Multinational co. to support Maine's first virtual school
A multinational publishing giant will provide key resources to Maine’s first virtual public school, a plan that some educators called worrisome because it could lessen local control of the public education system.
The Portland Press Herald reported Pearson PLC, the largest education company in the world, will provide support to the Maine Connections Academy through its U.S. subsidiary, Connections Education LLC, based in Baltimore. The state granted oversight approval to the nonprofit virtual school on March 3 and is scheduled to vote on the school’s charter in April.
Lawmakers passed a bill earlier this month to prevent creation of virtual charter schools in the state, but Gov. Paul LePage vetoed the bill just hours after its final passage in the Senate.
Some educators have raised concerns about Pearson providing the curriculum, online learning platform, human resources services and some teachers for the state’s virtual school. The company and its supporters argue that private companies can provide better and less expensive virtual schools because they have deeper pockets to create interactive online classes and can spread costs across users worldwide.
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