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An in-depth look by I-News - a Colorado-based nonprofit investigative news collaborative, Education News Colorado, and KUNC at the state’s online K-12 schools. Topics include: online K-12 school performance, state- and district-level oversight, and for-profit Education Management Organizations, such as K12 Inc.

Video: Investigating K-12 Online Education

Both KUNC and I-News, who investigated in collaboration with Education News Colorado, have been reporting on K-12 Online Education in Colorado. The results have been discovery of low graduation rates, lax oversight and a widening achievement gap for those that attend online only schools - and calls for a state audit.

► Why are Colorado’s Online K-12 Students Failing? A Conversation with I-News Reporters
An investigative report by I-News, a Colorado-based in-depth news consortium, shows that taxpayers will spend $100 million this year on virtual schools that are largely failing their elementary and high school students.

► Online Education: A Pattern of Lax Oversight
Part 3 of the I-News investigation.

► Online Education: The Expanding Achievement Gap
Part 2 of the I-News investigation.

► Online Education: Churning &Turning
Part 1 of the I-News investigation.

► K12 Inc.: Public Online Schools, Private Profits
At a time when public schools are seeing deep cuts in funding, there’s a growing market for companies running online elementary, middle and high schools. The largest for-profit company overseeing these programs in Colorado is Virginia-based company. While public schools are struggling to survive, K12 Inc.—with the support of state tax dollars—is reporting double digit profits. Meantime, it’s not measuring up to state academic standards.
 

I’m not a Colorado native (did you know that "I'm from Missouri" means "I'm skeptical of the matter and not easily convinced?") but I have lived here for most of my life and couldn't imagine leaving. After graduating from Colorado State University, I did what everyone wants to do; I moved to the mountains and skied, hiked, and hid from responsibility! Our listeners in the mountains may know me from my time in Steamboat Springs and Vail or as the voice of the Battle Mountain Huskies Hockey team in Vail.