How to Research Private Schools Like an Investigative Reporter

ProPublica reports that many states take a hands-off approach to private school oversight, leaving parents to figure out whether schools have problems. After months investigating the private school landscape, the nonprofit newsroom uncovered serious issues — including a school in Arkansas where the founder was accused of running a 'makeshift Fight Club,' and a former superintendent who mismanaged charter school money but was able to operate in another state. To help parents navigate this gap, ProPublica has published a guide showing how to research schools themselves, covering everything from identifying who runs a school to verifying teacher credentials and checking public records. The guide underscores a widespread misunderstanding: that authorities conduct the same safety and quality checks for private schools as they do for public ones.

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