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411 Legislative Avenue, Legislative Hall, Dover, DE 19901 Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313
February 4, 2016
Attorney General Matthew Denn
102 W. Water Street
Dover, DE 19904
Good Afternoon AG Denn:
We are writing to you with concerns that we have with regards to Delaware Charter Schools Network
and their lobbying efforts in Dover. A search on the Public Integrity Commission website was done to
see if Kendall Massett, Executive Director of Delaware Charter Schools Network, and Chuck Taylor,
President of Delaware Charter Schools Network board and Head of School of Providence Creek
Academy Charter School, were listed as lobbyists with the Public Integrity Commission. Neither is
currently listed on the 2016 1st Quarter Report. An email was sent to the Public Integrity Commission
on Saturday, January 30, 2016, requesting confirmation of the Delaware Charter Schools Network or
Kendall Massetts registration as a lobbyist in Delaware. The Public Integrity Commission responded saying that the Delaware Charter Schools Network is listed as an employer in their database. Kendall
Massett is listed as the employer contact or authorizing agent for Delaware Charter Schools Network.
In the Delaware Code, Title 29 Chapter 58 Section 5831 (5) defined a lobbyist as any individual who acts to promote, advocate, influence or oppose any matter pending before the General Assembly by
direct communication with the General Assembly or any matter pending before a state agency by direct
communication with that state agency, and who in connection therewith either:
a. Has received or is to receive compensation in whole or in part from any person; or
b. Is authorized to act as a representative of any person who has as a substantial purpose the
influencing of legislative or administrative action; or
c. Expends any funds during the calendar year for the type of expenditures listed in section
5835 (b) of this title. Furthermore, Title 29 Chapter 58 Section 5838 (d) states that the Speaker of the House, the presiding officer of the Senate, the Legislative Council or any member of the General Assembly shall
refer, or any other person may refer any suspected violation of this subchapter to the Commission and/or
the Attorney General of the State.
The Delaware Charter Schools Network websites message states: Our network unifies all charter schools in order to achieve critical policy and programmatic gains and serves as a unified voice for the
states charter schools at the state and national level.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF DELAWARE
411 LEGISLATIVE AVENUE DOVER, DELAWARE 19901
411 Legislative Avenue, Legislative Hall, Dover, DE 19901 Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313
According to Delawares checkbook, Delaware Charters Schools Network has received about $500,000 in payments since 2012 from the state. Delaware charter schools pay Delaware Charter Schools Network
a fee for services. In the News Journal article, Special interests: Who lobbies most in Dover? the fifth most active lobbying group was the Delaware Charter Schools Network.
Kendall Massett and Chuck Taylor serve on the Charter School Accountability CommitteeKendall Massett serves as a non-voting member and Chuck Taylor serves as a voting member. There are eight
members who serve on this committee6 voting members and 2 non-voting members (5 members represent the Department of Education, 2 represent Delaware Charter Schools Network and 1 member
represents the State Board of Education). The Charter School Accountability Committee is a committee
convened by the Department of Education. Its members review information and issue recommendations
for all major accountability processes for charter schools. These processes include applications for new
charter schools, major modifications, renewals, and formal review. Ms. Massett and Mr. Taylor are both
regularly seen in Dover, lobbying legislators with regards to proposed or filed legislation. They speak at
House and Senate Education Committees when legislation is before the committee. Delaware Charter
Schools Network will send out mass emails to their administration, staff and families encouraging them
to contact legislators about proposed or filed legislation. The Delaware Charter Schools Network vision
is to help improve and expand existing schools, while encouraging the creation of new charter schools.
When looking at the most current registered lobbyist report, Kevin Carson, Delaware Association of
School AdministratorsBill Doolittle, a parent advocateKristin Dwyer, Frederika Jenner, Deborah Stevens and Jeff Taschner, members of the DSEASusan FrancisDelaware School Board Associationand Yvonne Johnson, representing the Delaware PTA, are all registered lobbyist. However, the Delaware Charter Schools Network is not. We respectfully request an explanation as to
why this is.
The state is funding a group, who in all aspects, act as lobbyists, yet they are not registered as such.
They are serving on a committee which promotes their vision of expanding existing schools, while they
are also a deciding factor in whether or not a new charter school opensis this not a conflict of interest?
We would appreciate a written response to these questions as soon as possible, and are happy to meet to
further discuss these concerns
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Very Truly,
Kimberly Williams Helene Keeley
State Representative, 19th
District State Representative, 3rd
District
411 Legislative Avenue, Legislative Hall, Dover, DE 19901 Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313
Sean M. Lynn John Kowalko
State Representative, 31st District State Representative, 25
th District
Andria L. Bennett Sean Matthews
State Representative, 32nd
District State Representative, 10th
District
Gerald L. Brady Charles Potter
State Representative, 4th
District State Representative, 1st District