PHILADELPHIA -- Federal investigators have joined the probe of a charter school that has been targeted with allegations of mismanagement, according to a published report.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday that federal authorities are working with the Philadelphia School District's inspector general, who for several weeks has been looking into allegations of financial mismanagement, nepotism and conflicts of interest at Philadelphia Academy Charter School.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the Inspector General's Office of the U.S. Department of Education are among the federal agencies taking part in the probe, the paper reported.

A lawyer representing the school's board confirmed the federal inquiry.

"As was the case with the school district and the Inspector General's Office, the board has authorized us to fully cooperate with the federal investigation," attorney Henry E. Hockeimer said. He declined to comment further.

The board of the charter school hired a legal team last month to conduct an internal probe.

Mr. Hockeimer and other lawyers told parents and board members at a meeting last week that the preliminary results of their inquiry found evidence of widespread financial wrongdoing, including the use of school credit cards to buy personal items.

The 1,200-student, kindergarten through 12th grade Academy is one of the district's more successful charter schools academically.

Government officials declined to comment.

Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania lawmaker called for a state review of charter schools.

In a letter to the state education secretary, state Rep. Michael McGeehan said that the mismanagement allegations and recent revelations of high salaries paid to some charter executives make it a good time for the state to re-examine charter schools.

First Published: May 25, 2008, 2:15 p.m.