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2 Celerity charter schools shut down by California board of education
Empty school desk chairs sit in an elementary school classroom
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Photo by Derek Bruff via Flickr Creative Commons
)
Two schools run by Celerity Educational Group — the Los Angeles charter school operator under federal investigation — are shutting down.
The California State Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to let the charters for the campuses expire. The state board was the schools' last chance. L.A. Unified school board members had already voted to deny renewal petitions for the schools.
In January, federal agents raided Celerity's home offices in South L.A. Their warrant is under seal, so it's not clear what investigators were looking for, but LAUSD officials had previously expressed concerns about ties between Celerity Educational Group and a separate, related entity: Celerity Global Development.
There are four other Celerity schools in L.A. and one in Compton. Two more are set to open next year.
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We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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