The dismissal of CEP does not mean the district is cutting back on the number of students in alternative schools, officials said. In fact, that number may rise, said Lisa Mastoon, a spokeswoman.
She could not say exactly why CEP's contract was terminated.
"The district has the opportunity to cancel contracts based on criteria agreed upon in those contracts," Mastoon said.
Students who were planning on attending the affected schools will return to the same schools in September, she said, but the programs will be run by different providers. One program will be taken over by the district and others given to firms that currently have alternative school contracts.
Parents were notified of the change two weeks ago and they "should not be concerned," Mastoon said. "It's going to be seamless."
Barbara Braman, CEP's senior vice president for policy, said the company was pleased to have worked in the district for a decade.
"For us, they have the right to [terminate the contract] and to decide where the services are best used and who they want to provide them," she said.
The district and company had been at odds and the disagreement had intensified in recent months as the district's alternative education office conducted reviews of its disciplinary school providers.
During a recent interview, Benjamin Wright, the district official who oversees alternative schools, noted that the company had submitted several binders of "rebuttal" to the district's findings. Wright declined to disclose what they were.
The company did not serve as many students as was prescribed under its contract, and parents often resisted sending students there, he said.
Braman declined to comment.
CEP most recently ran its disciplinary school, known as CEP Miller, at 4300 Westminster Ave., serving 400 students in grades 9 through 12, Braman said.
