A virtual charter school ‘divorce’ leaves 2,400 students caught in the middle
RALEIGH
More than 2,400 students are caught in the middle of a fight between one of North Carolina’s two virtual charter schools and the for-profit education company that receives millions of dollars a year to manage the school.
N.C. Connections Academy wants state permission to no longer be managed by Pearson Online and Blended Learning, part of the international company Pearson that publishes textbooks and sells a wide range of education products. The fight between the two sides has gotten bitter, with a lawsuit being filed.
Tuesday’s hearing before the N.C. Charter Schools Advisory Board was full of accusations and heated words made by both the school and Pearson. Advisory board members said they need more time to decide whether to recommend that the State Board of Education approve the school’s request — a step that could decide the fate of the school.
“We’ve been calling this a divorce, and it’s a divorce that has 2,400 children involved,” CSAB vice chairman Steven Walker said at Tuesday’s meeting. “A pretty weighty decision and I understand that the (N.C. Connections) board has said that time’s of the essence, and it may be. But we can’t rush to try to make a decision that’s not right on this.” CONTINUE READING: NC virtual charter school wants to separate from Pearson | Raleigh News & Observer
