GMCS Board of Education files fraud complaint against Stride

The Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education has filed a complaint against Stride (LRN), charging the publicly traded for-profit virtual education provider with fraud, deceptive trade practices, systemic violations of law, and intentional and tortious misconduct designed to maximize profit margins at the expense of students and their education, in which a vast majority of students are Native American. Allegations of Profit Before Students The complaint, filed in New Mexico’s 11th Judicial District Court, asserts that Stride executives knowingly: Inflated enrollment numbers by retaining “ghost students” on rolls to secure state funding per student. Cut staffing costs by assigning teachers’ caseloads far beyond the required statutory limits, some exceeding 200 students each. Ignored compliance requirements, including background checks and licensure laws for its employees, and ignored federally mandated special education services to students. Suppressed whistleblowers who documented financial directives from Stride’s leadership to delay hiring and deny services to preserve profit margins. According to whistleblower testimony cited in the complaint, senior Stride finance executives explicitly rejected requests to hire additional teachers, even when warned that the company violated a New Mexico statute. Instead, executives ordered additional staff cuts to ensure profit targets were met. Stride continues to assert legal claims against the School District despite admissions from its corporate leadership to the misconduct and has relied on a disinformation strategy to distract from its misdeeds.