ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Hundreds of parents have to make a decision on where they'll send their children to school Thursday after the military-inspired charter school suddenly shut down.
Students gathered outside Acclaim Academy charter school Thursday morning, despite the school being shut down Wednesday.
"How they closed this school down, and then not notify the parents and did not notify the staff this was ridiculous," parent Kelly Carr said.
The students didn't arrive to attend class, but rather to help their teachers pack up their personal belongings.
"The teachers are here today to at least try and maintain the situation at the school, and do our jobs and then remove our belongings because we have been told we need to leave," said teacher James Chorman.
Slideshow: Charter school closed
Teachers told Channel 9 that they will not be paid for the days that followed their last paycheck and they will not receive their summer pay.
"We have been told we are not going to get paid for the work we have done since our last paycheck," teacher James Chorman said.
"I invested a lot of time and money in buying things for my kids because they don't have the money to go and buy them themselves," teacher Diane White said.
The closure in Orange County left students rushing to find a school to finish the last 18 days of the school year and left several teachers like White unemployed.
"I know I am a great math teacher, but is there someone who is willing to take a chance on a very experienced, however, almost 70-year-old woman who loves children?" said White.
Orange County School District officials said students can either go to their zoned public school or find another charter school for the remainder of the school year.
"I might be attending back to Jones High School. Whatever the future has for me, I will be in the military serving my country well," student Nicholas Winston said.
Channel 9 has reported on problems Acclaim Academy has been having in both Orange and Osceola counties.
The Osceola County campus closed because of money problems, compliance issues and poor performance.
Another Acclaim Academy campus in Jacksonville is scheduled to close its doors Friday following classes.
Channel 9 learned that there were no seniors at the school, so graduation will not be affected.
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