Oakland to Close Three Charter Schools

The students are performing very well, but state audit has found financial improprieties

Three of the state's highest-performing schools must shut down at the end of this school year after administrators failed to acknowledge and address illegal activity and serious lapses in financial and administrative oversight, the Oakland school board decided Wednesday night.

The 4-3 vote to shutter American Indian charter schools followed 90 minutes of emotional public testimony, catcalls from the audience, and a handful of comments from board members who acknowledged that the students at the schools have excelled.

It was the adults who failed, board members said.