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Politicians who are the enablers of the Gulen Movement and their “front groups.” From Gulen Schools to Gulen’s Interfaith Groups, these politicians knowingly or sometimes naively have accepted campaign contributions, honors(snicker, giggles) or the famous FREE trips to Turkey. Thanks to all of you for submitting, lets put the message out to Politicians, if you sell out Americans we will vote you out.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for last week’s bloody attempted coup.
Suspected Gulenists are now being purged in their thousands in a wave of arrests and sackings and Mr Erdogan has declared a state of emergency.
But what do we know about the movement, and what does it want?
Gulenists incessantly advertise Bill Clinton’s speech at the Third Annual Friendship Dinner organized by the Turkish Cultural Center of New York (a Gulenist organization) at the Waldorf Astoria on September 25, 2008. The video of Clinton’s brief speech has been publicized on the internet by several Gulenist organizations,
and has become one of the Gulenists’ favorite defense weapons. Whenever anything critical of the Gulen Movement or Gulen charter schools has appeared in the press, Gulenists have touted this speech as a full-fledged endorsement that they insist must instantly dispel any doubts ever raised about Fethullah Gulen and his followers. The weight that Gulenists put on this speech seems quite out of proportion to its actual content; Clinton mentions Gulen only once in the entire speech, and never praises him directly.
WASHINGTON – Anadolu Agency,
A chain of Turkish Imam Gülen Texas charter schools linked to the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has been accused of fraud and financial malfeasance worth over $18 million.
Amsterdam & Partners, a law firm investigating the movement’s activities, has filed a fraud complaint with the Texas Education Agency, the firm said in a statement late on July 11.
The complaint accused the public-funded school chain and another company, disguised as independent but in fact linked to Harmony Public Schools, of a complicated shell game in which Harmony seemed to contract the other company, but for the purposes of misappropriating funds rather than performing any actual services.
Ankara has pressed the U.S. to extradite Gülen to stand trial for alleged crimes committed in Turkey.
According to the website of the law firm’s founding partner Robert Amsterdam, Gülen “controls some 150 U.S. charter schools through opaque fronts… Gülen-affiliated Harmony Public Schools has been found to be allegedly engaging [in] widespread abuse of the H1B visa program, misappropriation of public funds and discrimination against certain students and families.”
According to the complaint, Harmony – which is financed by over $250 million in U.S. federal and state tax money annually – contracted a firm called Charter School Solutions (CSS) for $44 million to manage its buildings and properties.
But the complaint alleges that CSS, far from being an independent company, was actually managed by a Harmony employee.
“For the purpose of new buildings to be rented by Harmony schools, an additional $18.4 million was paid to CSS,” said the law firm’s statement, which called the financial malfeasance “shocking.”
Amsterdam & Partners filed a formal complaint in late May against Harmony urging the Texas Education Agency to conduct a full investigation based on documented abuses suggesting a widespread pattern of fraud, discrimination and abuse in the Harmony network.
According to the law firm, Harmony operated seven charter school districts serving 46 charter campuses in Texas and had links to the “Hizmet movement,” led by Gülen, who was also believed to be responsible for forming a “parallel state” in Turkey.
Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/gulen-led-schools-in-texas-accused-of-defrauding-18-million-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101524&NewsCatID=358
July/12/2016
GLENDALE—Education leaders gathered to jointly condemn the California Charter Schools Association and the Laura Friedman for Assembly campaign for disseminating misinformation to voters and trying to buy the 43rd California Assembly race. The press conference featured over a dozen community leaders including Los Angeles Unified School Board President Steve Zimmer and Glendale Board of Education Member Christine Walters.
“It’s very important that we’re here today in the 43rd Assembly District that has become the latest battle ground in the effort to privatize, corporatize, and takeover our public education system here in Los Angeles County,” stated LAUSD Board President Steve Zimmer in his remarks before concerned parents, local teachers, representatives of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).
“I’m very proud to stand with colleagues today, to stand with Ardy Kassakhian, who has become the latest target in this effort. Let me be very, very clear: there are interest groups in the State of California – most especially the California Charter Schools Association – who are attempting to outright buy Assembly seats, Senate seats, local school board seats,” highlighted Zimmer.
