Kansas drops literacy program provider for allegedly bilking welfare fund to inflate salaries

The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced Friday it was severing ties with a company that administers early literacy programs for public schools, citing financial problems uncovered but not disclosed under the administration of former Gov. Sam Brownback.

DCF said the Brownback administration initiated but didn’t finalize the audit into Hysell & Wagner, which administers the Reading Roadmap program. DCF internal auditors determined the company incorrectly claimed and was paid $2.3 million between February 2014 and December 2015.

After the administration of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took over in January, DCF uncovered additional concerns — including excessive payments for executive salaries and expenses from funds designated for needy families.

“I don’t have any issue with the school districts across the state who are getting resources from this to do after-school programs,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “I just couldn’t sustain the level of funding going to the owner-operators of the company for little value, way outside of federal boundaries for how we should use TANF funds. Very little accountability.”

Read more: https://www.cjonline.com/news/20190816/kansas-drops-literacy-program-provider-for-allegedly-bilking-welfare-fund-to-inflate-salaries
(Topeka Capital-Journal)