What fraud cases did Chicago Public Schools' Inspector General uncover?

The Inspector General uncovered cases of inflated student enrollment, misuse of federal COVID-19 assistance programs, and phony billing schemes.

How much money does Chicago Public Schools have to repay?

Chicago Public Schools must repay almost $1.2 million to the U.S. Department of Education due to fraud.

Who was involved in the fraud at Chicago Public Schools?

Involved parties include a program manager, a principal, and a former principal facing wire fraud charges.

Home / Crime and Justice / Chicago Schools Inspector Flags Major Fraud Cases

Chicago Schools Inspector Flags Major Fraud Cases

8 Jan

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Summary

CPS repays $1.2 million for inflated enrollment fraud.
A principal misused COVID-19 aid while neglecting duties.
Former principal indicted for defrauding schools.

Chicago Schools Inspector Flags Major Fraud Cases

Chicago Public Schools is set to repay nearly $1.2 million to the U.S. Department of Education following an Inspector General's report detailing substantial fraud. A program manager was terminated for years of inflating student enrollment figures for federal grant programs, a scheme that continued despite prior warnings and oversight. This misconduct represents a significant financial mismanagement case for the district.

Further fraud cases revealed include a principal who secured over $41,000 in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loans by falsely claiming self-employment, even while earning a substantial salary as a school leader. This principal also faced separate investigations for neglecting her duties. The report also highlights the indictment of Brian Metcalf, a former CPS principal, for wire fraud and a phony billing scheme defrauding CPS of at least $88,500 before leaving the district.