Charter school halts 'incentive' vouchers

About a dozen parents whose children attend Spectrum Academy got some extra cash as incentive to enroll their children at the North Salt Lake charter this fall — $1,000 each, to be exact.

Excel Education Group leaders called the money an education voucher and gave parents suggested uses for it but stopped the practice after state charter leaders expressed disapproval.

"The minute we heard, we asked them to stop," said State Charter director John Broberg. "It's not illegal, but it's a concern as far as long-term consequences."

Officials from Excel Education Group, a charter management company in Salt Lake City that formerly managed Spectrum, said the measure was aimed at increasing enrollment numbers to a level at which the school would be sustainable.

Spectrum Academy opened this fall and targets students with high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome. Neurotypical — or non-autistic — students are also enrolled.

As the first school of its kind in the state, Spectrum initially garnered a lot of interest after the state approved its charter. But when construction issues delayed the school's opening date, enrollment numbers dropped.

That's when Excel started offering the cash incentive to boost enrollment, said Tom Pitcher, president of Excel.

"The idea was to get enrollment up so that they could afford rent on the building ... and it was a way to provide parents with transportation money," Pitcher said.

Spectrum officials said they have students attending the school from as far away as Brigham City, Tooele and Lehi. Excel suggested to parents that the voucher be used for travel costs.

State charter leaders said that since the money was given by a private company, they have no control over the issue. But they advised against the practice because of fairness concerns.

"What about those who didn't get the money, is that fair?" Broberg asked. "Schools should be doing best practice. That certainly is not best practice, in my opinion."

"I guess I am old school — but this just doesn't have a place in public education," said Steve Winitzky, director of the Technical Assistance Project for Utah charter schools.

Pitcher, whose company manages four charter schools in the state, said Excel has no plans to offer education vouchers in the future.

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