Utah's Online HS Could Go National

None by KCPW

Pair of Entrepreneurs Hope to Profit

(KCPW News) Two wealthy entrepreneurs want to turn Utah's online high school into a national electronic academy and take a cut of the profits.

The Electronic High School was founded in 1994 as a free service for Utah students seeking a high-school diploma. More than 60,000 students are currently enrolled.

Electronic High School Principal Dick Siddoway says expanding the program to out-of-state students would be easy, since the coursework and teachers are already in place. Park City millionaire Paul Zane Pilzer and New York-based Tony Meyers would put up the estimated millions it will cost to expand the online academy, which will be run as a quasi-public-private partnership. T

he two investors will take a cut of the profits, but Pilzer says most will go to hire more teachers and pay for system upgrades. Siddoway believes it could improve Utah's tarnished educational image. The Utah State Board of Education will consider the proposal this week.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW