Concept Schools:
Horizon Science Academy chain; Chicago Math and Science Academy; Indiana Math and Science Academy; Michigan Math and Science Academy; Milwaukee Math & Science Academy; Minnesota School of Science; Noble Academy
Evidence of Affiliation with the Gulen Movement
Page created August 12, 2010; last updated September 29, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Concept Schools manages 27 publicly-funded Gulen charter schools that are currently operational, including the chain of Horizon Science Academy schools, Chicago Math and Science Academy, the Noble Academy schools in Cleveland and Columbus, Indiana Math and Science Academy, Michigan Math and Science Academy, Minnesota School of Science, Quest Charter Academy in Illinois, and Gateway Science Academy in St. Louis. While not officially listed as a member school, Wisconsin Career Academy had many ties to Concept and appears to have been a de facto Concept school (it was closed at the end of 2011-12 and converted into a private school). For a comparison of marketing claims with actual data on academic performance of the schools in this network, see the powerpoint "Concept Schools - Success in Education or Success in Marketing?" For a report from a staff member of a Concept School, click here.
Concept Schools is connected to Niagara Educational Services, of which both the Science Academy of Chicago (SAC) and the Niagara Foundation are subsidiaries. The Niagara Foundation is an openly Gulenist organization, as can be clearly seen from its website (Fethullah Gulen is its honorary president). The connections of Concept and Horizon to Niagara and SAC are demonstrated by the fact that the domain registration information for the Science Academy of Chicago website, saoc.org, gives registrant email as [email protected]. Further financial connections have been documented on this webpage.
[Note added on August 30, 2010: since this webpage was first published on August 11, 2010, the domain registrant email for saoc.org was changed from [email protected] to [email protected] . We believe that the timing of this change is not coincidental, and represents an attempt by Gulenists to remove any traces of the connections between the Gulen Movement and Concept Schools. Note that historical data on domain registrant emails can still be accessed from some services for a fee; thus there are publicly accessible records of this email change.]
More connections are shown by the following individuals who have or had multiple affiliations (both past and present) across Gulenist schools and organizations:
Vedat Akgun
Kemal Akkaya
Yunus Emre Aksu
Alper Akyurek
Esat Albulut
Cengiz Zubeyir Altuntas
Osman Arslan
Emrah Ayhan
Gultekin “John” Aytekin
Ozgur Balsoy
Fatih Camci
Yavuz Burak Canbolat, a.k.a. Burak Canbolat
Cafer Cengiz
Siddik Cifcioglu
Huseyin Coskun
Mehmet Murat Dundar
Murat Efe
Bilal Eksili
Kazim Eldes
Ehat Ercanli
Taner Ertekin
Atilla Yusuf Guleker
Mustafa Guler
Mustafa “Steve” Gulkesen
Tolga Hayali
Ali Ikiz
Ulvi Faysal Ilhan
Serdar Jovadov (a.k.a. Serdar Jawadov)
Usonbek Jusupov
Aydin Kara
Huseyin Kara
Elif Karabacak
Cengiz Karatas
Ozkan Kizilkaya
Numan Koca
Hasan Kose
Mehmet Malcok
Mustafa Namli
Edip Pektas a.k.a. Edip Bektas
Onder Secen
Hakan Solak
Murat Surucu
Mustafa Tabanli
Salim Ucan
Ismail Unlusoy
Zhandos Utegulov
Hasan Ali Yurtsever (a.k.a. Hassan Ali Yurtsever, H. Ali Yurtsever, Ali Yurtsever)
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Concept Schools manages 27 publicly-funded Gulen charter schools that are currently operational, including the chain of Horizon Science Academy schools, Chicago Math and Science Academy, the Noble Academy schools in Cleveland and Columbus, Indiana Math and Science Academy, Michigan Math and Science Academy, Minnesota School of Science, Quest Charter Academy in Illinois, and Gateway Science Academy in St. Louis. While not officially listed as a member school, Wisconsin Career Academy had many ties to Concept and appears to have been a de facto Concept school (it was closed at the end of 2011-12 and converted into a private school). For a comparison of marketing claims with actual data on academic performance of the schools in this network, see the powerpoint "Concept Schools - Success in Education or Success in Marketing?" For a report from a staff member of a Concept School, click here.
