Parent company profile

CEDU

Defunct 6 programs

CEDU is a parent company (defunct) based in Running Springs, CA. Kids Over Profits has records of 6 programs it has run in 2 states.

History

Year by year

From the records: deals and takeovers, the programs it ran, and the deaths, lawsuits, inspection findings and news stories from the years it ran them. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

198219921994199619982000200120022004200520102019202219822022

  1. 1982

    1. Founded

      Opened Rocky Mountain Academy in Idaho

      Opened Rocky Mountain Academy in Idaho

      Rocky Mountain Academy, CEDU's first school in Boundary County, Idaho, opened in 1982. By 2004 CEDU's payroll put about $9 million a year into the local economy.

      source

    2. Opened

      Opened Rocky Mountain Academy

  2. 1992

    1. Opened

      Opened CEDU Middle School

  3. 1994

    1. DeathJuly 25, 1994

      Johnathan Avila, 16, died at Rocky Mountain Academy

      Died by suicide

      Johnathan Avila, 16, died at Rocky Mountain Academy July 25, 1994

      source

  4. 1996

    1. SettlementJune 27, 1996

      Sued over a student's treatment at Ascent and Northwest Academy

      Sued over a student's treatment at Ascent and Northwest Academy June 27, 1996

      A former student's family sued CEDU on June 27, 1996, in Monterey County Superior Court, alleging negligence, false imprisonment and fraud over his time at Ascent and Northwest Academy in Boundary County, Idaho, from December 1994 to May 1995. The suit said CEDU president Mel Wasserman misled the parents. CEDU did not comment.

      source

  5. 1998

    1. OwnershipJuly 31, 1998

      The Brown Schools: Bought a controlling interest in CEDU

      The Brown Schools: Bought a controlling interest in CEDU July 31, 1998

      On July 31, 1998, The Brown Schools of Austin, Texas, and the CEDU Family of Services of Monterey, California, made a final agreement to combine; Woodbury Reports headlined it as Brown buying a controlling interest. CEDU then had six schools in North Idaho and Southern California. The Spokesman-Review later reported, citing the Austin American-Statesman, that Brown paid about $72 million.

      source 1, source 2

    2. IncidentApril 1, 1998

      Investigation at Rocky Mountain Academy

      A April 1, 1998 Spokesman article reported a state report said allegations by former students that the schools set the stage for abuse were valid.

      Investigation at Rocky Mountain Academy April 1, 1998

      source

  6. 2000

    1. IncidentDecember 20, 2000

      Lawsuit at Rocky Mountain Academy

      Civil action Reibstein v.

      Lawsuit at Rocky Mountain Academy December 20, 2000

      Civil action Reibstein v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy, dated December 20, 2000.

      source

    2. Lawsuit

      Court record - Rocky Mountain Academy

      About Rocky Mountain Academy.

      Court record - Rocky Mountain Academy

      Plaintiffs filed a civil action against a private youth residential facility and its operating organization alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation, and negligence related to the enrollment and subsequent handling of a student. The student participated in a crisis intervention program and was later enrolled in the academy before taking a home visit during which he left home and encountered legal difficulties.

      Court
      UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
      Case number
      00-1781
      Status
      Unknown

      All lawsuits on record

    3. Lawsuit

      Reibstein v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy

      About Rocky Mountain Academy.

      Reibstein v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy

      Plaintiffs filed a civil action against CEDU and Rocky Mountain Academy alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation, and negligence concerning the enrollment and care of their son. The student had been enrolled in a private therapeutic school and crisis intervention program in Idaho, later left on home visitation, and subsequently ran away and faced juvenile criminal charges in New Jersey.

      Court
      United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
      Case number
      NO. 00-1781
      Status
      Unknown

      All lawsuits on record

  7. 2001

    1. In the newsNovember 1, 2001

      Provo Canyon School Closure

      3 articles in Woodbury Reports, StrugglingTeens.com and HuffPost Canada, 2001 to 2020.

      Provo Canyon School Closure November 1, 2001

      This industry newsletter from November 2001 compiles announcements regarding staff appointments, facility upgrades, and educational resources across various private residential and therapeutic programs for youth.

  8. 2002

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit at Rocky Mountain Academy

      In 2002 the facility paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit by two former students alleging CEDU hired poorly trained, abusive staff, which they said led to a 1997...

