investigations into charter schools, Booker pointed to a Pew Charitable Trusts' Philadelphia Research Initiative study this year. It found that 62 percent of parents of children in the city's public schools have considered enrolling their children in charter schools.
"But there's a waiting list of over 30,000 students," Booker said. "Overall, the charter schools have moved in a very positive direction for people who want to educate their children and have school choice."
