View source for CEDU

{{Short description|American private boarding school company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = CEDU Educational Services Inc.
 | image                   = CEDU_Logo.jpg
 | imagesize               = 125px
 | city                    = Running Springs
 | county                  = San Bernardino
 | state                   = California
 | zipcode                 = 92382
 | country                 = United States
 | coordinates             = {{Coord|34.190|-117.095|type:edu_source:googlemaps_region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
 | type                    = [[Private school|Private]] [[therapeutic boarding schools]] [[group home]]
 | opened                  = 1967
 | founder                 = Merle Wasserman
 | closed                  = 2005
 | accreditation           = [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]]
 | motto                   = "See Yourself As You Are and Do Something About It"
 | address                 = 3500 Seymour Road
}}
'''CEDU Educational Services, Inc.''', known simply as CEDU (pronounced see-doo), was a company founded in 1967 in [[Palm Springs, California]] by Mel Wasserman and associated with the birth of the [[troubled teen industry]]. The company owned and operated several [[therapeutic boarding school]]s licensed as [[Group home|group homes]], [[wilderness therapy|wilderness therapy programs]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-01-20 |title=The ASCENT Therapeutic Wilderness Program |url=http://www.cedu.com/ascent.html |access-date=2022-04-17 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970120185150/http://www.cedu.com/ascent.html |archive-date=20 January 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[behavior modification]] programs in [[California]] and [[Idaho]]. The company's schools have faced numerous allegations of abuse.<ref name="longform.org">{{cite web |url=http://longform.org/posts/the-man-who-fought-the-synanon-cult-and-won |title=The Man Who Fought the Synanon Cult and Won |author= Matt Novak |work=Longform |date=September 29, 2014 |access-date=2015-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132506/http://longform.org/posts/the-man-who-fought-the-synanon-cult-and-won |archive-date=2015-01-28 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/synanons-sober-utopia-how-a-drug-rehab-program-became-1562665776 |title=Synanon's Sober Utopia: How a Drug Rehab Program Became a Violent Cult |date=15 April 2014 |access-date=2017-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207085521/https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/synanons-sober-utopia-how-a-drug-rehab-program-became-1562665776 |archive-date=2017-12-07 |url-status=live }}</ref> CEDU was purchased by Brown Schools Inc. of Texas, in 1998. In 2005, Brown Schools Inc filed for bankruptcy, amid lawsuits and state regulatory crackdowns.<ref name="Oxygen: Cult">{{cite web |url=https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/lost-kids-cedu-school-daniel-yuen-disappearance-synanon-cult |title=California School For 'Troubled Teens' Had Roots In A Notorious, Militant Cult |last=Hawkins |first=Eric |date=8 June 2020 |website=[[Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen True Crime]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210222200/https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/lost-kids-cedu-school-daniel-yuen-disappearance-synanon-cult |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Dan |last2=Drumheller |first2=Susan |date=26 March 2005 |title=CEDU shutting down |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/mar/26/cedu-shutting-down/ |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |location=Spokane, Washington |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195428/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/mar/26/cedu-shutting-down/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Origins ==
CEDU originates from [[Synanon]],<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lots-of-tough-and-almost-no-love/id1514836398?i=1000476638319|title=Lots of Tough and Almost No Love|website=The Lost Kids|first=Josh|last=Bloch|date=2 June 2020|publisher=Universal Content Productions (UCP)|access-date=March 26, 2023|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115021410/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lots-of-tough-and-almost-no-love/id1514836398?i=1000476638319|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> a [[new religious movement]] within the [[Human Potential Movement]]. Founded in [[Santa Monica, California]] in 1958 by Charles E. Dederich.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/04/us/charles-dederich-83-synanon-founder-dies.html|title=Charles Dederich, 83, Synanon Founder, Dies|last=Gelder|first=Lawrence Van|date=1997-03-04|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-03-17|archive-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216115419/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/04/us/charles-dederich-83-synanon-founder-dies.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mel Wasserman, founder of CEDU, was a former Synanon member.<ref name="latimes2001">{{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Matthew |date=February 18, 2001 |title=Death and Denial at Herbalife |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-18-tm-26780-story.html |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |quote="Mel Wasserman, a Palm Springs furniture store owner who had sponsored recovering addicts at Synanon, a drug rehab program, at its facility in Santa Monica." |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709105352/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-18-tm-26780-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[Maia Szalavitz]], author of ''[[Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids]]'', "Synanon sold itself as a cure for hardcore heroin addicts who could help each other by 'breaking' new initiates with isolation, humiliation, hard labor, and sleep deprivation."<ref>{{cite book|title=Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids|first=Maia|last=Szalavitz|date=16 February 2006|publisher=Riverhead Books}}</ref>
The troubled teen industry has continued to be associated with [[Synanon]] and CEDU spin-offs.<ref name="rosen">{{cite book|title=Troubled: The Failed Promise of America's Behavioral Treatment Programs|first=Kenneth|last=Rosen|date=January 12, 2021|publisher=Little A}}</ref> Former students have made the assertion that CEDU is an acronym for Charles E. Dederich University,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gilpin |first=Elizabeth |title=Stolen: A Memoir |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=978-1538735442}}</ref> while CEDU marketing materials claim that it stands for "See Yourself As You Are and Do Something About It".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-04 |title=About CEDU - Our History, The CEDU Story |url=http://cedu.com/aboutcedu/about_story.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010204100500/http://cedu.com/aboutcedu/about_story.html |archive-date=February 4, 2001 }}</ref>

