Education

Students left in limbo after Little Red School House shuts doors

ZELLWOOD, Fla. — Parents are scrambling to get their children into classrooms Monday on what should have been the first day of school at the Little Red School House, which suddenly closed its doors.

The school lost its lease and shut down without notice.

The woman who owns the school still has the students’ records, and other schools won't accept the students without the documentation to prove the students' achievement levels.

Parents told Channel 9 that they feel like they are out of options, and they've called the school's owner repeatedly, but to no avail.

The school rented space from Rolling Hills Community Church, but according to a letter obtained by Channel 9, the school's owner, Lottie Smith, did not agree with the church's vision, and the church did not renew her lease.

Parents fear their children’s records are gone.

“Without them, we can’t do nothing. I don’t know what his transcripts say. I don’t know what classes he’s even taken to get credits for,” said parent Kimberly Johns. “He was supposed to be a senior this year and now I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Johns knows her son has at least six credits left required for graduation in Florida, but she can’t enroll him in another school, or even sign up for homeschooling without those records.

Many parents of students at the school worry there’s not enough accountability in Florida for private schools.

Channel 9 went to Smith’s home, but a sign on the front door reads: "Due to illness, no visitors."

Smith received state scholarship money to run the private school.

Parents said church leaders wanted the school to be accredited before continuing their lease partnership with Smith.