Investigating Prime Prep

Officials from the Tarrant County district attorney’s office, the U.S. attorney’s office and the Texas Education Agency should press with all deliberate speed their investigations of Prime Prep Academy, a defunct charter school that had campuses in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Prime Prep, which closed in January after 2 1/2 years, drew national attention because it was co-founded by former NFL star Deion Sanders.

The Dallas Morning News has reported that the DA’s office is investigating allegations that 100 laptops were stolen from the school. Former Prime Prep Superintendent Ron Price said he gave prosecutors documentation on the missing computers about 18 months ago.

It’s not because of the school’s high profile or its tie to Sanders that these investigations should be swift and thorough. It’s because Texas must show that allegations like this are taken seriously.

After the state issued its first charters in 1996, the movement struggled for credibility. With that credibility now established, it’s important to maintain it.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Investigating Prime Prep."