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