==Program==
The average time a child spent at a CEDU program before graduating was {{frac|2|1|2}} years. Teenagers were often held beyond their 18th birthday with conservatorship or extended custody, until they completed the full program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodbury |first=Denise M. |title=News & Views, 6/1995 - Losing Control? Maybe Not! |url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/1995/6/news01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815230050/https://strugglingteens.com/archives/1995/6/news01.html |archive-date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=strugglingteens.com |quote="A guardianship grants to the guardian those powers and responsibilities a parent would have for a minor child. In effect, it is a court order extending custody beyond the child's majority."}}</ref> The programs were year-round. CEDU had its own language, derived from Synanon. Three times a week, for 3–4 hours, teenagers would attend "raps," pseudo psychology group sessions led by untrained staff<ref name="Bloch">{{Cite podcast|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tell-it-all/id1514836398?i=1000476638322|title=Tell it All|website=The Lost Kids|publisher=Universal Content Productions (UCP)|last=Bloch|first=Josh|date=1 June 2020|access-date=March 26, 2023|archive-date=May 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513120537/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tell-it-all/id1514836398?i=1000476638322|url-status=live}}</ref> based on Synanon's "the game."<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-game/id1514836398?i=1000476638321|title=The Game|website=The Lost Kids|publisher=Universal Content Productions (UCP)|last=Bloch|first=Josh|date=1 June 2020|access-date=March 26, 2023|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115020620/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-game/id1514836398?i=1000476638321|url-status=live}}</ref> Children and staff were incentivized to "indict" residents for minor rule infractions, previous traumas, and "disclosures" or items individuals were ashamed of, in the name of emotional growth. This is commonly referred to as [[attack therapy]], where screaming, swearing, and humiliation is appropriate and expected. At night there would be group touching, called "smooshing", which consisted of hand holding, spooning, snuggling, caressing, sitting on laps, petting hair. Smooshing was expected of both teenagers and staff. It was common for staff to engage in this form of touch with teenagers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2020 |title=12 Ways Teen Treatment Has Changed Since Paris Hilton Went to CEDU |url=https://www.allkindsoftherapy.com/blog/12-ways-teen-treatment-has-changed-since-paris-hilton-went-to-cedu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320001433/https://www.allkindsoftherapy.com/blog/12-ways-teen-treatment-has-changed-since-paris-hilton-went-to-cedu |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=All Kinds of Therapy |quote="2. Smooshing was the practice of laying on one another and often included males and females, and often mixed staff with students. This was not required. However, Now, this would be a reportable offense to the licensing department in the state that the treatment program or therapist is licensed. While the intentions of the practice were reportedly to provide connection and attachment to participants, the long-time abandonment of this downright creepy practice is a very good thing."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hilton |first=Paris |title=Paris Hilton: my boarding school hell and how I survived |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/paris-hilton-memoir-extract-provo-canyon-abuse-2023-pjhps5qkv |access-date=2023-05-11 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

In addition to raps, in order to advance in the CEDU program, a resident would have to earn the privilege to participate in a workshop known as a "{{Proper name|propheet}}" every three months.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-12-14 |title=Cedu offers hope to young, hard-core addicts - 1972-12-14 |pages=34 |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corvallis-gazette-times-cedu-offers-hope/104618316/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812134129/https://www.newspapers.com/article/corvallis-gazette-times-cedu-offers-hope/104618316/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The {{Proper name|propheets}} were based on Synanon's "trip", and would last from 24 hours to several days at a time. The {{Proper name|propheets}} were led by unlicensed staff along with teenagers at an advanced stage of the program, known as "upper school". They employed sleep-deprivation, humiliation, exposure to large variations in temperature, guided imagery, loud and repetitive music, regression therapy, physical reenactments of trauma, and forced emoting. They included things like digging your own grave and lying in it, slapping each other, singling out a child to physically fight to get into a circle of their peers, being restrained on mattresses, or casting you live or die votes on a lifeboat. The propheets were based on the book ''[[The Prophet (book)|The Prophet]]'' by [[Kahlil Gibran]] as well as the writings of [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]] and [[Henry David Thoreau]].{{cn|date=March 2024|reason=need a RS connecting this literature to CEDU}} Each used "tools" from the historic literature, that were later used as stepping stones in the program that teenagers were expected to act upon in everyday life. There were seven propheets (Truth,<ref name="Truth Propheet Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/truth|title=Truth Propheet Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064305/https://lathroplybrook.com/truth/|url-status=live}}</ref> Children's,<ref name="Children’s Propheet Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/childrens|title=Children's Propheet Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111092035/https://lathroplybrook.com/childrens/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brother's Keeper,<ref name="Brother’s Keeper Propheet Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/brothers-keeper|title=Brother's Keeper Propheet Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064303/https://lathroplybrook.com/brothers-keeper/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dreams,<ref name="Dreams Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/dreams|title=Dreams Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064301/https://lathroplybrook.com/dreams/|url-status=live}}</ref> I Want To Live,<ref name="I Want To Live Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/i-want-to-live|title=I Want To Live Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111092119/https://lathroplybrook.com/i-want-to-live/|url-status=live}}</ref> Values,<ref name="Values Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/values|title=Values Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064300/https://lathroplybrook.com/values/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Imagine<ref name="Imagine Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/imagine|title=Imagine Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111092323/https://lathroplybrook.com/imagine/|url-status=live}}</ref>), and two workshops (I and Me,<ref name="I and Me Workshop Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/I-and-Me|title=I and Me Workshop Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064301/https://lathroplybrook.com/I-and-Me/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Summit<ref name="Summit Workshop Script">{{Cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Summit|title=Summit Workshop Script|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109064307/https://lathroplybrook.com/Summit/|url-status=live}}</ref>). 

