San Diego school district officials may have misspent $3 million in federal funding that's supposed to help support low-income students and special programs. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Most of the $3 million comes from the district's pot of Title I funding. The federal government feeds money into that pot every year. The funding is supposed to pay for local programs and resources to help low-income students at failing schools. But a federal audit shows the money was used on a one-time bonus for San Diego school district retirees.
Sally Smith is with a parent organization that represents Title I schools. Smith says she's glad federal officials are shedding light on a practice that's been long ignored.
Smith: The findings just reaffirm the concerns that I have about my children's high school. The district is failing to monitor these funds at the school level.
Federal officials are considering whether they will force the district to repay the three million dollars. So far state education officials are defending the district's use of the money.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
