LA Charter Schools Face Closure Amid Financial Questions

LOS ANGELES (AP/CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Unified School District officials have decided to close two charter schools, based on the finding of a draft audit that has not been made public.

District administrators last month revoked the charters of Van Nuys' Magnolia Science Academy 7 elementary school and its sister institution, Magnolia Academy 6 middle school in Palms, The Daily News reported.

Just months earlier, the district board "conditionally" approved renewing the schools' charters.

The California Charter Schools Association says the district's approval and sudden revocation violates state law.

"With little warning, no chance to respond and with only six weeks until the start of the next school year, LAUSD informed us that they are not renewing two of our Charters, based on findings that are either factually incorrect or grave misinterpretations," Magnolia Education and Research Foundation's Mehnet Argin said.

A judge will consider issuing an injunction Thursday that could stop the district from closing the schools, at least temporarily.

About 300 students who attended Magnolia Science Academy 7 and another 140 students at Magnolia Science Academy 6 will have to find new schools to attend for the fall session, according to LA School Report.

According to The Daily News, there had been questions in the past as to whether schools as small as the Magnolia academies were financially viable.

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