U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has asked the federal government to investigate for-profit online educator K12’s business in Florida. (Photo courtesy of Corrine Brown.)
By Trevor Aaronson and John O’Connor
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting/StateImpact Florida
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, has asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate K12, a publicly traded online education provider that operates in 42 Florida school districts, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange and Duval counties.
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Citing a Sept. 11 story by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting and StateImpact Florida that reported how K12 may be using improperly certified teachers, Brown sent a letter on Oct. 15 to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan asking for the federal inquiry.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations and their potentially damaging effects on Florida students enrolled in the program, I respectfully request a federal investigation of this matter,” Brown wrote.
The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General is investigating whether K12 used improperly certified teachers and asked employees to help cover up the practice. However, the state is limiting its investigation to Seminole County, where charges of improperly certified teachers were first reported.
Representatives for K12 said the company follows all state and local laws regarding certified teachers.