Financial disclosures show that over $1,000,000 has been spent by the special interest group to influence the outcome of the election by smearing Ardy Kassakhian’s record as Glendale City Clerk contrary to the truth, including reporting by the Los Angeles Times that has noted that Ardy Kassakhian has “greatly improved the voting experience for Glendale’s citizens.”
“I chose to support Ardy a long time ago because Ardy has authentically supported public schools since long before he decided to run for this job,” stated Glendale Board of Education Member Christine Walters. “The reason I’m here today is less about Ardy and more about the ugliness and deception that I have seen over the last few weeks.”
Prominent community activist and President of the East Area Progressive Democrats Hans Johnson noted, “We are here out of a profound concern that outside interests are seeking to buy this election and unduly influence the outcome through spending from outside Glendale.”
Frank Higginbotham from the Glendale Teachers Association stated, “The Glendale Teachers Association endorses Ardy Kassakhian for the 43rd Assembly District. He is the only candidate that fully supports public education and will give our children a voice in Sacramento.” Higginbotham concluded by noting that Ardy “is the only candidate we trust to stand up for public schools and to fight the billionaires trying to privatize our public education system for their profit.”
The press conference was attended by a host of other local leaders including Glendale City Council Member Zareh Sinanyan, Glendale City Treasurer Rafi Manoukian, Glendale Community College Board President Tony Tartaglia, Glendale Community College Board Member Dr. Vahé Peroomian, Glendale Board of Education Member (ret.) Sandy Russell, Burbank Board of Education Member Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, and Former Burbank Teachers Association President Kim Allender.
About Ardy Kassakhian
Ardy Kassakhian grew up and attended public schools in Glendale. He was first elected Glendale City Clerk in 2005. As Clerk, he has reduced government waste by introducing environmentally sound practices, made election information easier to access and worked to increase voter participation. Ardy graduated from UCLA and the Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives with his wife Courtney and their young son in Glendale.
Ardy Kassakhian is running to represent Assembly District 43, which includes the communities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz and Silver Lake. The primary election will be held on June 7, 2016. To learn more about Ardy Kassakhian, visit his website at www.ArdyforAssembly.com or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
The Gulen Movement is fantastic at advertising, PR, and bestwowing fake honors on their students, politicians, local media and academia. The Parents4Magnolia blog is NOT American parents it is members of the Gulen Movement in damage control mode. Magnolia Science Academy, Pacific Technology School and Bay Area Technology is the name of their California schools. They are under several Gulen NGOs: Pacifica Institute, Willow Education, Magnolia Educaiton Foundation, Accord Institute, Bay Area Cultural Connection. Hizmet aka Gulen Movement will shamelessly act like satisifed American parents or students. They will lie, cajole, manipulate, bribe, blackmail, threaten, intimidate to get their way which is to expand the Gulen charter schools. If this doesn’t work they play victim and cry “islamophobia”. Beware of the Gulen propagandists and Gulen owned media outlets. DISCLAIMER: if you find some videos are disabled this is the work of the Gulen censorship which has filed fake copyright infringement complaints to Utube
Read more: http://magnoliascienceacademy.blogspot.ca
“Gulen Charter Schools USA”,a factual look at a worldwide movement to dominate education. Read about the “Gulen Charter Schools” in the USA as well as worldwide. Share our ride exploring the Gulen Movement tactics. These postings are based on news articles, government documents such as H1-b Visa info, IRS information.
Gulen Empire map from Turkish Newspaper. DISCLAIMER: If you find some videos are disabled this is the work of the Gulen censorship who have filed fake copyright infringement reports to UTUBE
**RED ALERT**- Gets approval for school on Nellis AFB **RED ALERT**
If any of you have any clout in the Air Force, related to anyone that is retired Air Force or active duty. It was confirmed by calling Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada that the Gulen Movement operated Coral Academy of Science- has received the approval to convert the Lomie Heard Elementary school on the base into a charter school. If you know anyone in the Las Vegas, NV area that can host a town hall meeting with the military families – we must act QUICKLY as they want to open this school by August 2016.
12/4/2015 – NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, elementary-age children of Department of Defense employees will have the option of attending an on-base public charter school.
Lomie G. Heard Elementary School, the current on-base school which was constructed on Nellis Air Force Base in 1951, will no longer be part of the Clark County School District (CCSD) at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
CCSD leases the land on Nellis AFB where Lomie G. Heard is located. The lease will expire at the end of the current school year and the U.S. Air Force is currently in negotiations with Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas to bring a public charter school on base.
