Lisa Schnecker of the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Utah's state Board of Education approved a charter for the Utah Virtual Academy. The online charter plans on up to 500 students  to be served by K12 Inc. 

Rather than contradict yesterday's posting on edbizbuzz, this article reinforces it in a few sentences. There are alternatives to K12, its offering is costly for what is fast becoming a commodity, state education agencies are K12's competitors as much as potential clients, and the days of the turnkey solution based on special technical knowledge are numbered.

Although the board approved the school Friday, several board members said they were torn.....  Some were concerned that K12 Inc. wants 24 percent of the school's revenue to go toward administrative and technology services, a higher percentage than most other charter-school management companies demand....  Superintendent Patti Harrington said the state is likely to open its own K-8 virtual school, leading some board members to wonder why  the state should approve the more expensive Utah Virtual Academy..... “My preference would be to wait and let our state office come through with their K-8 [virtual school], and I think that would mitigate the need for this,” said Janet Cannon, board vice chairman. “I don't know this is a wise use of public funds.”

edbizbuzz is open for alternative views. Those who want to make the case for the K-12 IPO are welcome to comment here.