The board's votes to deny Early College Charter and Pan American Academy Charter high schools continued a seven-year streak of rejecting new charters. But board members weren't unanimous.

Acero Charter School parents and students were left in a state of uncertainty Thursday, as Chicago's Board of Education voted on a measure that will force the closure of two schools under their umbrella.

At the end of Thursday’s meeting, punctuated by tears and anger from students and parents, the Chicago Board of Education voted to absorb five of the Acero Charter schools next year.