In an effort to ensure all students were able to stay in a classroom in the fall, Albert Einstein Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences petitioned to Los Angeles County to allow them to stay in operation through their appeals process.
On Thursday, the county judge denied the request to guarantee the middle and high school could stay open while officials await a decision from the state.
“The judge has denied our request for injunctive relief for the continued operation of the MS/HS through the appeals process,” AEALAS Chief Executive Officer Maggie Ford wrote in an email to families.
“This is unfortunate news. However, AEALAS leadership is continuing to work on an alternative solution and we will update you with additional information as it becomes available. We thought it was important to get you this information right away.”
This comes after the William S. Hart Union High School District denied Albert Einstein Academy’s charter renewal in March and the Los Angeles County Board of Education denied the charter in May.
This was Albert Einstein’s second chance in court with the county attempting to postpone the decision to deny its five-year charter renewal.
Albert Einstein was also denied in a county court hearing on May 22.
The Hart District and Los Angeles County Board of Education both cited concerns with the seven-year-old school’s governing structure and handling of finances.
County officials also highlighted concern with the school’s demographics and balance among racial and ethnic groups. Additionally, the county said the school had a lack of transparency in the involvement with the Charter Management Organization AEALAS, Inc.
Also, the county report mentions issues with Albert Einstein’s lack of a comprehensive description of required charter school petition elements, unlikelihood to implement its proposed program and an “unsound” proposed educational program.
Albert Einstein now has the option to petition their charter to the California State Board of Education.
Appeals must be made three months in advance of the state public hearing meeting. For an appeal made in June, the earliest it can be heard by the board is September.
