Amid criticism of its charter schools for irregularities, the Los Angeles Board of Education decided not to renew operating agreements with three schools from Magnolia, a school chain affiliated with the Gülenist terror cult (FETÖ). FETÖ, which runs a global network of schools, are accused of conducting the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

The board voted with six votes and one abstention to close Magnolia Science Academy 1, 2 and 3 in a meeting on Tuesday.

U.S. media outlets claimed earlier last week that three schools run by Magnolia might face closure, citing issues with foreign teachers and "poor management" of schools.

Schools have a right to appeal to the decision but were given a deadline of July 1, 2017 to address their shortcomings or to be shut down.

The decision stems from what the board members described as shortcomings in financial accountability of the schools, including multiple delays on sending paperwork about the schools' finances.

Gülenists run some 10 schools in California under the name Magnolia, where the schools mostly employ Turkish teachers who arrive in the country with little command of the English language and are on temporary work visas. A report on the Los Angeles Times website says officials are more concerned about importing Turkish nationals and their families for teaching and other staff positions and the practice was subject to an investigation.

Ümit Yapanel, the Turkish CEO of Magnolia schools, has acknowledged that they were inspired by Fethullah Gülen's teachings in an interview to the U.S. media, although most charter schools operated by FETÖ sympathizers in the country deny any direct links to the group.

Charter schools linked to FETÖ in the U.S. are facing several probes by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in four states, although the FBI is quiet about the progress of the probes, which is reportedly focused on shady business practices by the charter school chains.

The schools in the U.S., some of which have changed names over time, were opened in the late 1990s and beginning of the 2000s. Around 60,000 students attend the schools annually.

FETÖ's schools in the U.S. are usually gathered under umbrella organizations and are managed through foundations. As an example, there are 46 schools -- all under the name "Harmony" in Texas, 30 schools under the name "Concept" in and around Ohio, as well as Magnolia.

While the judicial processes continue over FETÖ's schools in the U.S., the American public has also started to express more doubts about the schools, according to U.S. media reports.

Last year, Congressman Raul Grijalva sent a letter to the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, demanding a report on investigations into FETÖ's schools.

Also the parents whose children attend those schools complain that the schools' teachers who come from Turkey "can't speak English" and have no "scientific qualifications" according to media reports.

Media reports claim that Gülenists enjoy federal grants and receive over $500 million in taxpayer-funded revenues every year.

Residing in Pennsylvania since 1999, FETÖ's leader Fethullah Gülen is known as the man who controls these schools and the $500 million annual income.

International law firm Amsterdam & Partners recently launched legal action against FETÖ-linked charter schools in the United States.

It filed an official complaint to the Ohio State Auditor about the Ohio-based Horizon Science Academies and Noble Academies due to their alleged improper relationships with their contracted management corporation, their landlord and its subsidiaries. The complaint said governing boards siphon money from classrooms to the schools' real estate arm New Plan Learning, Inc., forestall insolvencies, and use profits from excessive rental payments to acquire new properties to expand the network of Gülen-affiliated schools.

FETÖ is the terror group behind the failed July 15 coup attempt in Turkey and a string of crimes including two previous attempts to overthrow democratically-elected governments, money laundering, sham trials and imprisonment of its foes thanks to its infiltrators within the police and judiciary systems.

FETÖ also runs a global network of schools, from Africa to Central Asia, where it recruits more followers into the group.