After months of negotiations, Idaho public 
schools have agreed to use online classes created by Khan Academy for its 2013 school year.
Following discussions through the fall of 2012, Idaho’s public school system has reached a firm deal with Khan Academy that will lead to new online classes in math and history. More than 25 primary and secondary schools will serve as test zones for the online classes. Each school will receive between $10,000 and $50,000 to help implement the digital Khan classes. If the test is successful, Idaho could launch further online content and set a precedent for other states to practice.
Khan Academy, founded in 2008, offers free online education content for people and schools that want to use its services. Math, finance, history, and art classes are all taught through the Khan portal, featuring thousands of video tutorials and similar new media teaching tools. Over the years, Khan has expanded into more advanced classes as well, including organic chemistry, programming basics, American civic history, and–perhaps most interesting from the public school perspective–SAT and GMAT test preparation.
The Khan classes will not entirely replace traditional classing reaching. “We have a group of faculty that…will be looking at the curriculum that [teachers] are already using and see how Khan can support that,” Eric Kellerer, director of the NNU Center of Innovation for Teaching and Learning, reported to the Idaho Press Tribune. “Khan is not a curriculum. It’s one more tool into the mix so they can help students have better achievement scores.”
States have proven hesitant to accept online content for courses in the past. Each state has specific educational requirements regarding content and education tracking, making it difficult for online companies to meet demand. However, as both online and state content grow more generalized, common ground has become easier to find. The growing options for an online college degree have also put pressure on state systems to develop more robust online learning systems.
The agreement was made all the easier by the guaranteed tracking and test procedures the Idaho public school system will receive. The Albertson Foundation has agreed to provide additional funding for the project. Northwest Nazarene University of Nampa has agreed to track student improvement. If the project shows notable success, the nonprofit arrangement could open the door for for-profit businesses and similar deals around the country.
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