The Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) six-year experiment with Edgenuity online courses has left over 150,000 students with a questionable education. The $30 million program, which offers online, for-credit courses with partial or no real-time teacher interaction, has been criticized for its negative impact on student motivation and learning.

The $30 million toe in the water

The LAUSD's decision to invest $30 million in Edgenuity online courses has raised eyebrows among educators and parents. According to retired LAUSD history teacher Brenda Helfing, the courses were a quick fix for the district to enable students to graduate on time, making the district look good. However, this approach has been criticized for exacerbating learning gaps, discouraging students, and being easy to cheat on.

The widespread use of these online courses in the Los Angeles Unified School District has sparked concerns about the quality of learning . Helfing argues that students are not learning when using Edgenuity,a digital learning tool. the district's reliance on these courses has left many wondering if the $30 million investment was worth it .

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The LAUSD's contracts with Edgenuity have been shrouded in secrecy, with the district refusing to disclose the names of the companies involved. This lack of transparency has raised concerns about the district's accountability and the potential for conflicts of interest. As the LAUSD continues to rely on Edgenuity, the question remains: who is the unnamed buyer behind this $30 million deal?

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The LAUSD's experiment with Edgenuity online courses has echoes of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up,where a similar approach to online learning led to a decline in student motivation and learning.. The LAUSD's decision to follow a simmilar path has raised concerns about the potential consequences for students in the district.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

A review of the LAUSD's May filing by Southern California News Group revealed that auditors had flagged several issues with the district's contracts with Edgenuity. The auditors expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the district's dealings with the company. As the LAUSD continues to rely on Edgenuity, the question remains: what did the auditors flag in the May filing that has yet to be addressed?