{{short description|Online learning resource}} {{Use American English|date=May 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox website | name = Edgenuity | former_name = Education2020/E2020 (1998–2013) | logo = Logo of Edgenuity.svg | logo_caption = | type = Online education | traded_as = | foundation = {{start date and age|1998}} | founder = Sari Factor | location = {{Nowrap|Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.}} | key_people = Jonathan Grayer (CEO) | services = Online education | revenue = | assets = | equity = | num_employees = 2,000 | parent = Imagine Learning | website = {{URL|imaginelearning.com/products/imagine-edgenuity}} }}
'''Edgenuity''', formerly '''Education2020''' ('''E2020'''), is an online learning resource for school districts founded by the American company Imagine Learning.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Chevall |title=Cy-Fair ISD parents adjust to learning at home |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair/schools/article/Northwest-Houston-parent-adjust-to-Edgenuity-15162569.php |publisher=Houston Chronicle |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=27 March 2020}}</ref> The platform teaches students in kindergarten through 12th grade<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guidry |first1=Leigh |title=Have a graduating senior? Lafayette Parish releases info about grade recovery, requirements |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2020/04/22/lafayette-parish-provides-guidance-grades-graduating-seniors/3008202001/ |publisher=Lafayette Daily |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=22 April 2020}}</ref> in core, elective, credit recovery, technical, and career subjects.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaRoue |first1=Jimmy |title=Division rolls out learning plan |url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2020/03/30/division-rolls-out-learning-plan/ |publisher=Suffolk Herald News |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=30 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=E2020 Changes Name to Edgenuity, Releases New Platform |url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2013/02/06/e2020-changes-name-to-edgenuity-releases-new-platform.aspx |access-date=23 April 2020 |agency=The Journal |publisher=Tim Sohn}}</ref> As of 2019, Edgenuity instructs over four million students in the United States.<ref name="doublecitation">{{Citation|title=Edgenuity CEO Sari Factor Recognized As CEO Of The Year|date=May 9, 2019|url=https://www.edgenuity.com/edgenuity-ceo-sari-factor-recognized-as-ceo-of-the-year-by-the-2019-edtech-awards/}}</ref> Edgenuity lessons are also the foundation of the online learning curriculum Time4Learning.
== History ==
=== 1998–2016: Origins and lobbying convictions === Edgenuity was established in 1998 under the name Education2020 Inc. (E2020).<ref name=":hist">{{cite web |last1=Molnar |first1=Michelle |title=Edgenuity Acquires Compass Learning to Expand Online, Blended Learning Reach |url=https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/edgenuity-acquires-compass-learning-expand-online-blended-learning-reach/ |website=Edweek |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=1 August 2016}}</ref> In 2011, the company Weld North purchased Edgenuity for an estimated $50 million USD.<ref name=":hist" /> In 2011, Weld North also acquired Giant Campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weldnorth.com/investments/giant-campus-academy/|title = Giant Campus Acquired by Edgenuity|access-date = 23 July 2024}}</ref> In 2013, Education2020 was renamed to Edgenuity.<ref name=":0" /> In 2014, Edgenuity launched ''My Path'', a program learning path alternative for reading and math for grades 6 through 12. In the same year, Edgenuity partnered with ''SOPHIA Learning'' to offer additional credit options.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/product-reviews/edgenuity|title=Edgenuity Product Review|website=Edsurge}}</ref>
Edgenuity saw an increase of usage in the 2010s; from 2012 to 2014, Edgenuity paid politician Mike Hubbard in an act of lobbying US$210,000,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oanow.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/alabama-supreme-court-denies-mike-hubbard-appeal-orders-him-to-prison/article_d84ee90e-e951-11ea-93f1-ef9766958cbf.html|title=Alabama Supreme Court denies Mike Hubbard appeal, orders him to prison|date=2020-08-28|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Opelika-Auburn News|last=Eads|first=Mike}}</ref> including a series of weekly checks worth US$7,500 each titled "lobbying services".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2016/05/20/mike-hubbard-case-breaking-down-charges/84651014/|title=The Mike Hubbard case: Breaking down the charges|date=2016-05-20|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Montgomery Advertiser|last=Lyman|first=Brian}}</ref><ref name="AlabamaAllegation"/> According to Michael Humphrey, the executive vice president of Edgenuity, who testified in court, the act was done "to open doors"; he intended to use Hubbard to secure and engage future meetings with higher legislative members. Hubbard was sentenced to four years in prison for ethical violations according to state laws. State School Board member Mary Scott Hunter emailed Superintendent Tommy Bice about the matter in March 2015, but he never replied and retired less than thirty days later.<ref name="AlabamaAllegation">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2016/06/15/why-did-edgenuity-buy-mike-hubbard/|title=Why Did Edgenuity Buy Mike Hubbard?|date=2016-06-15|access-date=2021-10-19|website=Alabama Political Reporter|last=Moseley|first=Brandon}}</ref>
