New K12 Poll: More American Parents Customize Their Coffee Than Their Child's Education

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As online education gains acceptance and becomes more mainstream,  individualized learning in pre-kindergarten through high school is expected to become more the norm, as it has in other sectors, including retail, banking, healthcare and entertainment.  According to a new K12 Inc.-commissioned study conducted online in February by Harris Interactive among more than 2,200 U.S. adults, nearly nine-in-ten parents (86%) with a child between the ages 6–17 say they customize some aspect of their lives, including the way they shop, bank, and watch television; however, only 29% customize their child's schooling.

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Key K12 Survey Findings



In rank order[1], U.S. adults ages 18+ who are parents to at least one child between the ages of 6–17 customize their:



#1.  SHOPPING (e.g., in store, online, via catalog) – 61%

#2.  BANKING (e.g., through a mobile device, with teller, ATM) – 58%

#3.  TV (e.g., broadcast, streamed, recorded for delayed viewing) – 58%

#4.  COFFEE (e.g., flavor shots, roast strength, size, blend, sweeteners, milk/creamers) – 39%

#5.  CHILD'S SCHOOLING (e.g., choose a school other than the one their child is assigned to, modify their child's daily schedule and lessons according to the child's strengths, weaknesses and learning style) – 29%

In commenting on the poll findings, Ron Packard, CEO and founder of K12 Inc., a leading provider of technology-powered individualized learning, said, "It's interesting that when it comes to one of the most important decisions we can make as parents, we don't consider ourselves consumers. It seems we spend more time customizing the way we view sitcoms and order coffee than we do exploring how best to optimize our child's education—not because we're bad parents—but because we're conditioned to accept the status quo. Often, we don't know all the ways we can adjust our child's public school education so that it becomes more individualized and effective," Packard said.

K12 pioneered the idea of a child-centered, individualized education delivered online with expert teachers and a powerful partnership with parents, states and school districts. The K12 Program is offered through K12 partner public schools in more than two-thirds of states and the District of Columbia, and through private schools serving students in all 50 states and 85 countries. View a map of K12's full-time online and blended education offerings by state. K12 also offers high quality, engaging online courses across multiple academic levels including Advanced Placement (AP) to schools, districts, and families to supplement students' traditional course taking. 

Individualized Learning

The Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) is at the center of the K12 Program. The development of a K12 student's ILP is a collaborative process. Typically, those involved are the student, parents, and teachers, plus advisors and counselors. Led by the teacher, the team creates a unique plan for each child, designed to organize and properly sequence the student's schoolwork while articulating his or her academic strengths and challenges. Some children are ready to move ahead quickly in one subject but need extra help in others.

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