During intake, which occurred upon a teenager's arrival to a CEDU program, children were strip searched by staff and upper school residents, placed in generic clothing after their belongings were taken away, and made to sign a contract consenting to CEDU's agreements. The three most emphasized agreements were no sex, no drugs, and no violence, yet there were agreements for every part of life, including timed showers, the way hair was worn, and the way people must speak. There were  restrictions on clothing items, brand names, rock star imagery, wearing black, major league sports team logos and luxury brands were banned.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mike |first=Davison |title=An Invitation to Personal Peace;Guidelines To Help You Move Further Along Your Path |publisher=1st World Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=9781421899428 |quote="One of the first things that occurred when students were admitted to the school was that all brand name vanity clothes were confiscated by the staff and given to the parents to take home. Items such as jackets depicting gang symbols, Clothing picturing famous rock stars, even clothing with major league sports team logos or player's names and numbers on them were taken away."}}</ref>Violators would be sent to the Ascent Wilderness Program located in [[Ruby Ridge, Idaho]], which was CEDU's version of a six-week boot camp, or placed on a "restriction", which included emotional growth writing assignments, humiliating yourself in front of others, manual labor, isolation, "bans" or forbidding a teenager to speak to, look at, or be acknowledged by peers, and sometimes "bans" from singing, smiling, reading, learning, drawing, and being touched. Punishments also consisted of individual programs, like binding someone's eyes and ears so that they were forced to live like Hellen Keller, or feminine programs where girls were forced to dress up and act feminine, or boy bans, where girls where not permitted to interact with boys.

To receive a diploma from Cedu High School the students were required to complete 232 units. Diplomas were accredited by the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges|Western Association of School and Colleges]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Caring for kids with special needs : residential programs for children and adolescents |publisher=Peterson's Guides. |year=1994 |isbn=9781560792994 |edition=2nd |pages=266 |quote="To graduate, a student must complete 232 units of credit. These must include the following: 40 units of English, 30 units of social science, 20 units of mathematics, 20 units of science, 20 units of physical education, 10 units of fine arts or foreign language, 5 units of health, 85 units of electives, and 2 units of computer science. Graduates receive a diploma accredited by WASC."}}</ref> Diplomas where not a requirement for graduating the 2.5 year CEDU program. Diplomas contained falsified credits, such as speech credits for weekly raps. CEDU did not provide legitimate high school courses. Often classes had no text books, and children were only allowed to participate as a privilege, which was often revoked. Many children returned home to resume high school.

==History ==

===Original CEDU period (1967–1985)===

CEDU was founded by Merle "Mel" Wassermann and his wife Brigette Wasserman, in their Palm Springs home. Wasserman was a furniture salesman and had been involved with sponsoring people undertaking the Synanon program.<ref name="latimes2001" /> CEDU was initially based in [[Reche Canyon]] on a working ranch. In 1968, there were 28 people living on the ranch under the guidance of Wassermann, ranging from 13 to 24 years old. However, despite the fact that they were working on the ranch, they were not receiving any payment for their labor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pasik |first=Herb |date=12 July 1968 |title=Cedu....an experiment in youth work |pages=3 |work=Redlands Daily Facts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104607799/cedu-an-experiment-in-youth-work/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325183621/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104607799/cedu-an-experiment-in-youth-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref> CEDU had been given non-profit status and actively solicited donations.

In September 1968, CEDU faced a setback when county planners denied their ranch a permit for public use. This decision meant that the program would have to find a new location to continue its operations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shoemaker |first=Marjie |date=25 September 1968 |title=Riverside County Planners Deny Cedu Ranch Permit |pages=20 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104609367/riverside-county-planners-deny-cedu-ranc/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104609367/riverside-county-planners-deny-cedu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:CEDU main house.jpg|thumb|CEDU main house]]
In 1969, CEDU bought a town house in San Bernardino and was also operating a gasoline station in [[Loma Linda, California|Loma Linda]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shoemaker |first1=Marjie |title=Clipped From The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72101608/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=9 April 1969 |pages=25 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123545/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72101608/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Contemporaneous newspaper reporting cited allegations of "sex orgies" and "brainwashing", claims that were at the time rebutted at length by CEDU.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Tom |title=Clipped From The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9117658/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=30 November 1969 |pages=14 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123607/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9117658/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> CEDU was later accused by a critic of telling problematic students that they may end up at [[California Youth Authority]], [[Youth detention center|Juvenile Hall]] or [[Patton State Hospital|Patton state hospital]] if they left prior to completing the program.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Tom |title=Critics assert Cedu destroying teenagers - Part 2 - 1969-11-30 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104616606/critics-assert-cedu-destroying-teenagers/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=30 November 1969 |pages=18 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123550/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104616606/critics-assert-cedu-destroying/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Cedu moved into the property in Running Springs that had previously owned by [[Walter Huston|Walter Houston]] and turned it into the Running Springs campus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Jesse |date=1991-11-25 |title=Selznick's Mountain Retreat Burns : Fire: Renowned for parties in Hollywood's Golden Age, the late producer's mansion is destroyed when fireplace flames eat through mortar. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-25-mn-129-story.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |quote=Just down the road, Oscar-winning actor Walter Huston had built a palatial home of his own in the early 1930s--now a boarding school for troubled teen-agers, according to Robinson’s book and residents. |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812122038/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-25-mn-129-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sichel |first=Jared |date=2015-01-28 |title=The rebirth of Running Springs |url=https://jewishjournal.com/cover_story/154410/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Jewish Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812122508/https://jewishjournal.com/cover_story/154410/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Davidson |first=Mike |title=An Invitation to Personal Peace;Guidelines To Help You Move Further Along Your Path |publisher=1st World Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=9781421899428 |quote="Eventually, he discovered an old abandoned hunting lodge that once belonged to the Hollywood producer, John Hunston's grandfather."}}</ref>

