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

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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 which will oversee the school. The school board will decide on that application later this year.

The Florida Department of Education is investigating K12 after emails suggested company officials were using improperly certified teachers and asking other teachers to help cover up the practice. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat, has asked the federal Department of Education to investigate the company.

K12’s CEO says the company follows all state laws and that an internal investigation found only “minor mistakes” in matching course and grade certifications.

The Duval County lawsuit is similar to those in a handful of other Florida districts.

The school board rejected the application for the K12-run charter school, but the decision was overturned by the State Board of Education. Orange, Seminole and Volusia county schools have also gone to court to prevent the schools from opening after their denials were overturned by the State Board of Education.

A network of online charter schools to be run by K12 — Florida Virtual Academy — has been applying in school districts around the state. Some districts have been critical of the applications, noting they fail to provide basic budget details, rely on unrealistic enrollment projections and use outdated curriculum that does not match new Common Core standards taking effect statewide in 2014.