Concept Schools is connected to Niagara Educational Services, of which both the Science Academy of Chicago (SAC) and the Niagara Foundation are subsidiaries. The Niagara Foundation is an openly Gulenist organization, as can be clearly seen from its website (Fethullah Gulen is its honorary president). The connections of Concept and Horizon to Niagara and SAC are demonstrated by the fact that the domain registration information for the Science Academy of Chicago website, saoc.org, gives registrant email as [email protected]. Further financial connections have been documented on this webpage.
[Note added on August 30, 2010: since this webpage was first published on August 11, 2010, the domain registrant email for saoc.org was changed from [email protected] to [email protected] . We believe that the timing of this change is not coincidental, and represents an attempt by Gulenists to remove any traces of the connections between the Gulen Movement and Concept Schools. Note that historical data on domain registrant emails can still be accessed from some services for a fee; thus there are publicly accessible records of this email change.]
More connections are shown by the following individuals who have or had multiple affiliations (both past and present) across Gulenist schools and organizations:
Vedat Akgun
- Co-founder of Horizon Science Academy, Columbus
- Owner of Breeze, Inc. (this was originally a for-profit real estate company that leased buildings to Horizon Science Academy. It now appears to be part of New Plan Learning, Inc. The simultaneous involvement of Akgun with Breeze, Horizon and Concept is a clear conflict of interest.)
- Board President, Concept Schools NFP, an Illinois corporation (current status "not good standing")
- New Plan Learning, Inc. (company that has obtained approval for 90 million dollars in bonds from Pima County, Arizona, to finance school construction and renovation in the Horizon Science Academy chain; see article in Tucson newspaper, Sep 21, 2010)
- Loaned money to Horizon Science Academy Dayton (see audit)
- Indiana Science Academy, charter proposal, 2001 (this was a proposed Gulen charter school that never materialized)
- Indiana Life Sciences Academy, charter proposal, 2003 (this was a proposed Gulen charter school that never materialized)
- Mentioned in a May 30, 2007 article in the Columbus Dispatch, in connection with financial problems and irregularities at Horizon Science Academy Columbus, and money the school owed to Breeze.
- Articles of incorporation, Noble Academy - Cleveland Inc. Jan 6, 2006
- Articles of incorporation, Noble Academy - Dayton Inc, Jan 6, 2006 (an Ohio corporation; no school of this name exists; Noble Academy Gulen charter schools operate in Cleveland and Columbus)
Kemal Akkaya
- Board President, Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis
- Maryland Turkish American Inhibitants (MARTI) (Gulenist)
- Faculty advisor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale - Intercultural Dialogue Student Association (Gulenist)
Yunus Emre Aksu
- Math teacher, Noble Academy
- Assistant Principal, Orlando Science Schools (Gulen charter schools in Florida)
Alper Akyurek
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Scioto Foundation (Ohio Gulenist non-profit organization)
Esat Albulut
- Board Member, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle School
- Competed in Infomatrix competition (Gulenist competition)
- Student, Sarajevo College (Gulen school in Bosnia - Herzegovina)
- Secretary, Rumi Foundation Cleveland (Rumi Foundation is a Gulenist organization, as shown clearly by its website. Rumi, a Sufi poet, has great significance for the Gulen Movement. The Rumi Forum in Washington, the major political lobbying arm of the Gulen Movement in the USA, is also named for Rumi.)
Cengiz Zubeyir Altuntas
- Horizon Science Academy
- CONSEF (science fair run by Concept Schools, primarily for its member schools)
- Teacher, Fatih College (private Gulen school in Turkey)
- Author, Fountain Magazine
Osman Arslan
- Director, Horizon Science Academy Lorain
- Principal, Science Academy of Chicago (private Gulen school)
- Indiana Science Academy (proposed Gulen charter school, 2001)
Emrah Ayhan
- Co-founder, Math teacher, Horizon Science Academy Toledo
- President, Board of Directors, Horizon Science Academy Toledo
- Director, Math teacher, Horizon Science Academy Denison
- Board Member, Chicago Math and Science Academy
- Co-Founder of Breeze, Inc (this was originally a for-profit real estate company that leased buildings to Horizon Science Academy. It now appears to be part of New Plan Learning, Inc.)
