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Congresswoman asks feds to probe K12, Inc.
A Florida congresswoman is asking the U.S. Department of Education to investigate allegations that K12, Inc., the Virginia-based for-profit virtual school company, used non-certified teachers to teach classes. The request was made by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown,a Democrat from Jacksonville, Fla., according to NPR and the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. The request is one […]
K12, Inc. under more scrutiny for high teacher caseloads
K12, Inc., the Virginia-based company in the midst of a court battle to open up a virtual charter school in North Carolina, is facing more scrutiny in Florida, this time over caseloads of up to 275 students per teacher. The high caseloads are for high school grades and were revealed in a confidential K12, Inc. […]
K12, Inc. faces Florida investigation
A for-profit virtual school company fighting to open a public school in North Carolina isaccused of violating state law in Florida by having teachers falsify attendance records. K12, Inc., a Virginia-based company that runs online-based public schools in 29 states, is under investigation by the Florida education department after several K12 teachers refused to sign […]
Judge’s decision on K12, Inc. virtual charter school coming Friday
A Wake Superior Court judge will announce his decision Friday on whether a virtual charter school should open this fall, after the N.C. Board of Education neglected to take up its application. The State Board of Education is asking Judge Abe Jones to set aside an administrative judge’s order and give the state board a […]
Governor Cooper vetoes bill to allow low-performing virtual charter schools to increase enrollment
Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday vetoed a bill that would have allowed North Carolina’s two virtual charter schools to increase enrollment by 20 percent a year. The controversial legislation also would have given the State Board of Education (SBE) authority to allow the schools to increase enrollment by more than 20 percent for any school […]
SBE will only allow one virtual charter school to increase its enrollment
One of the state’s two virtual charter schools can increase its enrollment by 20 percent next school year, but the other cannot. In a “special meeting” Friday, the State Board of Education (SBE) approved NC Virtual Academy’s (NCVA) request to increase enrollment up to 20 percent for the 2019-20 school year. It did not approve […]
North Carolina principal at prospective charter takeover school pushes back
The principal of at least one North Carolina school facing the prospect of a charter takeover is pushing back. The News & Observer posted a video Friday of Chris Germanoski, principal at Selma Middle School in Johnston County. Selma Middle is one of 41 low-performing, public schools remaining on the state’s list of schools eligible […]
Incoming NC schools chief to WRAL: No thought to DPI staffing yet
Election Day included more than a few surprises this year, not the least of which being newcomer Mark Johnson’s victory over longtime Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Superintendent June Atkinson. This week, WRAL has a fascinating report on how Atkinson’s taking the defeat. Meanwhile, Johnson isn’t offering up too many thoughts on how he’ll handle […]
Why profit-maximization at virtual charter schools is incompatible with high-quality education
In most industries, the profit motive generally maximizes economic efficiency. However, this assumption is unlikely to hold true for private operators of public schools, such as those operating virtual charter schools (VCSs) in North Carolina. Financial incentives for North Carolina’s VCSs emphasize the maximization of enrollment via aggressive marketing, at the expense of providing high-quality education to students.
In county wracked by increasing segregation, Charlotte schools to weigh new student assignment plan
Last month, Policy Watch reported on the tremendous resegregation challenges facing North Carolina’s two largest school systems, the Wake County Public School System and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Fittingly, this week, leaders in the Charlotte school system will be considering a draft plan for a pending student assignment, and it’s likely to be a disappointment to those […]
Low-income students need more support, not an achievement school district
The public rationale for many of the efforts to dismantle traditional public education with various privatization schemes almost always includes the claim that it is all about helping students do better, most often low-income and minority kids. Supporters of the sketchy North Carolina voucher program say that often, that it’s all about helping poor kids. […]
Politico: Education behemoth Pearson reaps millions from no-bid public education contracts (including NC) (UPDATED)
*Scroll to the end of this story for a response from the NC Department of Public Instruction Politico’s Stephanie Simon published an investigative report today looking into the business dealings of British education giant Pearson, finding that the company’s success is due in part to negotiating lucrative no-bid contracts with public education agencies around the country […]
Virtual charter schools inch closer to approval
The State Board of Education had tough questions Wednesday for two for-profit virtual education companies in line to receive millions in public money to teach children through their home computers. Both applicants for a legislatively-mandated pilot program, N.C. Connections Academy and N.C. Virtual Academy, will be governed by a non-profit board of directors, but both […]
Guilford County’s broken tablets, K12 outsourcing grades to India and more
There’s a lot of education news this week, so here’s a roundup of happenings for your Tuesday morning. Guilford County suspends tablet program A significant number of defective tablet computers has forced Guilford County Schools to suspend their highly anticipated technology initiative that would put tablets in the hands of thousands of middle school students. […]
K12 makes push for N.C. school market
An online charter school company revived its bid to open a North Carolina school through a proposed legislative add-on this week that would put the school on a path to opening. K12, Inc., a for-profit company that gets most of its revenue from running public charter schools across the nation, submitted an application last February […]
Another blow for K12 in Florida
A Florida school district refused an application for a virtual charter school contracted with K12, Inc., the for-profit online education company that’s come under fire for management and education quality issues. From the Ocala Star-Banner: The board voted unanimously Tuesday to deny the application. “I’m concerned to go with a contract in the light of […]