      Lawsuit at Rocky Mountain Academy

      In 2002 the facility paid $300,000 to settle a lawsuit by two former students alleging CEDU hired poorly trained, abusive staff, which they said led to a 1997 student riot at Northwest Academy.

      source

    2. Settlement

      Paid $300,000 to settle claims over Northwest Academy

      Paid $300,000 to settle claims over Northwest Academy

      CEDU paid a $300,000 settlement in 2002 to the families of two former students who alleged that Northwest Academy staff were poorly trained and abusive.

      source

  9. 2004

    1. Incident

      Abuse at Rocky Mountain Academy

      In 2004 complaints alleged a student at RMA was hazed, beaten and insulted constantly by other students because staff were not in the dormitories.

      Abuse at Rocky Mountain Academy

      source

    2. SettlementOctober 2004

      Sued by more than two dozen parents

      Sued by more than two dozen parents October 2004

      In October 2004 more than two dozen parents sued Rocky Mountain and Boulder Creek academies, alleging misconduct and breach of contract.

      source

  10. 2005

    1. Closed

      Closed 3 programs

    2. ClosedFebruary 2005

      Closed Rocky Mountain Academy

      Closed Rocky Mountain Academy February 2005

      Rocky Mountain Academy closed in February 2005, a month before the parent company's bankruptcy closed CEDU's remaining schools.

      source

    3. ClosedMarch 25, 2005

      The Brown Schools: Filed Chapter 7 and closed its 11 schools

      The Brown Schools: Filed Chapter 7 and closed its 11 schools March 25, 2005

      Brown Schools Inc. filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in Delaware bankruptcy court on a Friday in late March 2005, closing its 11 boarding schools and educational facilities in Texas, Idaho, California, Florida and Vermont. About 300 students in CEDU's seven schools were sent home and about 300 people in North Idaho lost their jobs. The filing listed debts of $10 million to $50 million, including a $1.5 million arbitration settlement among the largest creditors.

      source 1, source 2, source 3

  11. 2010

    1. Closed

      Closed Ascent Wilderness Program

  12. 2019

    1. Closed

      Closed Northwest Academy

  13. 2022

    1. Closed

      Closed Boulder Creek Academy

About CEDU

CEDU is described as a boarding school in California.source

Programs it has run

6 on record.

People

The people the network map ties to the company, with their other jobs in the industry.

7 other people connected to the company
  • Alexander MacDonald
  • Bruce Wilson
  • Christopher Carlin
  • John Padgett
  • John stallone, family head
  • Morty Molin, family head
  • Ron May

Ownership

Owned by

News coverage

  • Why do kids keep going missing? Inside the troubled teen industry CBC | Feb 23, 2023 | expose

    A 16-year-old boy named Daniel Yuen went missing after enrolling in a 'tough love' bootcamp in California. His family had been seeking help for his depression. The bootcamp, CEDU Running Springs, was supposed to provide support, but Daniel vanished. An investigation into the troubled teen industry has uncovered ties to a dangerous cult and raises questions about the treatment of teenagers in these facilities.

  • Running My Anger: The Legacy of CEDU Medium | Jun 25, 2022 | expose

    An anonymous survivor recounts their confinement at the CEDU residential facility in the San Bernardino Mountains and examines the institution's origins, its ties to Synanon, and decades of documented abuses and regulatory failures. The article details how CEDU operated under the guise of therapeutic education while utilizing confrontation tactics, leading to eventual financial collapse and closure following widespread allegations.

  • Allegations of Abuse at U.S. Troubled‑Teen Boarding Schools Involving Canadian Teens HuffPost Canada | Nov 22, 2020 | expose · About one of its programs

    The article reports allegations of physical restraint, solitary confinement, and sexual misconduct at several U.S. troubled‑teen boarding schools that housed Canadian teenagers. Survivors describe harsh punishments, forced medication, and isolation, and the facilities have faced legal and regulatory scrutiny. The piece highlights gaps in oversight and the impact on the survivors’ mental health.