“Nellis Air Force Base and the CCSD have had a long and mutually-beneficial relationship,” said Col. Richard Boutwell, 99th Air Base Wing commander. “Lomie G. Heard Elementary School and their wonderful staff have inspired multiple generations of military children and laid the foundation for their futures.
“We had a unique opportunity to partner with an established Nevada public charter school — Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas — that not only brings a great academic program, but plans to build a new kindergarten through eighth grade school at no cost to the Air Force,” Boutwell said. “The facility will be within the Landings Housing complex and is expected to be ready for use starting in the 2018 academic year. A new school is simply something neither the U.S. Air Force nor CCSD could realistically expect to be able to do in the foreseeable future. This really is a great opportunity for our children.”
CASLV, which will be free for students to attend, plans to temporarily operate out of the Lomie G. Heard facility while construction of the new permanent campus is built.
Prospective students will need to register for the new school before they can attend classes there. The Clark County School District Attendance Zone Advisory Committee has proposed rezoning current Lomie G. Heard students to attend Zel and Mary Lowman or J.E. Manch Elementary Schools just outside the Landings Gate on Craig Road. The school board will meet in February to finalize the proposal. Parents can have their children bused to one of these schools by CCSD or elect to have them attend a private school, homeschool, public charter, or magnet school of their choosing.
“This gives our military families more choices, and ultimately, more control,” said Carol Padilla, 99th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. “This has been a lot of work for a lot of people, but I am excited about a new school.”
The new school is planning to accommodate 600 students from kindergarten through fifth grade in the existing Lomie G. Heard facility, but will expand to 800 students from kindergarten through eighth grade once the new facility is completed. CASLV also operates four other campuses in the Las Vegas Area.
Per recent changes in Nevada legislation, dependent children of DOD personnel will have priority in enrolling in the new school — active duty, then government employees. If there are not enough students from Nellis AFB personnel to fill the seats, the school will offer the remaining positions to non-DOD-affiliated students. If the non-DOD-affiliated students are accepted to the school, their parent(s) or guardian(s) will have to pass the standard background check to be granted base access.
“The leadership team here has taken into account many factors and concerns expressed by parents over the past few years and is working with CCSD and a contractor to put your children in the best position possible to continue receiving a high-quality education,” Boutwell said. “I’m thankful for everything the CCSD has provided our families and will continue to provide them as we transition in the upcoming months.
“While everything is moving along well, we are in the final negotiations for the long-term lease that will enable the new facility to be built,” Boutwell said.
The 99th ABW will be holding a school town hall meeting for parents and guardians at the Nellis Base Theater, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. CASLV is planning to give a short presentation on what their program will offer.
Student registration for CASLV is now open and can be found at http://www.caslv.org/admission.
For more information about the charter school, please contact CASLV at 702-776-6529702-776-6529, extension 106 or visit their website at http://www.caslv.org. For more information about other schooling options, please contact the 99th FSS School Liaison Officer at 702-652-2156702-652-2156.
MORE INFORMATION ON CORAL SCIENCE ACADEMY, WE PREVIOUSLY DID A SHORT ARTICLE ON THEIR ATTEMPTED EXPANSION FEBRUARY 2015 WHICH WAS STOPPED BY THE SENIOR VILLAGE NEAR WHERE THEY WANTED TO MOVE.
Source: http://gulencharterschoolsusa.blogspot.com/2015/02/coral-science-academy-in-henderson.html
ISTANBUL
By:daily Hürriyet reported
Students living in Istanbul’s European-side district of Sultangazi who failed to earn good enough marks to enter the advanced Anatolian High 
School system or a vocational school have been enrolled in the religious imam-hatip schools without their knowledge, daily Hürriyet reported.
Nearly 3,000 students were prevented from enrolling the Anatolian and vocational schools following the entrance tests, and most of those were subsequently enrolled in religious imam-hatip schools against their wishes.
One parent claimed that despite selecting vocational schools on the forms, his son was forced to attend an imam-hatip school instead.
“We were told that there were no more vacancies in other schools,” the father told Hürriyet. “My son does not want to attend an imam-hatip. We are Alevis. They disregard that and force everyone to attend imam-hatips.”
