HSAN Partners with Problematic Education Company

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network is in partnership with Platform Learning, a private for-profit provider of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) or tutoring, for an awareness campaign. The press release states that "through their partnership, Platform Learning and HSAN are aiming to raise awareness among parents and students of the availability of federally-funded SES at eligible public schools."

It's unclear why such programs need publicity since the schools would be informing children and parents about the programs. In all likelihood, this agreement is about Platform Learning publicizing themselves to school administrators in a booming market while HSAN receives major donations. According to a recent article in the NY Times, such programs have been unregulated with funds provided through the No Child Left Behind act.

The Times had this to say about Platform Learning:
"So far, most of the problems reported appear to reflect poor management. In March, for instance, the Chicago school system asked Platform Learning Inc., the nation's largest federally financed tutoring company, to leave seven of its schools because of numerous lapses - including repeated absences by tutors - leaving hundreds of struggling students without extra help just before the Illinois Standard Achievement Test. In one incident at the Spry Community School on the West Side of Chicago, six Platform tutors did not show up for work one day, and about 70 students wound up watching the movie "Garfield" instead of studying reading and math."

The Chicago Tribune also addressed problems with Platform Learning. In addition to the Chicago situation, the Tribune states:
"New York City Schools, expected to pay Platform about $35 million for tutoring in 105 schools this year, also is investigating the company for not conducting background checks on all employees and using incentives and prizes to encourage enrollment and attendance. Atlanta schools reined in Platform's "overly aggressive" recruiting efforts. In Los Angeles, a school official said he is disappointed with Platform's performance on a pilot program launched in October."

""We're less than happy ... because you don't promise folks something you can't deliver," said John Liechty, an associate superintendent who runs the $75 million after-school tutoring programs for the 750,000-pupil Los Angeles Unified School District. "They are coming out of the gate so fast in so many cities. I think they've bitten off more than they can chew.""