- Board of Trustees, Paterson Charter School (Paterson is Gulen charter school in New Jersey. Emrah Ayhan was brought in from Ohio when the school was placed on probation in 2007.)
Gultekin “John” Aytekin
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Principal, Indiana Math and Science Academy (Gulen charter school now managed by Concept Schools)
- Wisconsin Career Academy (Gulen charter school)
- Biology Teacher, International Computer High School, Constanta, Romania (a Gulen school)
Ozgur Balsoy
- Filed articles of incorporation for Concept Schools - Ohio, Inc. in 2006
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus Superintendent
- Friend of CONSEF (CONSEF is a science fair organized mainly for Concept Schools)
- Holy Dove Foundation (Gulenist religious organization; organizes Turkey trips)
- Scioto Educational Foundation (Gulenist organization)
- Advanced Solutions for Education (as4ed.com) (Gulen corporation providing services to Horizon Science Academy schools)
Fatih Camci
- Former Horizon Science Academy IT worker
- Fatih University, Turkey (private Gulenist institution)
- (Now at Cranfield University, United Kingdom)
Yavuz Burak Canbolat, a.k.a. Burak Canbolat
- Board President, Chicago Math and Science Academy
- Treasurer, Board of Directors,Science Academy of Chicago (SAC is a private Gulen school frequently mentioned on Fethullah Gulen’s website; articles about the school are written by Hakan Berberoglu of the Niagara Foundation. The school is under Niagara Educational Services which also runs the Niagara Foundation, an openly Gulenist organization.)
Cafer Cengiz
- Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle School
- Superintendent, Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati
- Director, Noble Academy Dayton
- Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy
Siddik Cifcioglu
- Horizon Science Academy Toledo
- Vice Principal, Sweetwater Branch Academy Middle School, Gainesville FL (Gulen charter school in Florida)
Huseyin Coskun
- Board President, Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Author of 4 articles in Fountain Magazine (Fountain Magazine is a major publication of the Gulen Movement in the USA; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article for each issue)
Mehmet Murat Dundar
- Indiana Math and Science Academy (Gulen charter school now managed by Concept Schools)
- President, Philadelphia Dialog Forum (Gulenist organization)
Murat Efe
- Superintendent, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Science Academy of Chicago teacher (SAC is a private Gulen school; its connections to the Niagara Foundation and the Gulen Movement are explained above)
Bilal Eksili
- Indiana Math and Science Academy (Gulen charter school)
- Holy Dove Foundation (Gulenist religious organization; organizes Turkey trips)
- Niagara Foundation (major Gulenist organization in Chicago; Fethullah Gulen is honorary president)
- Ant Travel (Gulenist travel agency; the word “Ant,” meaning “vow” or “oath” in Turkish, is used for several Gulenist businesses)
- International Dagestan-Turkish College (Gulen institution)
Kazim Eldes
- Indiana Math and Science Academy
- Concept Schools
- Holy Dove Foundation (Gulenist religious organization; organizes Turkey trips)
- In 2006 audit of Horizon Science Academy Dayton, school was found to have improperly paid for a dependent immigration application fee for Kazim Eldes.
- Math teacher, Principal, Founder, International Turkish Hope School, Dhaka Bangladesh (Gulen school)
- Math teacher, Kharezm Uzbek-Turk High School, Urgenc City, Uzkebistan (Gulen school)
Ehat Ercanli
- Involved in formation of Concept Schools and development of Horizon Science Academy network of Ohio charter schools
- Horizon Educational Services of Columbus (this was a charter holder of some Horizon Science Academy schools)
- Founder, Syracuse Academy of Science (Gulen charter school in Syracuse, New York)
- Speaker at Turkish Cultural Center of Syracuse event (The Turkish Cultural Center of Syracuse is a Gulenist non-profit organization.)
Taner Ertekin
- Principal, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Co-founder of first Horizon Science Academy school
- Chairman of Concept Schools International, a company that is opening schools in the United Arab Emirates that follow the model of Concept Schools in Ohio
- Participated in 2004 conference at Fatih University (Gulenist institution located in Turkey)
- Founded Gulen schools in Thailand and Japan
- Friend of Ehat Ercanli (see above)
Atilla Yusuf Guleker
- Former journalist for Zaman, the Gulen Movement's high-circulation newspaper
- Founder of Zaman International School (Gulen school in Cambodia)
- Founder, Michigan Math and Science Academy
Mustafa Guler
- Chicago Math and Science Academy
- Author, Fountain Magazine (Fountain Magazine is a major publication of the Gulen Movement in the USA; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article for each issue)
Mustafa “Steve” Gulkesen
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Wife Nesrin Gulkesen is Community Projects Organizer, Niagara Foundation, Chicago (Niagara is an openly Gulenist organization; Fethullah Gulen is its honorary president)
Tolga Hayali
- Teacher, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School, Ohio
- Horizon Science Academy Denison, Ohio
- Superintendent at Horizon Educational Services, Cleveland, Ohio
- School director, Syracuse Academy of Science (Gulen charter school)
- Principal of Pioneer Academy of Science (private Gulen school in New Jersey)
- Participated, along with Levent Koc, Director of the Interfaith Dialog Center and Mevlut Kirazli, Program Coordinator of the Interfaith Dialog Center, in Assemblyman Thomas Giblin’s tour of Pioneer Academy of Science. (The Interfaith Dialog Center of New Jersey is a Gulenist organization.)
- Participated in events at Interfaith Dialog Center, New Jersey (Gulenist organization)
- Speaker at HUTACA (Hudson Turkish American Cultural Association) events. (HUTACA is a Gulenist organization.)
- Leader on Turkey trip, 2001 (The Gulen Movement organizes numerous “interfaith” trips to Turkey every year; attendees are taken to some tourist sites but also to places of significance to the Movement, including Gulen schools such as Fatih or Yamanlar College, the offices of Zaman newspaper, etc. They are also invited to private homes of Gulenists. The trips are intended to win sympathy and supporters for the Movement.)
Ali Ikiz
- Horizon Science Academy
- Petitioner for Cape Fear STEM School (proposed Gulen charter school in North Carolina)
Ulvi Faysal Ilhan
- Board Member, Horizon Educational Services
- Treasurer, Rumi Foundation, Cleveland (Gulenist organization.)
Serdar Jovadov (a.k.a. Serdar Jawadov)
- Administrator, Horizon Science Academy Denison
- “Likes” Ebru TV on Facebook (Ebru TV is a major media outlet of the Gulen Movement)
Usonbek Jusupov
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School
- International Ataturk Alatoo University, Kyrgyzstan (Gulenist institution)
Aydin Kara
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Nigerian Turkish International College, Abuja (Gulen school)
- Indiana Math and Science Academy
- Wrote article for Fountain Magazine (Fountain Magazine is a major publication of the Gulen Movement in the USA; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article for each issue)
Huseyin Kara
- President and chief executive of Concept Schools
- Mentioned in Columbus Dispatch article of May 30, 2007 on financial problems and irregularities at Horizon Science Academy
- Board Treasurer, Horizon Science Academy Denison
- Friend of CONSEF (science fair mainly for schools managed by Concept Schools)
- Secretary, Rumi Foundation, Cleveland (Gulenist organization)
Elif Karabacak
- Fatih College (Gulen school in Turkey)
- Burc College (Gulen school in Turkey)
- Science Teacher, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School
- Biology Teacher - Horizon Science Academy Dayton
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School
Cengiz Karatas
- Principal, Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Teacher, Moscow International School No. 56, Russia (Gulen school later closed by Russian authorities)
Ozkan Kizilkaya
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland
- Business Manager, Chesapeake Science Point (Gulen charter school in Maryland)
Numan Koca
- Board Member, Indiana Math and Science Academy
- President, Holy Dove Foundation (Gulenist religious organization)
Hasan Kose
- Director, Minnesota School of Science (Gulen charter school)
