Cheats taking advantage of state-funding tutoring program in Florida

A state-mandated tutoring program in Florida pays public money to people with criminal records, and to cheaters and profiteers who operate virtually unchecked by state regulators, The Tampa Bay Times reports. The newspaper's investigation found that Florida school districts paid at least $7 million last year to tutoring companies run by people with criminal records. In more than 40 cases, tutoring companies have faked student sign-up sheets or billed for tutoring that never happened. Companies that overcharged for tutoring earned $7 million last year. In one county, more than 100 teachers moonlighted as tutors of their own students, flouting state ethics rules.