Bennett Quits K12 Inc. Under Fire

Former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett abruptly resigned last week from the education company K12 Inc. after his racially charged remarks on abortion and crime sparked a firestorm of criticism.

Within days of the comments during his call-in radio show, Mr. Bennett cut his ties to the privately held, McLean, Va.-based company that he co-founded in 1999. Besides serving as the chairman of K12’s board, Mr. Bennett had a part-time job with the company that involved attending public events and meeting with clients and prospective clients. K12 operates virtual schools and provides curricula to more than 50,000 students in cyber charters, regular schools, and home-school families.

“Given the controversy surrounding the remarks I made on my radio show, I am stepping down from my positions at K12, so that neither the mission of the company, nor its children, are affected, distracted, or harmed in any way,” he said in a written statement on Oct. 3. Mr. Bennett also maintained that his comments were distorted and taken out...