=== 2020–2021: COVID-19 pandemic ===
Edgenuity became a popular tool for remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaRoue |first1=Jimmy |title=Board adopts grading plan |url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2020/04/10/board-adopts-grading-plan/ |publisher=Suffolk News Herald |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Schools to remain closed, EPSB makes online resources available |url=https://www.villeplattetoday.com/news-covid-19/schools-remain-closed-epsb-makes-online-resources-available |publisher=Evangeline Today |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=23 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stansell |first1=Kaitlin |title=Berkeley Co. teachers will use upcoming 'workday' for blended learning preparations |url=https://www.live5news.com/2020/04/01/berkeley-co-teachers-will-use-upcoming-workday-blended-learning-preparations/ |publisher=Live 5 News |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=1 April 2020}}</ref> Due to stay-at-home orders and schools needing an alternative teaching source, Edgenuity experienced a massive spike in usage, resulting in slow servers and site crashes; many schools reported issues with the site in its early stages of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ray |first1=Payne |title=Lake schools closed till May 1, distance-learning continues |url=https://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20200331/lake-schools-closed-till-may-1-distance-learning-continues |publisher=Daily Commercial |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=31 March 2020}}</ref> The number of new users caused a lack of course instructor employees, but this issue was later addressed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2020/09/14/revere-makes-late-change-to-online-learning-provider/42618597/|title=Revere makes late change to online learning provider|date=2020-09-14|last=Mills|first=Emily}}</ref> School districts reported that Edgenuity was a popular choice mainly because of a lack of other options.<ref name="Thanks, Buzzfeed"/>
By 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the admission of 500 school districts to the service, earning the company US$145 million in profit—double what the company made the year prior—due to the spike in Edgenuity usage alongside other learning platforms acquired by the company before the pandemic began.<ref name="Thanks, Buzzfeed"/>
In 2021, CEO Sari Factor released a statement addressing the issues raised by the public. She criticized districts using the site without the supervision of a teacher and stated that schools that were following procedures were benefiting from the program. She also mentioned how the student-to-teacher ratio was off-balance due to the school's lack of employment and also attributed student struggles to the impact of COVID-19 on the system and education.<ref name="Thanks, Buzzfeed" /> <!-- Is this statement that important? -->
== Education style ==
Edgenuity is a virtual alternative that uses pre-recorded videos and primarily caters to struggling students and maintaining a consistent pace.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article245264190.html|title=Fort Worth's school district wanted to make online classes better. Here's what it did.|date=2020-08-31|website=Star Telegram.com|last=Allen|first=Silas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffith |first1=Kristen |title=St. Mary's online resources viewed as school closure continues |url=https://www.somdnews.com/emergency_notice/st-marys-online-resources-viewed-as-school-closure-continues/article_5905c44f-2961-5b4c-9246-6dcf6be17fb2.html |publisher=Southern Maryland News |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=27 March 2020}}</ref> Along with pre-recorded lectures, Edgenuity uses interactive and real-world problems.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Riddel |first1=Roger |title=Edgenuity CEO talks personalized learning and classroom tech [ISTE] |url=https://www.educationdive.com/news/edgenuity-ceo-talks-personalized-learning-and-classroom-tech-iste/283165/ |publisher=Education Dive |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=9 July 2014}}</ref> Besides helping students who need extra support, schools often use the software to assist students who have failed courses in earning missing credits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levin |first1=Ari |title=Española Schools Finishing Year Remotely |url=http://www.riograndesun.com/news/espa-ola-schools-finishing-year-remotely/article_b1a5273a-7a6d-11ea-a0d1-07cb9e88d1c7.html |publisher=Rio Grande Sun |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == In 2020, Digital Promise awarded Imagine Edgenuity's ''Courseware'', ''Mypath'', and ''Pathblazer'' services with the Research-Based Design Product Certification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://productcertifications.digitalpromise.org/certified-products/|title=Research-Based Design Certified Products|website=Digital Promise}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/edgenuity-pathblazer-awarded-research-based-design-product-certification-by-digital-promise-870030821.html|title=Edgenuity Pathblazer Awarded Research-Based Design Product Certification by Digital Promise|website=Cision, PRWeb}}</ref>
