Online Learning Update

By Adam Rodewald, The Northwestern

Cash-strapped school districts are increasingly contracting with private companies to replace niche courses that have low enrollments with cheaper online alternatives. The Oshkosh district uses two private companies to provide online courses: Florida-based Kaplan Virtual Education and Arizona-based Education2020. A Northwestern investigation in fall 2009 found little oversight of these new programs. A public records request brought to light documents suggesting Kaplan was using four teachers without state licenses to lead courses in Oshkosh and three other Wisconsin districts.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100906/OSH0105/9060371/School-board-to-consider-creating-a-system-of-oversight-for-online-classes