Chicago Public Schools is helping the struggling Aspira charter school network make its immediate payroll, but the privately run, publicly financed operator still needs more cash to remain open through the school year.

Aspira CEO Edgar Lopez told WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday that CPS is providing a $760,000 advance — which he says the network will be required to pay back — to cover Aspira’s next two payroll periods. He previously told the district that he didn’t have enough money to pay his employees this Friday.

CPS officials didn’t immediately comment.

The district’s assist comes after CPS sent a letter last week accusing the network of “a failure of governance” and “a lack of financial proficiency necessary” to run a school. The district rejected the $5 million bailout r

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