  • State Investigators Examine Potential Connections Between Convicted Offender and Defunct CEDU School The Alpenhorn News | Nov 12, 2009 | expose · About one of its programs

    California Department of Justice investigators are examining potential connections between a convicted serial offender and the now-defunct CEDU School in Running Springs. The investigation focuses on whether a contracted psychiatrist's assistant was granted unsupervised access to students during the 1990s amidst broader allegations of institutional abuse and rights violations.

  • Does This Look Like Mental Health Counseling To You? Jezebel | Apr 17, 2009 | expose

    Former students and staff members allege that Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon employed therapeutic practices that involved sexual role‑playing, public humiliation, and shaming of survivors of prior sexual abuse. The school denies the allegations, while state authorities have conducted investigations into the program's methods.

  • An Oregon School for Troubled Teens Is Under Scrutiny Time | Apr 17, 2009 | expose

    Mount Bachelor Academy, a private residential facility in Oregon, is under state investigation following allegations by students and staff regarding humiliating and abusive therapeutic practices. The facility's management denies the accusations, while the broader context involves a U.S. Supreme Court case concerning public school tuition reimbursement for private special-education placements.

  • Hayden Residents Express Concerns Over Converted Group Homes Argus Observer | Mar 5, 2008 | general · About one of its programs

    Residents in the Hayden, Idaho area expressed concern regarding the establishment of converted group homes operated by Innercept, citing a lack of notification and neighborhood disturbances. Local authorities reported receiving a small number of calls regarding the properties, primarily consisting of minor complaints and a threat of self-harm.

  • Founders Outline Background and Opening Plans for Academy at Canyon Creek StrugglingTeens.com | Dec 13, 2005 | corporate

    An interview details the planned January 2006 opening of the Academy at Canyon Creek, a residential youth facility in Springville, Utah. Founders discuss their professional backgrounds in behavioral healthcare and juvenile administration, stating an initial licensing capacity of 64 residents to manage growth.

  • Universal Health Services, Inc. Announces Acquisition Of KEYS Group Holdings, LLC And Five Additional Behavioral Health Facilities As Well As Board Authorization For Additional Securities Repurchase BioSpace News | Oct 19, 2005 | corporate · About one of its programs

    Universal Health Services, Inc. announced the acquisition of KEYS Group Holdings, LLC, adding 46 behavioral health facilities, residential treatment centers, therapeutic day schools, and detention facilities to its portfolio. Additionally, the company acquired four therapeutic boarding schools and an outdoor intervention program originating from the Brown Schools of Austin bankruptcy.

  • Brown Schools Inc. Shuts Its Doors Education Week | Apr 12, 2005 | closure · About one of its programs

    Brown Schools Inc., a for-profit operator of therapeutic education and boarding programs for teenagers, abruptly filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation, resulting in the immediate closure of its 11 boarding schools and educational facilities across multiple states. The company listed significant debts alongside ongoing lawsuits claiming student abuse and neglect, including allegations related to a 2002 fatality at a company wilderness camp in Texas.

  • Parent Perspective on Nationwide CEDU Program Closures RuralNorthwest.com | Apr 3, 2005 | closure

    The corporate ownership of CEDU abruptly closed its campuses nationwide, including Boulder Creek Academy and Northwest Academy in Idaho, due to financial viability issues. Parents and staff received notification of the sudden closures during an on-site workshop, causing severe disruption and distress for families and students enrolled in the programs.

  • Schools' shutdown troubles community The Spokesman-Review | Mar 29, 2005 | closure · About one of its programs

    The article reports on community concerns following the shutdown of local schools in Washington state. The text discusses local reactions to the institutional closures without detailing specific regulatory violations or allegations.

  • Seen 'n Heard, 11/2001 - Short news clips about Special Schools & Programs Woodbury Reports | Nov 1, 2001 | general · About one of its programs

    This industry newsletter from November 2001 compiles announcements regarding staff appointments, facility upgrades, and educational resources across various private residential and therapeutic programs for youth. Noticeable updates include personnel changes at CEDU schools, facility enhancements at Sunhawk Academy, and the release of a documentary featuring the wilderness program SUWS.

  • Seen and Heard - October 2001 Woodbury Reports | Oct 1, 2001 | general · About one of its programs

    This industry newsletter compilation details various administrative updates, staff appointments, program expansions, and leadership changes across multiple therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs, and youth residential facilities for October 2001. Notices include new program accreditations, facility curriculum updates, and personnel transitions within the troubled teen industry.

