State board approves closing three Imagine charter academies in St. Louis

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Intro:	Almost 4,000 school students will be affected by the closing of three Imagine charter academies in St. Louis.
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Wrap:

Actuality:	NICASTRO.WAV
Run Time:	00:02
Description: "There is simply no other choice."

That was the Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro when talking about closing three Imagine charter academies in St. Louis.

Currently, the state board of education does not have authority over charter schools and Nicastro said this needs to change.

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Description: "We do believe that the state board of education should have the authority to intervene in chart schools just as they do other public schools."

Over the past four years, the Imagine schools have not met academic requirements and have many financial issues.

The closings will be effective at the end of the school year and the Department of Education has set up a transition office for almost 4,000 students and their parents.

From the state capitol, I'm Sherman Fabes. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	The Commissioner of Education in a press conference Tuesday said there was just simply no other choice but to close three Imagine charter academies in St. Louis.
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Wrap: Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro said the academic levels of the Imagine schools were among the lowest performing in the state.

She said the state board of education had no choice but to close the charter schools that serve almost 4,000 St. Louis school children.

Nicastro also called for the oversight of charter schools academically and financially.

Actuality:	NICSTR2.WAV
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Description: "While charter schools are not subject to accreditation as a formal process, we nevertheless believe that they should be held to the same high standards."

The closings will be effective at the end of the school year and the Department of Education has set up a transition office for students and their parents.

From the state capitol, I'm Sherman Fabes. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.