== Reception == During the site's peak popularity following the pandemic, both parents and students complained about how Edgenuity was frustrating, stating difficulties in loading, understanding concepts, and the inability to skip newly presented content.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poconorecord.com/lifestyle/20200501/virtual-learning-gets-mixed-reviews-from-pocono-parents|title=Virtual learning gets mixed reviews from Pocono parents|date=2020-05-01|last=Hood|first=Micaela|access-date=2020-05-16|archive-date=2020-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507160538/https://www.poconorecord.com/lifestyle/20200501/virtual-learning-gets-mixed-reviews-from-pocono-parents|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="oanow_article_2e077d74">{{Cite web|url=https://oanow.com/news/local/education/acs-parents-continue-to-raise-concerns-over-edgenuity/article_2e077d74-0dc0-11eb-a1d0-8b514869f058.html|title=ACS parents continue to raise concerns over Edgenuity|date=2020-10-13|last=Hosey|first=Alex}}</ref> The pass and fail content mostly comprises quizzes at the end of each lesson, and parents observed students were memorizing the answers to recurring questions instead of truly learning the material.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gopresstimes.com/2020/10/13/criticism-of-virtual-curriculum-edgenuity-aired-in-ashwaubenon/|title=Criticism of virtual curriculum Edgenuity aired in Ashwaubenon|date=2020-10-13|last=Boneske|first=Kevin}}</ref> Parents have also cited the function of tutoring help, where students can get aid from a real teacher when they encounter a difficult question. Some students complained about long waiting times, some waiting hours, for virtual tutor assistance. According to Angie Richardson, a parent of a 13-year-old student interviewed by ''BuzzFeed News''{{'}}s Erik Carter, both virtual tutoring and emails were often slow and sometimes entirely unresponsive. Her child was ultimately required to return to brick and mortar due to falling behind.<ref name="Thanks, Buzzfeed">{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/edgenuity-education-technology-virtual-classrooms-pandemic|title=This Virtual Classroom Company Made Millions During The Pandemic While Students Languished|date=2021-10-11|access-date=2021-10-19|website=BuzzFeed News|last=Carter|first=Erik}}</ref>
Edgenuity has been criticized for the standardization of their test questions,<ref name="oanow_article_2e077d74"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Peter |title=As Schools Tackle Coronavirus Pause, Don't Forget Career And Technical Education Students. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/04/01/as-schools-take-coronavirus-pause-dont-forget-career-and-technical-education-students/#28df5e883fb7 |work=Forbes |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=1 April 2020}}</ref> making it simple for students to cheat on tests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Monica |date=2020-09-03 |title=These students figured out their tests were graded by AI — and the easy way to cheat |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/2/21419012/edgenuity-online-class-ai-grading-keyword-mashing-students-school-cheating-algorithm-glitch |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> The nature of the standardization causes students who failed a test to receive a remarkably similar set of questions on their second attempt, making it easy to guess answers via trial and error. A study published by ''Slate Magazine'' showed that students using Edgenuity received, on average, 37 out of 50 identical questions during their second attempt to pass a test.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smiley |first1=Stephen |title=Just Take It Again |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/05/are-online-credit-recovery-courses-too-easy-to-game.html |publisher=Slate |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=25 May 2017}}</ref> Another study from ''The Verge'' discovered short-answer questions are graded through artificial intelligence, and students have found methods to cheat using keywords the AI is looking for to give passing grades. ''The Verge'' cited a teacher whose student was using the site who inserted words in an order that was patent nonsense yet included words that were involved in answering the question, dubbed a "word salad", and received full credit for the response.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/2/21419012/edgenuity-online-class-ai-grading-keyword-mashing-students-school-cheating-algorithm-glitch|title=These students figured out their tests were graded by AI — and the easy way to cheat|date=2020-09-02|website=The Verge|last=Chin|first=Monica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/09/03/online-learning-algorithm|title=Gaming The Grade: How One Middle Schooler Beat A Virtual Learning Algorithm|date=2020-09-03|website=wbur.org|last=Paris|first=Francesca}}</ref>
Teachers also showed frustration with how Edgenuity handles student organization in their contracts. In Providence, Rhode Island, teachers were given an average of 52 students to handle each and could not effectively communicate with all of them in an organized manner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/09/16/frustrating-start-for-providence-virtual-learning-academy/42633587/|title=Frustrating start for Providence virtual learning academy|date=2020-09-16|access-date=2021-10-19|website=The Providence Journal|last=Borg|first=Linda}}</ref> In St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, some teachers were even assigned up to 600 students to manage through email each.<ref name="Thanks, Buzzfeed"/>
== External links == * [https://www.edgenuity.com/ Official website] * [https://www.imaginelearning.com/products/imagine-edgenuity Imagine Learning website]
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
Category:Classroom management software Category:American companies established in 1998