  • Seen 'n Heard, 8/2000 Woodbury Reports | Aug 1, 2000 | corporate · About one of its programs

    This industry news compilation from August 2000 reports on administrative updates, leadership appointments, and accreditation statuses across various programs within the troubled teen industry. Notable mentions include JCAHO accreditation for the Catherine Freer family of programs, executive staff changes at Mount Bachelor Academy and CEDU Family of Services, and financial growth projections for Aspen Youth Services.

  • TRIBUTE TO SUSAN WOLFSON News & Views | Jun 1, 1999 | event · About one of its programs

    Susan Wolfson, the Non-Public School Coordinator for CEDU Middle School and CEDU High School, suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage on April 15, 1999 and died on April 16. CEDU canceled classes and provided counseling for students and faculty to process the death, and plans for a memorial garden and scholarship fund were discussed.

  • California Family Files Lawsuit Against North Idaho Behavioral Programs Alleging Abuse The Spokesman-Review | Jul 11, 1996 | lawsuit · About one of its programs

    A California teenager and his family filed a lawsuit against the CEDU Family of Services and two North Idaho programs, alleging physical and emotional abuse during his enrollment from 1994 to 1995. The complaint outlines allegations of medical neglect, unsanitary living conditions, forced physical exertion, and humiliating punishments administered by program staff.

  • Boulder Creek Academy, Northwest Academy and Ascent Program Profile at PracticeLink PracticeLink | corporate · About one of its programs

    An organizational profile and recruitment listing details Boulder Creek Academy, Northwest Academy, and the Ascent Program as residential and wilderness programs operating in Idaho under parent company Universal Health Services, Inc. The text describes the regional setting and multidisciplinary staffing structures intended for adolescents aged 13 to 18.

8 articles about celebrities and viral stories
  • Memoir Details Allegations of Institutional Misconduct at Provo Canyon School Deseret News | Mar 17, 2023 | general

    In her memoir 'Paris,' celebrity advocate Paris Hilton details allegations of physical restraint, chemical restraint, seclusion, and medical misconduct during her time as a resident at Provo Canyon School and other treatment facilities. The publication of the book coincides with her ongoing advocacy for increased industry regulations, transparency, and oversight within the troubled teen industry.

  • Review of Paris Hilton's memoir Jezebel | Mar 16, 2023 | general · About one of its programs

    The article reviews Paris Hilton's memoir, which recounts her experiences at the Provo Canyon boarding school and CEDU program, including allegations of sexual abuse and other mistreatment. It notes her later public disclosures and the broader cultural context of her brand, while also referencing related media such as the documentary "This Is Paris."

  • Memoir Details Alleged Abuse and Subsequent Advocacy by Paris Hilton Regarding Utah Teen Treatment Facility The Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 14, 2023 | general

    In her memoir, celebrity Paris Hilton details allegations of physical restraint, isolation, and sexual misconduct while placed at Provo Canyon School in Utah during the 1990s. The article also outlines her subsequent advocacy efforts leading to legislative reforms in Utah regulating youth treatment facilities.

  • Paris Hilton describes alleged abuse at therapeutic boarding schools Daily Mail | Mar 4, 2023 | general

    Paris Hilton disclosed in her memoir that she was sent to therapeutic boarding schools operated by CEDU, including Provo Canyon School in Utah. She alleges that staff drugged her, subjected her to sexual misconduct, and used physical restraints such as handcuffs during nighttime incidents.

  • Inside the troubled‑teen industry exposed by Paris Hilton New York Post | Sep 30, 2020 | expose

    Paris Hilton's documentary alleges that she and other former residents experienced physical restraints, chemical restraints, and prolonged isolation while enrolled at Provo Canyon School and related facilities. Former students describe punitive practices, forced medication, and limited parental contact, prompting calls for increased oversight of for‑profit residential programs.

  • Paris Hilton documentary explained: What's #BreakingCodeSilence? New York Post | Sep 14, 2020 | expose

    The article outlines the #BreakingCodeSilence movement, which encourages former participants of boarding‑school‑style behavior‑modification programs to share their experiences. It references Paris Hilton’s testimony about alleged abuse at facilities such as Provo Canyon School and describes broader claims of harsh discipline, forced labor, and chemical restraint within the troubled teen industry.

