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K12 is the nation's largest online education company. A preliminary Florida Department of Education investigation found the company used three teachers who were not properly certified for their subject.

Investigating the Largest Online Educator - K12

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Background

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A series of emails led Seminole County school officials to question K12's teachers.

The Florida Department of Education has launched an investigation into K12, the nation’s largest online educator, over allegations the company uses uncertified teachers and asked employees to help cover up the practice.

K12 officials told certified teachers to sign class rosters that included stude

StateImpact Florida and the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting are teaming up to bring you all the latest developments in the investigation.

Note: K12 is different from the Florida Virtual School Program.

Latest Posts

May 13, 2013

Recording: K12 Managers Admit Difficulties Hiring Certified Teachers In Florida

A 2009 recording shows online educator K12 had difficulty hiring properly certified teachers in Florida. A draft state investigation found no evidence the company used teachers who were not Florida-certified, but used three teachers who were not subject certified.

In 2009, managers at online education company K12 were having a tough time hiring Florida teachers. State law requires teachers are certified in their subject area and by the state. So when a K12 teacher saw her name listed on company documents as teaching Florida classes she had not taught, she asked her managers about [...]

Listen To K12 Managers Explain Florida Teacher Hiring Issues

5-13 Recorder

In 2009, teachers with online education company K12, Inc. were concerned about “water cooler talk” that their teaching certifications were used without their knowledge, including in Florida. Company managers held a series of phone calls with staff to explain the situation, including admitting that a teacher’s name showed up on a roster of Florida teachers [...]

May 12, 2013

Internal Recording Reveals K12 Inc. Struggled to Comply With Florida Law

K12 is the nation's largest online education company and served Florida students in 43 school districts.

The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and StateImpact Florida have obtained internal emails and a recording of a company meeting that provide new insight into allegations that K12 Inc., the nation’s largest online education company, uses teachers in Florida who do not have all of the required state certifications. Last month, a draft report by [...]

April 23, 2013

State Review Finds K12 Teacher Certification Problems

K12 is the nation's largest online education company and served Florida students in 43 school districts.

An inquiry by the Florida Department of Education’s Inspector General found that online educator K12 Inc. employed three teachers in Florida who lacked proper certification to teach some subjects, according to a draft report. Virginia-based K12 is the nation’s largest operator of online schools. K12 operates in 43 Florida school districts, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, [...]

Read The Florida Department of Education Investigator’s Report On K12, Inc.

A series of emails led Seminole County school officials to question K12's teachers.

Below is the draft report from the Florida Department of Education inspector general. The agency was asked to investigate whether K12, Inc. was using properly certified teachers in Seminole County. The report finds no evidence that the company used teachers lacking Florida certification. But the report found the company did use three teachers who were [...]

Read K12, Inc. and Seminole County Schools’ Response To State Investigation

Attorneys for K12, Inc. and Seminole County schools have responded to a preliminary report by a Florida Department of Education investigator.

The Florida Department of Education inspector general has released a draft report in its investigation of online education firm K12, Inc. The agency was asked to investigate whether K12, Inc. was using properly certified teachers in Seminole County. The report (read it here) finds no evidence that the company used teachers lacking Florida certification. But [...]

March 19, 2013

Online Charter School Network Will Try Again Next Year In Three Districts

A screenshot of the Florida Virtual Academy website. The schools are affiliated with K12, Inc. the Florida Department of Education is investigating whether the company used improperly certified teachers in Seminole County.

A network of online charter schools tied to education firm K12, Inc. will not seek to open schools in Marion, Orange and Seminole counties next year, The Orlando Sentinel reports. A lawyer representing Florida Virtual Academy said the schools would not be able to open by next fall if the local school districts continued to [...]

February 20, 2013

Tennessee Lawmakers Question Online Educator K12 Inc.

Tennessee lawmakers may reign in the Tennessee Virtual Academy, operated by K12, Inc.

Lawmakers in Tennessee are growing skeptical of an online school run by K12 Inc., the nation’s largest online education company. That’s according to a piece by Tennessee reporter Blake Farmer broadcast on NPR Tuesday. Just 16 percent of K12′s 3,200 students in kindergarten through 8th grade met state standards in math. The company is also [...]

November 26, 2012

Georgia Threatens To Close K12-run Online Charter School

The Georgia Department of Education is threatening to close the Georgia Cyber Academy, run by K12, over concerns about special education services.

The Georgia Department of Education is threatening to close an online charter school run by K12, the nation’s largest online education company, over issues with special education students. The agency issued a report last week that the K12-run Georgia Cyber Academy has repeatedly failed to comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and [...]

November 2, 2012

Duval County School District Settles Court Case Over K12-Run Online Charter School

Duval County schools have settled a lawsuit over an online charter school to be run by K12 Inc. The Florida Department of Education is investigating whether the company used improperly certified teachers.

Duval County schools have settled a lawsuit over an online charter school to be run by K12, the nation’s largest online education company, according to the News Service of Florida. The two sides agreed to dismiss the case after the school district recommended approving a second application, according to an attorney for the non-profit group [...]

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