Texas charter school Prime Prep faces closure

The charter school co-founded by former multi-sport star Deion Sanders faces the possibility of being shut down. The Texas Education Agency informed Prime

The charter school co-founded by former multi-sport star Deion Sanders faces the possibility of being shut down.  

The Texas Education Agency informed Prime Prep Academy in a letter on Tuesday that it plans to revoke the school's charter because of improper fiscal management and failing to comply with the state education code, according to a report from The Dallas Morning News. 

Prime Prep has campuses in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Superintendent Ron Price said he plans to appeal, a stance echoed by Sanders in tweets Tuesday afternoon. Sanders placed blame on D.L. Wallace, Prime Prep's other co-founder.

The charter school has faced troubles in almost every area. It’s been beset by lawsuits among school board members, internal squabbles, and accusations of theft and open meetings violations.

In the letter to Price, TEA cited four reasons for shutting down the school. The school has been ineligible to participate federal free-and-reduced-lunch program and it cannot participate in child nutrition programs. Its financial issues have been “serious” and not corrected, and Prime Prep has run afoul of the Texas Education Code and “generally accepted accounting standards.”

“It is not in the best interest of students to attend a charter school that is ineligible for participation in the NSLP (National School Lunch Program) or any other child nutriton program administered by TDA (Texas Department of Agriculture),” the letter says.

The school, which opened in August 2012, has seen several of its graduates ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA. 

Elite point guard recruit Emmanuel Mudiay, who on Monday announced his intentions to play overseas rather than attend college, graduated from Prime Prep earlier this year.

Multiple outlets reported that Mudiay's decision to turn pro was not motivated by concerns over academic eligibility.

My former Co-Founder DL Wallace was a Crook and Heartless and we are still suffering from his Devilish ways. TEA informed PrimePrep.

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 15, 2014

I feel bad for this nonsense of yesterday affecting today and the potential of tomorrow for our students and NEW administration. We will

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 15, 2014

Fight this like we have all the other battles that we've faced. 100% graduation rate 2 years straight and 15 scholarships awarded In only 2

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 15, 2014

Years of existence. In no form or fashion has me or my administration done any wrong regarding feeding or educating our students. TRUTH

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) July 15, 2014

- Chris Johnson