  • Paris Hilton Details Boarding School Experiences in Documentary 'This Is Paris' Distractify | Aug 18, 2020 | expose

    In the documentary 'This Is Paris,' media personality Paris Hilton and other former students shared accounts of institutional abuse, battery, and neglect experienced at behavior modification facilities such as Provo Canyon School and CEDU programs. Alumni have utilized the #BreakingCodeSilence movement to raise awareness about counter-therapeutic practices within these residential facilities.

  • The Multi-Billion Dollar ‘Troubled Teen’ Industry Is Getting a True-Crime Reckoning Observer | Jul 10, 2020 | expose · About one of its programs

    Recent media projects, including podcasts and documentaries, are examining institutional practices within the residential youth program industry. Survivors and public figures are sharing accounts of restrictive practices and psychological methods originating from Synanon-affiliated programs, bringing increased public attention to long-standing allegations of mistreatment.

Lawsuits

  • State of Nevada v. Patricia Chappuis, et al. 2019 | Closed | Justice Court of Beatty Township, Nye County, Nevada | 19CR00069B

    Outcome: Resolved by plea agreement. On July 19, 2021 in Beatty Justice Court, Marcel Chappuis pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace and paid a $2,000 fine; Patricia Chappuis waived her preliminary hearing and agreed to plead guilty to one gross misdemeanor count in district court in Tonopah, with a $2,000 fine. Prosecutors agreed not to seek jail time or probation, and the 45 felony counts against each were dropped. News coverage found does not report Patricia Chappuis's later court date.

    In August 2019 the Nye County District Attorney filed a criminal complaint charging Patricia Lynn Chappuis and Marcel Claude Chappuis with 45 counts of felony child abuse or neglect over their running of Northwest Academy, 1492 South Highway 373 in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. Each count concerns a different enrolled child, aged roughly 11 to 17. Prosecutors alleged that between February 9, 2018 and February 12, 2019 the defendants failed to give the children enough potable water, let them drink unsafe tap water, and failed to screen and supervise staff to protect the children from physical and verbal abuse. The complaint was filed in the Beatty Township Justice Court on August 6, 2019, with an arraignment set for August 19, 2019. In July 2021 the case ended in a plea agreement: Marcel Chappuis pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace, Patricia Chappuis agreed to plead guilty to one gross misdemeanor, each was fined $2,000, and no jail time or probation was sought. Both maintained their innocence through their attorney.

  • Court record - Rocky Mountain Academy 2000 | Unknown | UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA | 00-1781

    Plaintiffs filed a civil action against a private youth residential facility and its operating organization alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation, and negligence related to the enrollment and subsequent handling of a student. The student participated in a crisis intervention program and was later enrolled in the academy before taking a home visit during which he left home and encountered legal difficulties. The facility subsequently informed the parents that the student was ineligible for re-admission, prompting the lawsuit. The court ultimately granted the defendant's motion to compel arbitration pursuant to the participant admission contract.

  • Reibstein v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy 2000 | Unknown | United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania | NO. 00-1781

    Plaintiffs filed a civil action against CEDU and Rocky Mountain Academy alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation, and negligence concerning the enrollment and care of their son. The student had been enrolled in a private therapeutic school and crisis intervention program in Idaho, later left on home visitation, and subsequently ran away and faced juvenile criminal charges in New Jersey. The defendants moved to compel arbitration based on an arbitration clause contained within the participant admission contract.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Deaths on record

Young people who died at, or after being in, one of its programs.

  • Johnathan Avila age 16 | Rocky Mountain Academy | July 25, 1994 | Died by suicide

Documents

Documents on file (164)
Boulder Creek Academy (1)
CEDU High School (6)
CEDU Middle School (4)
News Coverage (12)
Northwest Academy (2)
Rocky Mountain Academy (8)
State Licensing Records (CDSS) (88)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)

Filed under its programs

84 documents across 6 programs: inspection reports, court records, clippings and more, each on its program page.

From the Unsilenced archive

737 documents about CEDU that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: CEDU.

Documents (737)

From SCIAD NET

91 documents about CEDU that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

Program Documents (66)
News clippings (25)

Materials and links

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

31 of these from SCIAD NET.

Archived pages

From SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated November 7, 2026. Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction