Putting a Stop to the Dropout Crisis: Stride Doubles Down on Academic Excellence with Graduation Guarantee

Rhea-AI Summary

Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is tackling the issue of high school dropouts with its newly launched Stride Graduation Guarantee. This initiative guarantees eligible students enrolled in Stride K12-powered public schools a pathway to graduate, even if they age out of their current educational options. Stride will fund tuition at a private school or provide additional support until graduation. This measure aims to combat the dropout crisis, highlighted by a statistic that a student drops out every 15 seconds. Stride's schools reported lower learning loss rates during the pandemic compared to national averages.

Positive

• Launch of Stride Graduation Guarantee to ensure high school graduation for eligible students.
• Stride will cover costs for students needing extra support, enhancing educational accessibility.
• Reported lower learning loss rates in Stride K12-powered schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negative

• None.

Dropping out of high school remains a nationwide problem, with two million students – 5% of students – leaving school before graduating each year. As online learning offers many students a second chance and as graduation rates at Stride K12-powered schools have risen steadily over the past five years, Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) is renewing its commitment to the academic and personal success of all learners with the launch of the Stride Graduation Guarantee.

The Stride Graduation Guarantee will provide eligible students enrolled in Stride K12-powered full-time public schools and programs with a guaranteed path to graduate high school, no matter what. If a student ages out of a tuition-free public education option and their school no longer has the capacity to support them, Stride will cover the costs of tuition at a Stride private school of Stride’s choice or provide other remediation offered by Stride, until the student achieves the credits necessary to earn their high school diploma.

“We know that a student drops out of high school every 15 seconds. That has to stop, and we know what it will take,” said James Rhyu, CEO at Stride, Inc. “A student with a plan is more likely to stay in school. The Graduation Guarantee signals our commitment to improve graduation rates, and reflects our confidence in the schools, teachers, and counselors we support, the curriculum we deliver, and the students we serve.”

Beyond the comprehensive credit-recovery courses, robust wraparound services, graduation roadmaps, and personalized remediation support already in place at all Stride K12-powered schools, the Graduation Guarantee is intended to provide an extra layer of support to students who need it most – at no cost to families.

Stride’s Graduation Guarantee comes at a time when the U.S. has a renewed focus on the realities of learning loss. Despite wide-spread evidence of a “COVID slide” of learning loss for students in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stride K12-powered schools reported lower learning loss rates than those reported in national studies. And in some cases, students enrolled in Stride K12-powered schools experienced learning gains.

All students enrolled in Stride K12-powered fulltime online public high schools/programs are eligible for the Graduation Guarantee, provided they have been enrolled for the full school year until the maximum age limit of their school/program as provided by state law or regulation. For more information and to enroll in a Stride K12-powered school, visit www.k12.com/guarantee.

About Stride, Inc.

At Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) we are reimagining learning – where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed the teaching and learning experience for millions of people by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and post-secondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210719005092/en/

FAQ

What is the Stride Graduation Guarantee launched by Stride, Inc.?

The Stride Graduation Guarantee ensures eligible students can graduate high school by covering tuition costs or providing additional support until they earn their diploma.

How does the Stride Graduation Guarantee help students?

It helps students by providing financial coverage for private schooling or remediation programs if they age out of their current public school.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Stride Graduation Guarantee?

Students must be enrolled full-time in Stride K12-powered public schools for the entire school year and until they reach the maximum age limit set by state regulations.

How has Stride K12 performed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Stride K12-powered schools reported lower learning loss compared to national trends, and some students even experienced learning gains.