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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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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: A woman walks past an artwork of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Andy Warhol as it's being filmed in the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition 'The Queen: Art & Image' on May 16, 2012 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens to the public on May 17, 2012 and runs until October 21, 2012, features a wide-ranging display of images of The Queen from throughout her 60 year reign. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Recently hatched cygnets walk beside the waters edge at Abbotsbury Swannery - the only publically accessible colony of nesting mute swans in the world - on May 11, 2012 near Weymouth, England. The arrival of the cygnets is traditionally seen as the start of summer and local traditions claim the Benedictine Monks who owned the Dorset swannery between 1000 AD and the 1540s believed the first cygnet signalled the season's first day. Abbotsbury Swannery's mute swans - up to 1,000 in total - are all free flying, and are not kept in cages. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 15: Protesters watch as cars leave outside the building where a J.P. Morgan Chase shareholders meeting was taking place on May 15, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. The annual meeting is being held after JPMorgan Chase, the largest US bank, last week disclosed a $2 billion-plus trading loss. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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30 ROCK -- 'Believe in the Stars' Episode 302 -- Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, Oprah Winfrey as Herself -- NBC Photo: Nicole Rivelli FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY -- DO NOT RE-SELL/DO NOT ARCHIVE Airdate: Thursday, November 6 on NBC (9:30-10 p.m. ET) File: NUP_132418_0029.JPG Size: 1078275 Posted: 10/24/08

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SILVER SPRING, MD - MAY 15; Wigs on display in the store front of Esther's Beauty, on Georgia Ave., in Silver Spring, MD on May 15, 2012. The image is suitable for the 'connections' category and reflects part of our society/community. Shot with an iphone at 11:52 AM. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)

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UPPER MARLBORO, MD - MAY 14: A curious goat hired to clear a dense, overgrown woods of invasive species and vegetation in Upper Marlboro, MD on May 14, 2012. Dubbed as 'Eco-Goats' by owner and forester Brian Knox, these voracious eaters are a natural solution to a natural problem. The goats eat almost every plant including poison ivy. The seeds of invasive species are digested and expelled and can't germinate. Knox puts up two layers of fencing, one a solar electric fence, and the goats are turned loose in a one acre area. Within 4-7 days, vegetation is literally licked clean. All goats have shelter and are monitored by a herder 24/7. The business started four years ago when Knox reconnected with friends Richard and Shannon Garden who owned the 50 goats. Since then the herd has grown to about 125. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

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FILE- This photo supplied by the Magazine Publishers Association and American Society of Magazine Editors on Oct. 17, 2005, shows the Rolling Stone magazine cover from Jan. 22, 1981, by photographer Annie Leibovitz, depicting John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Liebovitz made the photo in December 1980 on the last day of Lennon's life. Leibovitz is in danger of losing the copyright to her vast body of work if she doesn't pay back a $24 million loan by Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Annie Leibovitz via Magazine Publishers Assn and American Society of Magazine Editors, File) **NO SALES**

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