BfA gets a mention on a Washington Post blog

by David Safier

I promised yesterday to summarize the growing number of articles about online/virtual schools. I'm planning to keep my promise. But first, I see I got a mention on a Washington Post blog, Virginia Schools Insider. Emma Brown, who is one of the two writers on the blog, is also a co-author of WaPo's story, Virtual schools are multiplying, but some question their educational value. She has written a number of follow-up posts after the article was published.

Today's post is Local media outlets were first to examine virtual schools. She credits a number of publications and news programs which have done original investigative work on the story. After mentioning the likes of Mother Jones, The Nation and a number of other outlets, she mentions my investigative stories about K12 Inc.

And in 2008, Arizona blogger David Safier reported that K12 was outsourcing a critical teacher function — grading papers — to workers in India. The company later discontinued that practice.

Recently, Gail Collins mentioned the outsourcing of papers to India by K12, Inc., as did an investigative study published by the NEPC (National Education Policy Center). Neither credited me, which is fine. Steal from me! Steal from me! My point is to get the information out there, not to see my name in other publications. Nonetheless, it's very satisfying to see Emma Brown credit me and link to one of my many posts on the subject. (h/t to Karen Miller for alerting me to the post)