Three charter schools in Los Angeles that are linked to the FETO could be shut down for bringing in teachers from Turkey, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported Wednesday.
The FETO-linked schools -- the largest charter schools networks in the U.S. -- are usually gathered under umbrella organizations and are managed through foundations. There are about 140 schools in total across the country.
Residing in Pennsylvania since 1999, FETO's ringleader and alleged mastermind behind a recent failed coup in Turkey, Fetullah Gulen is known as the man who controls the schools and the $500 million annual income he gets for them from the U.S. government, according to U.S. media reports.
Approximately 10 of the schools are in California, operating under the name Magnolia.
According to the newspaper, the Magnolia schools has for years relied heavily on using temporary work visas to import Turkish teachers.
The five-year operating agreements for the staff, however, at the Magnolia Science Academy 1 in Reseda, Magnolia Science Academy 2 in Van Nuys and Magnolia Science Academy 3 in Carson -- which are currently under review -- are about to expire.
Federal authorities could decide to approve or deny renewal applications in the coming days but officials at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) sent an email to the schools Tuesday that said that it would recommend denial.
The newspaper said the city’s Board of Education is expected to vote next week on the recommendations.
If the recommendations are unanimously accepted, the three charter schools would be shut down.