In a 1973 news article titled "Center a beacon light leading addicts out of world of drugs", it was reported that students were being assigned jobs such as construction, kitchen duties, landscaping, and plumbing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sitomer |first=Curtis |date=August 5, 1973 |title=Center a beacon light leading addicts out of world of drugs |pages=4 |work=The Columbian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104617974/center-a-beacon-light-leading-addicts-ou/ |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104617974/center-a-beacon-light-leading-addicts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Including digging out tree stumps.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-09 |title='The Lost Kids' Podcast Explores Missing Teen Daniel Yeun and 'Tough Love' Boarding Schools |url=https://www.insideedition.com/what-happened-to-daniel-yuen-the-lost-kids-podcast-explores-missing-teen-and-tough-love-boarding |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Inside Edition |language=en-US |quote="Students were given only limited schooling, with the majority of their time spent in the sessions and performing chores and manual labor such as digging out tree stumps." |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111043849/https://www.insideedition.com/what-happened-to-daniel-yuen-the-lost-kids-podcast-explores-missing-teen-and-tough-love-boarding |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Expansion (1982–1990)===
In 1982, a small group of staff and residents known as the "original seven" left the [[Running Springs, California]] campus for [[Bonners Ferry, Idaho]], to open Rocky Mountain Academy (RMA). RMA's curriculum and philosophy were identical to the original school, CEDU Running Springs.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sFba46oDGKIC&pg=PA34 |title=National Directory of Alcoholism Treatment Programs |date=1981 |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism |language=en |access-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326123550/https://books.google.com/books?id=sFba46oDGKIC&pg=PA34 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1989, CEDU expanded tuition sources to allow payment from school districts and insurance companies, and started an endowment fund to allow scholarships. On rare occasions, staff and students were transferred between schools. The staff generally transferred campuses for promotions, while students were transferred because the staff felt a "fresh start" was the best (and usually last) option for the student. Rocky Mountain Academy was one of the largest employers in [[Boundary County, Idaho]] during the period, diversifying its timber and agriculture economy.

In the 1990s, CEDU expanded with the opening of three programs: CEDU Middle School, a program for 12-14 year-olds on the CEDU Running Springs, CA, campus;<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-01-20 |title=CEDU Middle School |url=http://cedu.com/cedums.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980120051125/http://cedu.com/cedums.html |archive-date=January 20, 1998 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-01-05 |title=CEDU Middle School - Introduction |url=http://www.cedumiddleschool.com/cedums.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020105230505/http://www.cedumiddleschool.com/cedums.html |archive-date=January 5, 2002 }}</ref> when Cedu middle school first opened in 1994, the age group was {{frac|9|1|2}} to {{frac|13|1|2}}.<ref name=":0" /> Ascent, a 41-day wilderness camp in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, where many children were sent prior to enrollment before a second CEDU program,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Extreme Sports |url=http://www.cedu-ascent.com/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=www.cedu-ascent.com |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730122659/http://www.cedu-ascent.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and where participant's age varied, ranging from 13 to 20 years old;<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Caring for kids with special needs : residential programs for children and adolescents |publisher=Peterson's Guides |year=1994 |isbn=9781560792994 |edition=2nd |pages=264}}</ref> Northwest Academy, a therapeutic boarding school founded in 1994 for 13-17 year olds located in the state of [[Idaho]] near the Selkirk mountains;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-08-01 |title=Boarding School for Troubled Teenagers-Northwest Academy |url=http://www.cedu.com/schools/nwa/nwa.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801234408/http://www.cedu.com/schools/nwa/nwa.html |archive-date=August 1, 2001 }}</ref> and Boulder Creek Academy, a therapeutic boarding school, which was established in 1993.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Peterson's guide to private secondary schools, 1996-97 |publisher=Peterson's Guides |year=1996 |isbn=1560795867 |edition=17th |pages=1182}}</ref> cedu also ran another program called Hilltop that was established in 1984.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Caring for kids with special needs : residential programs for children and adolescents (2nd ed.) |publisher=Peterson's Guides |year=1994 |isbn=9781560792994 |pages=280 |quote="The Hilltop community was established in 1984 as an adjunct to CEDU school."}}</ref> it's age ranged from {{Fraction|17|1|2}} to {{Fraction|27|1|2}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-02-06 |title=Cedu clip |pages=413 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-cedu-clip/122611684/ |access-date=2023-08-12}}</ref>

===CEDU Education — Brown Schools (1998–2005)===
CEDU Education was sold to Brown Schools in 1998.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moseley |first=Joan |date=17 August 2005 |title=CEDU School Sold for $4.3 Million |work=Mountain News |url=https://mountain-news.com/news/29467/cedu-school-sold-for-43-million/ |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325121018/https://mountain-news.com/news/29467/cedu-school-sold-for-43-million/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Closure===
Brown Schools operated 11 boarding schools and educational facilities in California, Idaho, Texas, Vermont, and Florida. Upon closure, several CEDU employees reported to Lake Arrowhead ''Mountain News'' that pending litigation against CEDU for abuse and violation of rights as well as citations against the schools contributed to the downfall.<ref>[http://www.mountain-news.com/articles/2005/03/31/news/news1.txt CEDU School Declares Bankruptcy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429202954/http://www.mountain-news.com/articles/2005/03/31/news/news1.txt |date=April 29, 2009 }}, ''Lake Arrowhead Mountain News'', March 31, 2005.</ref> In March 2005, Brown Schools declared bankruptcy. The same year, [[Universal Health Services]] bid $13.5 million for the Brown School properties in bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/17/business/17teen.html|title=A Business Built On the Troubles Of Teenagers; Schools Are Popping Up to Deal With Drug and Behavior Issues|date=August 17, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419050351/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/17/business/17teen.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the closure, a group of parents paid for 12 of the students to receive two of the emotional growth workshops<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neufield |first=Michael |date=6 April 2005 |title=Workshops Slated For 12 Former CEDU Students |work=Mountain News |url=https://mountain-news.com/news/31082/workshops-slated-for-12-former-cedu-students/ |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325122255/https://mountain-news.com/news/31082/workshops-slated-for-12-former-cedu-students/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Idaho Educational Services===
[[Universal Health Services Inc.]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/topic/company/universal-health-services-inc|title=Universal Health Services Inc.|newspaper=The New York Times|publisher=|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220151104/http://www.nytimes.com/topic/company/universal-health-services-inc|url-status=live}}</ref> a public company focused on hospitals and behavioral health centers, subsequently reopened three of the former CEDU facilities: Boulder Creek Academy (located on the former Rocky Mountain Academy property), Northwest Academy, and Ascent Wilderness Program, whose name they later changed to Caribou Ridge Intervention. These operate under the new name of Idaho Educational Services. Each program is overseen by individual directors.

