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CEO Of Group That Heavily Backed 2016 Charter School Ballot Q Is Ousted For Alleged Misconduct

The leader of a New York-based advocacy group, Families for Excellent Schools, has been fired as a result of "inappropriate behavior."

In a statement released Thursday, Families for Excellent Schools Board Chair Bryan Lawrence did not detail the allegations against CEO Jeremiah Kittredge, other than to say the "inappropriate behavior" was "toward a non-employee." Lawrence cited the results of an independent investigation into that allegation "and other factors" led to Kittredge's firing.

Kittredge and Families for Excellent Schools did not respond to requests for comment.

Families for Excellent Schools was the main backer of Question 2 on the 2016 Massachusetts ballot. The measure would have allowed the state to increase its number of charter schools by lifting an existing law that capped them at 120.

Through its advocacy arm, the group donated more than $19 million in support of lifting the charter school cap. In September of last year, the organization paid the state $426,466 in connection with alleged campaign finance violations.

State regulators said that through its social welfare arm, Families for Excellent Schools-Advocacy (FESA), the group tried to hide the identity of donors supporting the ballot initiative. At the time, Kittredge said in a statement that Families for Excellent Schools wanted to resolve the matter and move forward, even though "we believe we complied with all laws and regulations during the campaign."

Headshot of Kathleen McNerney

Kathleen McNerney Senior Producer / Editor, Edify
Kathleen McNerney was the senior producer/editor of Edify.

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