Auditor General DePasquale to Audit Department of Education

Calls for comprehensive examination of state’s oversight of schools

January 16 2014

Auditor General DePasquale to Audit Department of Education

Calls for comprehensive examination of state’s oversight of schools

HARRISBURG (Jan. 16, 2014) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced that his department will conduct a comprehensive performance audit to evaluate if the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has the structure, staff and resources to fulfill its oversight of schools.

“Our opportunities for economic prosperity are, in part, contingent on receiving a quality education,” DePasquale said. “I want to ensure that Pennsylvanians are getting the best value for our tax dollars and that our children are receiving the best education possible.

“In my first year as auditor general, we performed more than 300 audits of schools across Pennsylvania. Most passed with minor, or no problems. In some we found problems complying with laws and regulations that fall under PDE’s oversight. In the worst cases, we found wasted money that should have gone toward classroom education,” DePasquale said.

“There have been major changes in education funding in recent years and taxpayers deserve to know that PDE can deliver on its mandate to ensure all students receive a high quality education.”

The performance audit will cover the period starting July 1, 2010. It is anticipated that the audit will be completed later this year. Initial objectives are to:

• evaluate the structure and authority levels between the State Board of Education and PDE in establishing education policy, rules, regulations, and procedures; and
• evaluate PDE’s organizational structure, staffing levels, and resources to determine if these areas are sufficient to ensure that PDE fulfills its statutory mandates.

The Department of the Auditor General audits all public schools, including charters, intermediate units and career/technical schools on a cyclical basis approximately every two to four years. School audit reports are available online at: www.PaAuditor.gov.

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