Jul 19, 2008 1:23 pm US/Central
After-School Programs Squander State Cash
CHICAGO (AP) ―
Illinois distributed $4.7 million in after-school grants this year, but a newspaper investigation has found that many of the recipients either weren't doing what they'd promised, or worse, weren't doing much at all.
Stories in Sunday's editions of the Chicago Tribune detail how money has been misspent and mismanaged by some of the 48 recipients who received $20,000 grants to run their programs.
While a dozen of the grants went to established programs with a track record of tutoring or mentoring children, about half of the sites ran questionable programs or declined to show how the money was spent.
Some recipients got cash for their educational programs despite misspellings on their grant applications, including promising to provide "fluenty in speaking."
At others, no program existed. Tribune reporters visited one site, Children at Risk, eight times in May and June and never found anyone there. Director Anthony Johnson said the program was "in flux" and that he runs it when he can.
Another recipient got money to teach children how their destiny is influenced by their name and birth date.
State Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, sponsored 44 of the 48 programs reviewed. Of those grants, 21 went to people who campaigned for Hendon or donated to his campaign. Hendon said his supporters and donors just happened to apply for the grants.
"I'm equal opportunity," he said. "I'll consider anyone for a grant."
He said he approves about 75 percent of the applications he receives, requiring only that the applicants be registered with the Secretary of State's office -- and that they remember the "e" in his first name, Rickey.
The state Board of Education has been awarding the after-school grants for three years, and the program was developed through a deal between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and several Senate Democrats.
The board has acknowledged that it doesn't have the resources to vet the grant applicants, some of whom employ convicted felons, including one murderer. The grant agreement prohibits such felons from working with children, and the state could seek repayment of the $20,000.
The grants are being awarded to the programs, some of them questionable, even as schools themselves are facing funding cuts.
"I'm not knocking anyone's program," said Shirley Ewings, principal at Beidler Elementary. "But I would love to have another $20,000 to buy musical instruments for our students who can't afford them, or add more after-school arts programs."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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