WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KEV Group, the leading provider of K-12 school finance management solutions, today released The K-12 Fraud Report: Inside the School Finance Blind Spot Costing Districts Millions, uncovering a largely overlooked structural oversight gap in how school-level funds are managed and monitored across North America.
Based on an analysis of 93 publicly reported and verified K-12 fraud cases that occurred between 2024 and 2025, the report reveals that more than two-thirds (68%) of fraud incidents occur at the individual school level — twice the rate seen at district offices. Even more striking, 97% of cases involve internal staff or volunteers — typically trusted individuals operating in environments where financial controls, standardized processes, and real-time visibility are limited or inconsistent, often without dedicated school finance systems in place.
In total, the analyzed cases account for more than $49 million in documented losses, averaging more than $533,000 per incident. While cash theft remains the most frequent form of school-level fraud, the report finds that digital payment-related fraud, including the use of personal, peer-to-peer payment apps, accounts for a disproportionate share of total losses, often going undetected until long after funds are misappropriated.
“These school fraud cases point to a structural issue, not just isolated bad actors,” said Bram Belzberg, Chairman & CEO of KEV Group. “When school-level funds are managed outside purpose-built school finance systems, districts lose real-time visibility into how money is collected and used — increasing risk for schools, staff, and the communities they serve.”
Other Key Findings from the Report Include:
- Cash theft remains the most common form of school-level fraud, with 62% of cases involving skimming from activity fees, fundraisers, or ticket sales before records are created
- Digital payment fraud from staff setting up personal accounts (e.g. Venmo, PayPal, etc.) drives the largest losses, accounting for 77% of total dollar losses despite representing just 10% of incidents
- Nearly 50% of cases involve individuals closest to school funds, most often bookkeepers and principals
Strengthening Financial Stewardship at the School Level
The report emphasizes that school-level fraud is largely preventable. Districts that adopt purpose-built school finance platforms — connecting accounting, payments, reporting and audit trails — can reduce risk while strengthening transparency and accountability across school locations where funds are handled every day.
KEV Group is the only company that supports districts by enabling real-time visibility into school activity funds through an integrated platform designed specifically for K-12 environments, helping ensure every dollar is protected and directed toward student outcomes.
To learn more about the state of school fraud and the key risk factors driving it, read the K-12 Fraud Report: Inside the School Finance Blind Spot Costing Districts Millions here.
About KEV Group
KEV Group is the leading school finance platform, trusted by 1 in 4 schools across North America. Built for district finance teams and bookkeepers, KEV provides real-time visibility and accountability for school-generated funds by unifying accounting, payments, and reporting in one secure, purpose-built platform. Managing nearly $8 billion in student activity fees annually, KEV helps districts reduce fraud risk, ensure compliance, and focus on what matters most — supporting student learning and achievement.
Media contact:
press@kevgroup.com
