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Ohio Auditor Advocates School Policies on Using Crowdfunding
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The state auditor is urging Ohio school districts to adopt policies about how teachers use online crowdfunding to raise money for supplies, classroom expenses, and projects.
Republican Auditor Dave Yost says those policies can help mitigate risks such as mishandled donations, compromised student privacy and extra scrutiny of educational programs. He says some local school officials have asked his office for guidance to avoid missteps as more educators try crowdfunding.
In a report released Wednesday, Yost recommends that districts have crowdfunding campaigns approved by an administrator, accept donations only with school board approval, and use crowdfunding services that send the donations directly to schools, not teachers.
The auditor’s office says a survey it conducted indicates dozens and possibly more of Ohio’s 600-plus school districts have no policies about crowdfunding.