The Washington Post on Thursday filed an article questioning whether the Los Angeles Times has a conflict of interest when it reports on education. That’s because the newspaper agreed to allow foundations to spend $800,000 to underwrite its education reporting for two years, but three of the foundations are supporters of charter schools, which are vehemently opposed by the teachers’ unions.

One of them, the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, developed the Los Angeles charter proposal, which would create 260 charter schools.

A Times editor was quoted as saying the funders have “no say” in the newspaper’s work. But the article also pointed out that the Times’ editorial board recently applauded the Broad Foundation’s charter proposal without disclosing that the foundation is among those bankrolling the Times’ education reporting.

The arrangement to have foundations underwrite the education coverage was done while Austin Beutner was publisher. He was dismissed in early September.