The president of the Martin Center, Jenna Robinson, authored an op-ed for The Fulcrum examining North Carolina’s Project Kitty Hawk and the broader question of whether government should be in the business of managing online higher education. Robinson argues that, while the initiative was launched with $97 million in taxpayer funding and good intentions, it has struggled under layers of bureaucracy and overlapping approvals that have slowed its growth.
Unlike private online program managers, Project Kitty Hawk must navigate state governance rules and relies on public funds, placing all the financial risk on taxpayers without guaranteeing returns.
Robinson contends that online education works best when driven by market competition rather than government control—and that private providers, not taxpayers, should bear the risk of innovation.
To read the full piece, click HERE.