== In the news ==

'''December 12, 1985''' - Rescue teams search for five girls who went missing in a snowstorm during a survival course run by CEDU in the [[Joshua Tree National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 December 1985 |title=California Digital newspaper Collection |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19851212.2.8&srpos=1&e=------198-en--20--1--txt-txIN-cedu-------1 |url-status=live |access-date= |website=California Digital newspaper Collection |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709003413/https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19851212.2.8&srpos=1&e=------198-en--20--1--txt-txIN-cedu-------1 }}</ref> The girls were found by a US Marine Corps helicopter safe after a 3-day search, unaware that anyone had been searching for them.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 1985 |title=Teen-age girls taking survival course found unharmed after 3-day search |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19851213.2.5&srpos=1&e=------198-en--20--1--txt-txIN-cedu+joshua+tree+missing+girls-------1 |access-date= |website=California Digital newspaper Collection |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731142720/https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19851213.2.5&srpos=1&e=------198-en--20--1--txt-txIN-cedu+joshua+tree+missing+girls-------1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''January 16, 1993''' - John Christopher Inman goes missing from Cedu High School.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Are Police Stifling the Investigation Into 3 Teens Who Vanished From a Controversial Residential Treatment Facility? |language=en |work=LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |url=https://lamag.com/news/cedu-running-springs-san-bernadino-sheriffs-department-daniel-yuen-john-inman-blake-pursley |access-date=2023-08-12}}</ref>

'''June 26, 1994''' - Blake Wade Pursley goes missing from Cedu High School He was last seen about 8 p.m. going out to the barn to check the animals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-06-25 |title=15 years later, boy who vanished from Running Springs school still missing |url=https://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20090625/15-years-later-boy-who-vanished-from-running-springs-school-still-missing/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=San Bernardino Sun |language=en-US |archive-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802051802/http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20090625/15-years-later-boy-who-vanished-from-running-springs-school-still-missing |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-07-01 |title=Article clipped from The San Bernardino County Sun |pages=4 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/110160529/ |access-date=2023-08-12 |archive-date=August 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812112215/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/110160529/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Missing Person Case |url=https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/1848/details?nav |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=National Missing and Unidentified Persons System |quote="Pursley was last seen June 27, 1994. He was living at a residential youth facility the CEDU School, east of Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino." |archive-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521194854/https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/1848/details?nav |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''July 15, 1994''' - A male client from Texas hanged himself with a belt from a pipe of an overhead sprinkler system in one of the dormitories of Lower Camelot at Rocky Mountain Academy in [[Bonners Ferry, Idaho]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19940719&id=Wz8xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cAoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3412%2C5099278|title=Boy Hangs Himself in Dormitory|first=Kevin|last=Keating|date=July 19, 1994|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422232952/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19940719&id=Wz8xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cAoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3412,5099278|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teenliberty.org/RMA.htm|title=''Spokesman-Review'' excerpt|access-date=October 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916083620/http://www.teenliberty.org/RMA.htm|archive-date=September 16, 2008|url-status=usurped|publisher=}}</ref>