- Director, Noble Academy Cleveland OH (Gulen charter school)
- Director, Horizon Science Academy Dayton OH (Gulen charter school)
- Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School NY (Gulen charter school)
- Fatih University, Turkey (Gulenist)
- Surat Publishing, Turkey (Gulenist)
- Zhambyl Kazakh-Turkish College of Economics (also spelled Jambyl), Kazakhstan (private Gulen school)
Mehmet Malcok
- Horizon Science Academy
- Petitioner, Science Academy of Erie (proposed Gulen charter school in Pennsylvania)
Mustafa Namli
- Director, International Relations Office, Gediz University (Gulen university in Turkey)
- Dean of Academics, Assistant Director, Horizon Science Academy Cleveland High School
- Computer Teacher, Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Computer Teacher, IT Manager, International Turkish Hope School (Gulen school in Bangladesh)
Edip Pektas a.k.a. Edip Bektas
- Treasurer, Board of Chicago Math and Science Academy
- New Plan Learning (company handling construction for Horizon Science Academy schools; see above)
- Member, Chicago Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (Gulenist organization)
- Ahiska Turks Cultural Center (Gulenist organization)
Onder Secen
- Horizon Science Academy Columbus
- Scioto Foundation (Gulenist organization)
- Niagara Educational Services, parent company of the Niagara Foundation (Gulenist organization; Fethullah Gulen is its honorary president.)
Hakan Solak
- University of Nebraska Master of Arts in Education Administration thesis was on home visits, data taken from Chicago Math and Science Academy
- Niagara Foundation
Murat Surucu
- Board member, CMSA
- Was leader of Muslim Students for Dialogue at University of California (Gulenist organization)
Mustafa Tabanli
- Board member, Concept Schools (2006)
- Everest Productions (Gulenist media corporation NJ)
- Described on website of Gulenist publisher The Light (NJ) as "a regular contributor to The Fountain magazine" (Fountain is a Gulenist publication)
- Speaker at Fountain Talks series held at Gulenist Ant Bookstores and Cafe (NJ)
- Horizon Science Academy Toledo
- Wisconsin Career Academy
- Horizon Science Academy Springfield
- On Facebook: "Likes" Turkish Olympiads, Friends of the Peoria Charter School Initiative (organization that founded Quest Charter Academy)
Salim Ucan
- Vice President, Concept Schools
- Involved in establishing Gulen charter schools in Michigan, Missouri and Illinois (including Peoria Math, Science and Technology Academy)
- Principal, Chicago Math and Science Academy
- Principal, Science Academy of Chicago (private Gulen school connected to the Gulenist Niagara Foundation through Niagara Educational Services)
Ismail Unlusoy
- Deputy Secretary General at Abant Platform of the Journalists and Writers Foundation, Turkey, widely known as Gulenist organization
- Startup Coordinator at Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School (Gulen charter school in NJ)
- Director, CEO Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School (Gulen charter school in NJ)
- Math Teacher, Vice Principal (Manager of School Operations), Paterson Charter School For Science and Technology (Gulen charter school in NJ)
- Math Teacher, Department Chair, Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School (Gulen charter school in NY)
- Co-founder, Startup Specialist, Concept Schools
- Teacher, Department Chair, Assistant Principal, Horizon Science Academy
Zhandos Utegulov
- Founding incorporator, along with Vedat Akgun and Latif Kalin, of Horizon Science Academy - Dayton (May 20, 2004 filing with Ohio Secretary of State)
- Member, Niagara Foundation Nebraska (link) (Gulenist nonprofit)
- Founder, Board Member of Lotus School for Excellence (Gulen charter school in Colorado)
- Author, Fountain Magazine (the main US publication of the Gulen Movement; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article of each issue)
- Multicultural Mosaic Foundation (Gulenist nonprofit)
- Currently on faculty of Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Hasan Ali Yurtsever (a.k.a. Hassan Ali Yurtsever, H. Ali Yurtsever, Ali Yurtsever)
- Board Member, Chicago Math and Science Academy
- From website of Berkley Center, Georgetown University (accessed June 2011) "Yurtsever has a long history of participation in the Gulen movement, which began in Turkey under Fethullah Gulen and has spread globally; he has taught in Gulen-affiliated schools, including Fatih University in Istanbul, where he worked from 1999-2003."
- Wrote letter (downloadable below) in support of Fethullah Gulen's I-140 visa application in 2008; letter says "I am in constant contact and consultation with Mr. Gulen..."
- In 2007 interview from Berkley Center at Georgetown University (downloadable here) Yurtsever is quoted: "My father was a close friend of Gulen....Gulen was at my house often, so I came to know him well....I moved to Istanbul for university, and again lived in a Gulen dormitory....I became a teacher in a Gulen high school in Izmir....Through my education and associations with friends I was thus part of the Gulen Movement from an early age."
- Coordinator, Niagara Educational Services (This company has significant financial connections to Horizon Science Academy as explained on this webpage, and is also connected to Concept Schools through the Science Academy of Chicago)
- 2004-2009 President, Rumi Forum (Gulenist religious and political lobbying organization; Fethullah Gulen is honorary president)
- Professor, Administrator, Board Member, American Islamic College (AIC), Chicago. See May 28, 2011 article from New York Times website discussing concerns regarding AIC's ties to the Gulen Movement: "Mr. Yurtsever has long been a follower of Mr. Gulen and serves as administrator of Niagara Educational Services."
(Also: AIC Chairman Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has close connections to the Gulen Movement; he received the 2009 International Peace Award from the Rumi Forum, and a video of him appears on the channel of youtube users “GulenMovement” and "MFethullahGulen." Another video of him appears on the channel of youtube used "MfethullahGulen." ) - Visiting Professor at Georgetown University (John Esposito, a major supporter of Fethullah Gulen and his movement, is on the Georgetown University faculty)
- Gave talk on Gulen’s teachings at seminar, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb 2, 2010
- Physics Teacher at Yamanlar High School (Gulen school)
- Math Professor, Fatih University (Gulen institution)
- Student at Fatih University (Gulen institution)
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Ugur Zengince
- Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis
- Horizon Science Academy Toledo
- Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School
- Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School
- Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati
- Facebook friend of Zeki Saritoprak (prominent spokesperson for Gulen Movement)
___________________
The Concept Schools website (accessed June 2011) shows that Concept has a central office in Des Plaines, Illinois, and two regional offices in Ohio, one in Cleveland and one in Columbus. The main Concept Schools corporation managing the 27 member charter schools listed on this website is the Illinois corporation "Concept Schools- NFP." The role of the Ohio corporation "Concept Schools - Ohio" in the management of the schools is unclear.
Concept Schools - Ohio
A certificate (downloadable below) from the Ohio Secretary of State shows that Concept Schools - Ohio, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit in Ohio in 2006 (the names on the certificate are Cengiz Altuntas, Hakan Ferhatosmanoglu, Savas Kaya, and Ozgur Balsoy). However, Concept Schools - Ohio has never filed for tax exemption with the IRS; Concept is not a 501(c)3 corporation. This means that Concept Schools - Ohio does not have to file IRS Form 990s, making it difficult to track what they do with the schools' money, and the composition of their board of directors. The fact that Concept never tried to become a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation suggests that it would not qualify (since Gulenists would surely not miss a chance to avoid paying taxes).
Note that a corporation can be "non-profit" with respect to state laws even if it does not qualify for 501(c)3 status with the IRS (i.e., is not considered non-profit tax exempt by IRS standards).
The Concept Schools website (accessed June 2011) shows that Concept has a central office in Des Plaines, Illinois, and two regional offices in Ohio, one in Cleveland and one in Columbus. The main Concept Schools corporation managing the 27 member charter schools listed on this website is the Illinois corporation "Concept Schools- NFP." The role of the Ohio corporation "Concept Schools - Ohio" in the management of the schools is unclear.
Concept Schools - Ohio
A certificate (downloadable below) from the Ohio Secretary of State shows that Concept Schools - Ohio, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit in Ohio in 2006 (the names on the certificate are Cengiz Altuntas, Hakan Ferhatosmanoglu, Savas Kaya, and Ozgur Balsoy). However, Concept Schools - Ohio has never filed for tax exemption with the IRS; Concept is not a 501(c)3 corporation. This means that Concept Schools - Ohio does not have to file IRS Form 990s, making it difficult to track what they do with the schools' money, and the composition of their board of directors. The fact that Concept never tried to become a 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation suggests that it would not qualify (since Gulenists would surely not miss a chance to avoid paying taxes).
Note that a corporation can be "non-profit" with respect to state laws even if it does not qualify for 501(c)3 status with the IRS (i.e., is not considered non-profit tax exempt by IRS standards).
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Concept Schools- NFP (Illinois corporation)
Concept Schools is registered in Illinois under the name Concept Schools NFP. One IRS Form 990 is available for that company (see below), showing Vedat Akgun as Board President and Huseyin Kara as board member; the names of Murat Arabaci and Kazim Eldes also appear. On the website of the Secretary of State of Illinois, it can be seen that Concept Schools NFP was incorporated in 2002, with agent name Sedat Duman. Its status in Dec 2010 was "not good standing," but as of June 2011 the status had changed to good standing. Other noteworthy points are that the Form 990 shows a "bad debt writeoff" of $450,000 and loans to Horizon and Noble schools. An amount of $329,060 is shown as due to Breeze, a for-profit company owned by Board President Vedat Akgun. An application for Indiana Math and Science Academy - East, a proposed charter school, dated Dec 2, 2009 confirms that "Breeze provides facility services to Concept-managed schools." There is also an amount of $100,000 due to "Silver Memory;" this now-inactive company and also used the name Horizon International LLC. It was registered in Illinois under the name Cemal Kulunkoglu, who has been a board member of the Gulenist organization CTACC (Chicago Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce). Another $72,000 is shown due to "United Strong," a construction company owned by Ertugrul Gurbuz, who was involved with the Niagara Foundation. No further Form 990s for this corporation are available; the reason, according to the IRS, is that Concept Schools - NFP failed to prove that it qualifies for 501(c)3 status.
Based on information found in charter school applications as well as a copy of the Concept Schools management contract, charter schools under Concept's management give Concept 10% of all the funds they receive (in some sources it is shown as high as 12%). Since Concept Schools currently manages 27 member schools in the Midwest, they must be handling a substantial amount of funds annually. Citizens and taxpayers might wish to ask themselves whether a company that does not qualify for 501(c)3 status should be receiving millions of dollars in public school funding for "management."
Concept Schools is registered in Illinois under the name Concept Schools NFP. One IRS Form 990 is available for that company (see below), showing Vedat Akgun as Board President and Huseyin Kara as board member; the names of Murat Arabaci and Kazim Eldes also appear. On the website of the Secretary of State of Illinois, it can be seen that Concept Schools NFP was incorporated in 2002, with agent name Sedat Duman. Its status in Dec 2010 was "not good standing," but as of June 2011 the status had changed to good standing. Other noteworthy points are that the Form 990 shows a "bad debt writeoff" of $450,000 and loans to Horizon and Noble schools. An amount of $329,060 is shown as due to Breeze, a for-profit company owned by Board President Vedat Akgun. An application for Indiana Math and Science Academy - East, a proposed charter school, dated Dec 2, 2009 confirms that "Breeze provides facility services to Concept-managed schools." There is also an amount of $100,000 due to "Silver Memory;" this now-inactive company and also used the name Horizon International LLC. It was registered in Illinois under the name Cemal Kulunkoglu, who has been a board member of the Gulenist organization CTACC (Chicago Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce). Another $72,000 is shown due to "United Strong," a construction company owned by Ertugrul Gurbuz, who was involved with the Niagara Foundation. No further Form 990s for this corporation are available; the reason, according to the IRS, is that Concept Schools - NFP failed to prove that it qualifies for 501(c)3 status.
Based on information found in charter school applications as well as a copy of the Concept Schools management contract, charter schools under Concept's management give Concept 10% of all the funds they receive (in some sources it is shown as high as 12%). Since Concept Schools currently manages 27 member schools in the Midwest, they must be handling a substantial amount of funds annually. Citizens and taxpayers might wish to ask themselves whether a company that does not qualify for 501(c)3 status should be receiving millions of dollars in public school funding for "management."
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