Another Alevi parent also claimed that her daughter was enrolled in an imam-hatip even though they had selected three different vocational schools.
Other parents also confirmed that they had selected vocational schools on their forms but that their children were all placed in imam-hatip schools.
“My child doesn’t want to go [to an imam-hatip],” another father said. “They are toying around with their futures.”
New York Times
Published: June 5, 2012
A group of three publicly financed charter schools in Georgia run by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a prominent Turkish imam, have come under scrutiny 
after they defaulted on bonds and an audit found that the schools improperly granted hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts to businesses and groups, many of them with ties to the Gulen movement.
The audit, released Tuesday by the Fulton County Schools near Atlanta, found the schools made purchases like T-shirts, teacher training and video production services from organizations with connections to school officials or Gulen followers. Those included more than $500,000 in contracts since January 2010 with the Grace Institute, a foundation whose board has included school leaders. In some cases the awards skirted bidding requirements, the audit said.
“I would just question how those vendors were selected when price in many instances wasn’t part of the decision making,” said the Fulton County superintendent, Robert Avossa, who criticized the schools for conflicts of interest. “And those are public dollars.”
Gulen followers run more than 120 charter schools nationwide, making the loosely affiliated network one of the nation’s largest public charter school operators. Despite clear connections, the schools generally deny any affiliation with the Gulen movement, a powerful religious and political force in Turkey whose leader, Mr. Gulen, views establishing schools as part of his mission. While some of the charter schools have been praised for their academic performance, their business practices have raised questions.
The New York Times reported last year that the group’s 36 Texas schools had granted millions of dollars in construction and renovation contracts to firms run by Turkish-Americans with ties to the movement, in some cases bypassing lower bids from firms with no connections to the movement. The Texas schools also awarded deals for cafeteria food, after-school programs and teacher training to organizations affiliated with Gulen followers.
The Georgia audit, posted to the Fulton County Schools Web site Tuesday evening, focused on the Fulton Science Academy Middle School in Alpharetta, Ga., a 500-student school that was recently denied a renewal of its public charter. The school, which had received $32 million in public funds over the past 10 years, said it would operate as a private school. While the audit does not lay out all of the relationships between contractors and the movement, a chart shows connections between the people running the schools, some of the vendors and Gulen-connected groups.
Dr. Avossa said that the audit’s findings had raised concerns about the group’s two other public charter schools in his district: Fulton Science Academy High School and Fulton Sunshine Academy, an elementary school.
He said a full audit would be conducted of those schools “to gauge whether similar wrongdoing is taking place.”
The three schools have enrolled 1,200 students representing a cross section of students in the Fulton County district.
Wells Fargo Bank, trustee of a $19 million bond issue by the schools, told investors on May 15 that the three schools were in default on those bonds. The bank said the default was caused by the group’s failure to disclose in its bond offering last year that its middle school charter renewal might have been in jeopardy. “The failure to disclose the ongoing concerns with Fulton Science Academy’s charter renewal petition constituted an omission of material facts in the public statement,” Wells Fargo said.
A default gives the bondholders the right to demand immediate payment, possibly requiring a liquidation of some school assets. The bonds are trading at about 70 percent of face value.
Concerns about governance and transparency were partly behind the district’s rejection of the Fulton Science Academy Middle School’s demand for a 10-year charter renewal. The school was named a “blue-ribbon” school last year by the federal government for its performance and appealed unsuccessfully to the state.
Kenan Sener, the school’s principal, said that the audit contained significant inaccuracies and that the school would issue a statement on Wednesday, after fully reviewing the document.
Nationwide, the charter schools have pursued an aggressive expansion plan, much of it financed by public bond issues, with the Texas schools borrowing more than $200 million through bond offerings.
In Texas, the group’s spending has been the focus of investigations by the State Legislature and the Texas Education Agency. The federal Department of Education is also investigating the Texas schools, apparently focusing on allegations of discrimination against Hispanic special education students in enrollment. The schools have denied wrongdoing.
One criticism of the schools involves their reliance on teachers imported from Turkey while teacher unemployment in the United States remains high. The audit said the Fulton Science Academy Middle School had paid $75,000 in immigration-related expenses for such employees.
Although the schools are inspired by Mr. Gulen and teach Turkish language and culture, they do not teach religion.