'''July 28, 1994''' - It is revealed that a former CEDU employee and white separatist planned to kidnap students attending Rocky Mountain Academy for ransom, including the children of celebrities [[Barbara Walters]] and [[Clint Eastwood]]. The employee, who was a friend of [[Randy Weaver]], was fired after federal agents discovered the plot.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19940728&id=xt9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ousDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3954,6797602|title=1986 Kidnap Plot Revealed|publisher=The Register-Guard|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106063016/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19940728&id=xt9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ousDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3954,6797602|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''June 27, 1996''' - John C. D'Abreo files a lawsuit against CEDU in Monterey County, claiming he was physically and emotionally abused at Ascent and Northwest Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/jul/11/teen-sues-north-idaho-therapy-cs-family-says|title=Teen Sues North Idaho Therapy Camps Family Says Boy Was Abused|first=Julie|last=Titone|date=July 11, 1996|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107010628/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/jul/11/teen-sues-north-idaho-therapy-cs-family-says/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''November 1996''' - Former Rocky Mountain Academy staff and owner of Boundarylines Crisis Intervention Richard "Rowdy" Armstrong is accused of drugging, raping and sodomizing former Rocky Mountain Academy staff and Boundarylines Crisis Intervention co-worker Twila Stephenson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/nov/07/woman-sues-ex-boss-alleging-sexual-assault|title=Woman Sues Ex-Boss, Alleging Sexual Assault Lawsuit Claims Man Drugged, Raped and Sodomized Woman|first=Kevin|last=Keating|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106063052/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/nov/07/woman-sues-ex-boss-alleging-sexual-assault/?amp-content=amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''January 1997''' - Five people are injured in a riot at Northwest Academy in [[Ruby Ridge, Idaho]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/jan/11/parents-authorities-trying-to-get-to-bottom-of|title=Parents, Authorities Trying To Get To Bottom Of Riot No Charges Filed After Violent Outbreak At Academy For Troubled Teens|first=Kevin|last=Keating|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106063039/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/jan/11/parents-authorities-trying-to-get-to-bottom-of/?amp-content=amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''March 31, 1998''' - Marsha and Ronald Accomazzo file a lawsuit against CEDU. Their son was enrolled at Ascent and Rocky Mountain Academy, and injured in the Northwest Academy riot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/id-supreme-court/1023287.html|title=Accomazzo v. CEDU Educational Services|first=|last=|date=December 28, 2000|work=FindLaw|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107010615/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/id-supreme-court/1023287.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''March 31, 1998''' - Nancy Dark makes allegations leading to charges against CEDU.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/id-supreme-court/1490163.html|title=Lewis v. CEDU Educational Services|first=|last=|date=December 28, 2000|work=FindLaw|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107010617/https://caselaw.findlaw.com/id-supreme-court/1490163.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her son was enrolled at Boulder Creek Academy, Ascent, and the Northwest Academy, and injured in the Northwest Academy riot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/2000116215p3d114711155|title=Lewis v. CEDU Educational Services|first=|last=|date=December 28, 2000|publisher=Leagle|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827005922/https://www.leagle.com/decision/2000116215p3d114711155|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''April 1, 1998''' - CEDU is sued for fraud, racketeering, and battery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/apr/01/suit-says-schools-for-troubled-teens-set-stage|title=Suit Says Schools For Troubled Teens Set Stage For Abuse State Report Says Allegations By Former Students Are Valid|first=Kevin|last=Keating|date=April 1, 1998|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106063017/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/apr/01/suit-says-schools-for-troubled-teens-set-stage/?amp-content=amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''April 5, 2000''' - Dianne and Robert Reibstein file a lawsuit against CEDU for neglect and abuse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/reibstein-v-cedurocky-mountain-academy|title=Reibstein v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy|first=|last=|date=December 20, 2000|publisher=Casetext|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107010617/https://casetext.com/case/reibstein-v-cedurocky-mountain-academy|url-status=live}}</ref> Their son was at Ascent and Rocky Mountain Academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/00D0945P.pdf|title=Dianne Reibstein, Robert Reibstein, and David Phillips v. CEDU/Rocky Mountain Academy|first=|last=|date=December 20, 2000|publisher=Eastern District of Pennsylvania, United States District Court|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107035434/https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/00D0945P.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''October 8, 2002 -''' an article titled "Hilfiger CEO Helps Kids"  is published by ''[[Forbes]]''. It goes into detail how the CEO Joel Horowitz with his friends founded the Friends of CEDU Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hilfiger CEO Helps Kids |url=https://www.forbes.com/2002/10/08/1008cedu.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Forbes |language=en |quote="Horowitz wants to change all that. Four years ago he co-founded the Friends of CEDU Foundation. Contributions from him and the Tommy Hilfiger Foundation comprise the bulk of the $500,000 fund." |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511221825/https://www.forbes.com/2002/10/08/1008cedu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''October 13, 2002''' - An article titled "When Rich Kids Go Bad" is published by ''Forbes'' magazine. Leigh Horowitz, along with several other anonymous CEDU clients, are interviewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2002/1014/140.html|title=When Rich Kids Go Bad|first=Erika|last=Brown|date=October 13, 2002|work=Forbes|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107063432/https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2002/1014/140.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''January 14, 2004''' - An article about Boulder Creek Academy titled "The Last Resort" is published by the ''Chicago Tribune''. Several CEDU clients and parents are interviewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-14-0401140188-story.html|title=The Last Resort|first=Bonnie Miller|last=Rubin|date=January 14, 2004|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107011744/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-14-0401140188-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''February 8, 2004''' - [[Disappearance of Daniel Yuen|Daniel Ted Yuen]] goes missing from CEDU. The missing person case is still open in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New clues emerge 15 years after teen's disappearance: 'We just want to know he's safe,' family says |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/clues-emerge-15-years-teens-disappearance-safe-family/story?id=60443656 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301204255/https://abcnews.go.com/US/clues-emerge-15-years-teens-disappearance-safe-family/story?id=60443656 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''May 26, 2020''' - [[Adam Eget]], an actor and comedian known for his work with [[Norm Macdonald]], talks about his experiences with CEDU on ''[[The Joe Rogan Experience]]'' podcast.<ref>{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/cAv3p5vv5cs| archive-date = December 11, 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAv3p5vv5cs| title = Adam Eget Survived Three Years in an Abusive Cult | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Eget describes CEDU as an abusive [[cult]], and talks about multiple examples of child endangerment he saw as a client attending a CEDU School.

'''September 14, 2020''' - ''[[This Is Paris]]'', a documentary that covers the time [[Paris Hilton]] spent at CEDU School, Ascent Wilderness Program, [[Cascade school|Cascade School]], and [[Provo Canyon School]], premieres on YouTube.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOg0TY1jG3w|title=This Is Paris|first=Alexandra|last=Dean|date=September 14, 2020|publisher=The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC)|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104204323/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOg0TY1jG3w|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''January 17, 2021''' - The Los Angeles Times publishes an article where CEDU client [[Rachel Uchitel]] describes allegedly having to dig a grave with a spoon and then being forced to lay in it.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=January 17, 2021 |title=Will Rachel Uchitel Ever be Able to Leave the Word 'Mistress' Behind Her? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-01-17/rachel-uchitel-tiger-woods-hbo-documentary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106080704/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-01-17/rachel-uchitel-tiger-woods-hbo-documentary |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=January 6, 2022 |quote="They made me dig a grave with a spoon and then lay in it," |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

'''April 23, 2022''' - ''[[Rich & Shameless]]'' kicks off episode one of their first season with an exposé on [[Girls Gone Wild (franchise)|Girls Gone Wild]] founder [[Joe Francis]]. ''Dead, Insane, or in Jail'' <ref>{{cite book|title=Dead, Insane, or in Jail|first=Zack|last=Bonnie|date=July 23, 2015|publisher=Not With The Program|isbn=978-0996337823 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Dead, Insane, or in Jail: Overwritten|first=Zack|last=Bonnie|date=February 26, 2018|publisher=Not With The Program|isbn=978-0996337830 }}</ref> author Zack Bonnie is interviewed about the time they spent together at Rocky Mountain Academy in the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tntdrama.com/shows/rich-shameless/season-1/episode-1/girls-gone-wild-exposed|title=Girls Gone Wild Exposed|first=|last=|date=April 23, 2022|publisher=Rich & Shameless|access-date=March 19, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319033320/https://www.tntdrama.com/shows/rich-shameless/season-1/episode-1/girls-gone-wild-exposed|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''October 31, 2022''' - ''Los Angeles Magazine'' published [[David Safran|David Safran's]] article “Why Are Police Stifling the Investigation Into 3 Teens Who Vanished From a Controversial Residential Treatment Facility?” The article addresses the disappearance of John Inman, Blake Pursley, and Daniel Yuen who vanished from CEDU School's campus in [[Running Springs, California]] in 1993, 1994, and 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/cedu-running-springs-san-bernadino-sheriffs-department-daniel-yuen-john-inman-blake-pursley|title=Why Are Police Stifling the Investigation Into 3 Teens Who Vanished From a Controversial Residential Treatment Facility?|first=David|last=Safran|newspaper=Lamag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |date=October 31, 2022|publisher=Los Angeles Magazine|access-date=March 19, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319033323/https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/cedu-running-springs-san-bernadino-sheriffs-department-daniel-yuen-john-inman-blake-pursley|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''March 1, 2023''' - ''Los Angeles Magazine'' published a second [[David Safran]] article “Suspect No. 1: Inside Daniel Yuen’s Missing Person Case,” which does a deep dive into his disappearance from CEDU School's campus in [[Running Springs, California]] on February 8, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Safran |first=David |date=March 1, 2023 |title=Suspect No. 1: Inside Daniel Yuen's Missing Person Case |newspaper=Lamag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles |publisher=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/daniel-yuen-cedu-missing-person-san-bernardino |url-status=live |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319033320/https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/daniel-yuen-cedu-missing-person-san-bernardino |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |issn=1522-9149}}</ref>

