CHARTER A COURSE TO CONFLICT: A group of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle is calling for a state probe into California Virtual Schools, a network of online charter schools operated by K12 Inc, after a two-part San Jose Mercury News investigation (Part 1, Part 2). The Mercury New reports that Representatives Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, and Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, will be collaborating on a bill to remedy K12 Inc's reported wrongdoings.
The Mercury News' investigation found that "[K12] reaps tens of millions of dollars in state funding while graduating fewer than half of the students enrolled in its high schools" and that "teachers at K12's California Virtual Academies have been asked to inflate attendance and enrollment records used to determine how much state funding the schools receive."
K12 Inc responded to the original investigation with a statement reprinted by the newspaper. The online charter provider said that the paper's claims closely mirrored those of the California Teachers' Association.
