Education Advocacy Group Calls For Charges in Department of Education Disney World Trip Case
Earlier this week, we brought you the story of six Department of Education employees who were accused of forging documents to take their own kids on trips meant for homeless students.
As a quick reminder, Linda M. Wilson, a Queens supervisor of the Department of Education’s Students in Temporary Housing program, allegedly spearheaded the scheme.
According to a New York Post report, Wilson would decide which staff members could attend a trip. She would then assign students to each chaperone and fill the assigned sports with the children of staff members.
To carry out their plot, Wilson and other Department of Education officials used the names of homeless students and forged parents’ signatures.
Eventually, the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools uncovered the fraud.
No Charges Were Initially Filed
In spite of her alleged misdeeds, the Department of Education did not terminate Wilson. Instead, she retired.
Photo: 19 News
Perhaps even more shockingly, no one involved in the scheme was prosecuted, as there was reportedly a “lack of available documentation.”
Increased Calls For a Department of Education Probe
However, just days after the scandal came to light, an education advocate group is urging authorities to consider criminal charges.
“This appears to be a criminal use of federal funds for homeless students, involving forgery and fraud,” Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters, told the New York Post.
Harrison says she has written to the Department of Education’s inspector general to request a further investigation into the scandal.
Photo: Department of Education
While things could obviously change, no charges have been filed against those who stole from New York City’s most vulnerable residents.
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