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Hard lessons: The trials of Kaplan — and the education of The Washington Post Co.

The success of the Kaplan education division has brought unwelcome scrutiny to a family-run company that has long prided itself in serving the public interest.

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At Kaplan University's campus in Hagerstown, Md., a group of Chinese students from the Guangxi Port Management Group program gathers around instructor Barry Dallara to seek assistance on a tax question. The for-profit school blends classroom and online learning, offering associate and bachelor’s degrees in 27 areas.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

The Kaplan University campus in Hagerstown. Kaplan is a multinational, multibillion-dollar enterprise with 70 campuses and nearly 100,000 students.

The Kaplan University campus in Hagerstown. Kaplan is a multinational, multibillion-dollar enterprise with 70 campuses and nearly 100,000 students.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Dominique Winston, 18, is studying to become a medical assistant. Here, she and other students use the e-Learning Lab to take online courses.

Dominique Winston, 18, is studying to become a medical assistant. Here, she and other students use the e-Learning Lab to take online courses.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Hagerstown police officer Wayne Hose, a 23-year veteran of the force, uses a simulator, designed to hone his critical-thinking and shooting skills, on the Kaplan campus.

Hagerstown police officer Wayne Hose, a 23-year veteran of the force, uses a simulator, designed to hone his critical-thinking and shooting skills, on the Kaplan campus.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Brenda Pittman teaches a College Composition II course at Kaplan.

Brenda Pittman teaches a College Composition II course at Kaplan.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Wendy Kenyon, 34, speaks up during the Pathways to Academic Success class. In one of the trials Kaplan has faced recently, the unit was snared in a government sting that found some employees were pushing students to take on loans without regard to whether they could afford them.

Wendy Kenyon, 34, speaks up during the Pathways to Academic Success class. In one of the trials Kaplan has faced recently, the unit was snared in a government sting that found some employees were pushing students to take on loans without regard to whether they could afford them.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Pittman addresses her students. Once known as Hagerstown Business College and founded in 1937, this campus has been part of Kaplan’s archipelago of schools since 2000. It draws people from within a 50-mile radius. It has 853 students, most of them taking three classes a term. The average age is 27.

Pittman addresses her students. Once known as Hagerstown Business College and founded in 1937, this campus has been part of Kaplan’s archipelago of schools since 2000. It draws people from within a 50-mile radius. It has 853 students, most of them taking three classes a term. The average age is 27.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Connie Mendoza, 43, uses a computer in the school library to work on a project. She is in her fourth semester at Kaplan.

Connie Mendoza, 43, uses a computer in the school library to work on a project. She is in her fourth semester at Kaplan.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Jonathan N. Grayer served as chief executive of Kaplan before departing The Post Co. in 2008. He was known for bringing discipline and ambition to the unit, but his style rankled some in the company.

Jonathan N. Grayer served as chief executive of Kaplan before departing The Post Co. in 2008. He was known for bringing discipline and ambition to the unit, but his style rankled some in the company.

Matthew Staver / Bloomberg News

The Education Department, headed by Arne Duncan, is now imposing stringent new conditions on the federal student loans that have become the lifeblood of for-profit schools, including Kaplan.

The Education Department, headed by Arne Duncan, is now imposing stringent new conditions on the federal student loans that have become the lifeblood of for-profit schools, including Kaplan.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press

In February, the Senate education committee, led by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), released a Kaplan document that advised recruiters to play on students' fears. Kaplan says the document was dropped after a month, but Harkin and other critics say the marketing manuals suggest that unsavory practices were part of a broader strategy.

In February, the Senate education committee, led by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), released a Kaplan document that advised recruiters to play on students' fears. Kaplan says the document was dropped after a month, but Harkin and other critics say the marketing manuals suggest that unsavory practices were part of a broader strategy.

Haraz N. Ghanbari / Associated Press

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