'''March 14, 2023''' - ''Paris: The Memoir,'' an autobiography by [[Paris Hilton]] that exposes the time she spent trapped in the [[troubled teen industry]] including being sent to CEDU School, Ascent Wilderness Program, [[Cascade school|Cascade School]], and [[Provo Canyon School]] from the summer of 1997 to January 1999 is published.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hilton |first=Paris |title=Paris: The Memoir |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |date=14 March 2023 |isbn=9780008524463}}</ref>

== Notable alumni ==

* [[Neal Bledsoe]] — Canadian-American actor
* [[Val Broeksmit]] — [[whistleblower]] against Deutsche Bank, attended Rocky Mountain Academy<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Sam |date=2022-05-13 |title=Val Broeksmit, 46, Who Blew the Whistle on Deutsche Bank, Dies (Published 2022) |language=en |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/us/val-broeksmit-dead.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |oclc=1645522 |quote="Val was expelled from the Dublin School in New Hampshire for various infractions when he was 13, but he managed to get through Rocky Mountain Academy, a school for troubled teenagers in northern Idaho, and graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pa., in 1999."}}</ref>
* [[Adam Eget]]<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6657&v=TvHqvYesr9M&feature=youtu.be |title=Joe Rogan Experience #1481 - Adam Eget |date=2020-05-26 |last=PowerfulJRE |access-date=2025-05-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref> — American talent coordinator and former talk show co-host
* Jacqueline Danforth<ref name=":5" /> - Daughter of [[Barbara Walters]] attended Rocky Mountain Academy and would later open her own wilderness program New Horizon's for young women.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seen 'n Heard, 4/2001 - Short news clips about Special Schools & Programs |url=https://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2001/4/seen03.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=www.strugglingteens.com |quote="Jacqueline Danforth, who was associated with Rocky Mountain Academy (A CEDU School)."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brunner |first=Jeryl |date=2023-05-22 |title=See Inside Barbara Walters' Complicated Relationship With Her Daughter |url=https://parade.com/celebrities/barbara-walters-daughter |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Parade |language=en |quote="In 2001 Jacqueline Guber, then Jackie Danforth, moved to Maine and founded New Horizons for Young Women, a wilderness therapy program to help struggling teenage girls and their families."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Canfield |first=Clarke |title=Celebrity's daughter runs wilderness school for at-risk girls |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/lifestyle/2004/04/09/celebrity-s-daughter-runs-wilderness/50444197007/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Paris Hilton]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunphey |first=Kyle |date=2023-03-17 |title=In new book, Paris Hilton recalls abuse at the hands of former Provo Canyon School staff |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/17/23639840/paris-hilton-book-abuse-at-provo-canyon-school |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Deseret News |language=en |quote="The Provo Canyon School wasn’t Hilton’s first experience at a treatment center. In “Paris,” she recalls first being sent to the now defunct CEDU, a boarding school in California; Ascent, a wilderness treatment program in Montana; then The Cascade School, also in California." |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830202335/https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/3/17/23639840/paris-hilton-book-abuse-at-provo-canyon-school |url-status=live }}</ref> — American media personality
* [[Mark R. Hughes]]<ref name="latimes2001" /> — entrepreneur
*[[Rachel Uchitel]] — American broadcaster, attended Cedu High School<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2021-08-09 |title=This Is Rachel Uchitel, Representing Herself (Published 2021) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/09/style/rachel-uchitel-tiger-woods-nda.html |access-date=2023-08-12 |quote="But her parents divorced, sending her to CEDU in Running Springs, Calif., a boarding school with ties to the Synanon cult." |last1=Rosman |first1=Katherine }}</ref>
* Jenny Pentland<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seymour |first=Corey |date=2022-01-27 |title=Nine Questions for Jenny Pentland About Her Harrowing (and Hilarious) New Memoir |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/jenny-pentland-this-will-be-funny-later-memoir-interview |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref> — daughter of [[Roseanne Barr]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pentland |first1=Jenny |title=This will be funny later: a memoir |date=2022 |publisher=Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0062962928 |page=93 |edition=First}}</ref>

== Notable former Staff members ==
Rudy Bentz<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Marcus |first=Dave |title=What it takes to pull me through: why teenagers get in trouble-- and how four of them got out |date=2005 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=978-0-618-14545-4 |location=Boston |pages=328 |quote="I constructed my own based on interviews with Lon Woodbury and former staff of CEDU, including Rudy and Jill Bentz; Michael Allgood; and Linda Houghton, who developed CEDU'S parent program."}}</ref> — headteacher of [[Hidden Lake Academy]]<ref>{{Cite book |title=Peterson's private secondary schools, 1998-99 |publisher=[[Peterson's]] |year=1998 |isbn=9781560799726 |edition=19th |location=Princeton, New Jersey |pages=1274 |language= |oclc=5164250814}}</ref> and [[Academy at Swift River]]

