Funding Delay Impacts DC Charter Schools

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The students from Nia Community Public Charter School in Northeast are getting back from a field trip for their summer enrichment program. Inside, a transformation is going on.

When school starts August 31st, the new media lab will be filled with donated computers and available for the kids' after school program and for families who don't have computers at home.
But when the students walk in their classrooms the first day, they won't see what they've been promised.

Executive director Wuhaun Dansby says the city will only be sending a portion of its $400,000 payment.

"Even though the funding is coming, even though a portion of it is being delayed, that means there are some expenditures you have to defer until that new funding comes in September," Dansby says.

For the first day, they were hoping to have all new furniture and in each classroom, three computers for the children, a lap top for the teacher and a brand new white board. Now, none of it will be here by opening day.

"It's pretty disappointing for everybody," said Dansby.

Mayor Adrian Fenty says there's a problem with the way charter schools are paid. He says he'll get the problem fixed next year, so students will have what they need when school starts.