Bill Lane — at Synanon with Mel Wasserman,<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2005-06-26 |title=Bigger Than Life |url=https://strugglingteens.com/parents/articles/bigger-than-life/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=StrugglingTeens |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Markham |first=James M. |date=1971-12-05 |title=SYNANON SIGNS UP 550 CITY ADDICTS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/05/archives/synanon-signs-up-550-city-addicts-sends-them-to-california-base-for.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bill Lane Adolescent Transport Services / Bill Lane Associates Inc,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Lane & Associates, Inc. Adolescent Transport Services - 4/04/05 |url=https://strugglingteens.com/news/lanebill_050404.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref>

Michael Allgood<ref name=":2" /> — headmaster of [[Cascade school]],<ref>{{Cite book |title=Peterson's guide to private secondary schools, 1996-97 |publisher=[[Peterson's]] |year=1996 |isbn=9781560795865 |edition=17th |pages=572}}</ref> [[NATSAP]] Founding Board Member<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=News & Views, 4/1999 - Natsap Launched |url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/1999/4/news01.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref>

Tim Brace — headmaster and executive director of [[Mount Bachelor Academy]], Headmaster and founding member of the [[Carlbrook School]] Board of Regents, Founder and Executive Director [[Academy at Swift River]], Executive Director of Educational Services at Aspen Youth Services,<ref>{{Cite web |title=News & Views, 3/2000 - Tim Brace Eyeing New Opportunities |url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/2000/3/news04.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref> [[National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs|NATSAP]] Founding Board Member<ref name=":3" />

Dr. George Ullrich<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-05 |title=Neighbors complain about group homes |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/mar/05/neighbors-complain-about-group-homes/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Spokesman.com |language=en}}</ref> — Founder of [https://web.archive.org/web/20160702162037/http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Innercept Intercept]

Dr. Glenn Bender — Director of Admissions [https://www.breakingcodesilence.org/alldredge-academy/ Alldredge Academy],<ref>{{Cite web |title=School & Program Visits, 1/2000 - Alldredge Academy |url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/2000/1/visit03.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref> Dean of Academics and founding member of the [[Carlbrook School]] Board of Regents, [[Cascade school|Cascade School]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Bender Retires From Carlbrook School |url=https://strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/printer_CarlbrookSchoolBN_120814.shtml |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref> [[Academy at Swift River]]<ref name=":4" />

Doug Kim Brown — Founder and Executive Director [https://echo-springs.com Echo Springs]<ref>{{Cite web |title=News & Views, 6/1993 - Echo Springs - A Center for Transition Study |url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/1993/6/news01.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref>

Brandi Elliot  — Co Owner Powell and Elliott Collaborative LLC,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connecting With the Future Thru Education by Woodbury Reports |url=https://www.1888pressrelease.com/connecting-with-the-future-thru-education-pr-318804.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.1888pressrelease.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Woodbury |title=Parent Choices for Struggling Teens Failure To Launch |url=https://www.prlog.org/11750904-parent-choices-for-struggling-teens-failure-to-launch.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=PRLog}}</ref> Friends of Families with Children in Crisis Foundation (''originally founded in 1998 as The Friends of CEDU Foundation)''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dozens Of Children Helped By Friends Of Families Foundation |url=https://strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/printer_FriendsOfFamiliesBN_080509.shtml |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=strugglingteens.com}}</ref> 

==See also==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
;Related topics
*[[Continuation high school]]
*[[Oppositional defiant disorder]]
*[[Residential education]]
*[[Residential treatment center]]
*[[Teenage rebellion]]
*[[Therapeutic boarding school]]
*[[Troubled teen industry]]
*[[Youth rights]]
{{Col-break}}
;Techniques
*[[Behavior modification]]
*[[Brainwashing]]
*[[Operant conditioning]]
*[[Therapeutic community]]
{{Col-break}}
;Therapies
*[[Attack therapy]]
*[[Behavior therapy]]
*[[Group psychotherapy]]
*[[The Primal Scream]]
*[[Wilderness therapy]]
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20000804123231/http://www.cedu.com/ Official website] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110925115322/http://liamscheff.com/surviving-cedu/?page_id=418 Surviving Cedu], a 2008 documentary by Liam Scheff, featuring a closing segment with cult expert [[Paul Morantz]]
*[https://www.amazon.com/Discarded-Ones-Novel-Based-Story/dp/098824330X The Discarded Ones: A Novel Based on a True Story], the definitive 2012 book about life at CEDU. The story is set in 1983 and told through the eyes of a new student
*[https://lathroplybrook.com/whiteout Whiteout], a memoir written in 2018 by Lathrop Lybrook about her experience at Rocky Mountain Academy, Ascent, and North Idaho Behavioral Health from September 30, 1998, to December 13, 1999
*[https://medium.com/@1527176167818/legacy-of-the-cedu-cult-7e2dcb8f30e4 Running My Anger: The Legacy of the CEDU Cult], an anonymous account of what it was like to be a student at CEDU in Idaho and California. Medium Anonymous discusses the current documentaries on CEDU, Rocky Mountain Academy, and articles on trauma and how they relate to them as a prior student of CEDU
*[https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25330854 Dead, Insane, or In Jail: a CEDU Memoir], a memoir by Zack Bonnie, is an account of what it was like to attend the wilderness bootcamp along with Rocky Mountain Academy. This book has been referred to as "the whistleblower" in the troubled teen community.

{{Troubled teen industry}}

[[Category:Therapeutic community]]
[[Category:Education companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Idaho]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in California]]
[[Category:Educational organizations established in 1967]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2005]]
[[Category:Therapeutic boarding schools in the United States]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2005 disestablishments in Idaho]]
[[Category:Residential treatment centers]]
[[Category:Troubled teen programs]]
[[Category:Special schools in Idaho]]
[[Category:Special schools in California]]