Stride, Inc. filed a definitive proxy statement on October 27, 2026, soliciting stockholder votes for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for December 10, 2026, and disclosing a series of board and executive leadership changes made during fiscal year 2026.

Key Highlights

  • New CEO appointed: Robert E. Knowling, Jr. was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2026, bringing what the company described as a 30-year track record in business transformation and the education and technology sectors.
  • Chair and CEO roles separated: Steven B. Fink, formerly the Company's Lead Independent Director, was named independent Chair of the Board in connection with Mr. Knowling's appointment.
  • Two new independent directors added: Brian A. Shepherd joined the board in July 2026, and Dylan G. Haggart was appointed in October 2026; Dr. Steven Guttentag is expected to join during the quarter ending December 31, 2026.
  • Board to expand to 10: Immediately after the December 10, 2026 Annual Meeting, the board size will increase from eight to ten members, according to the filing.
  • 10th consecutive year of revenue growth: The company reported achieving its tenth straight year of revenue growth in fiscal year 2026, along with 4.2% enrollment growth and net income growth of more than 17%.
  • Share repurchases: The company disclosed repurchasing approximately $189 million of shares of common stock during fiscal year 2026.
  • New Capital Allocation Committee formed: The board established a Capital Allocation Committee in October 2026 to evaluate the company's capital structure and capital allocation priorities.

Stride's Board Restructuring and Fiscal 2026 Performance Ahead of December Stockholder Vote

Stride, Inc. (NYSE:LRN), a national provider of online education and educational technology with more than 25 years of operating history, filed its definitive proxy statement in connection with the December 10, 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held in person at Latham & Watkins LLP in Washington, DC, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Stockholders of record as of October 19, 2026 are eligible to vote on four agenda items, including the election of eight directors, ratification of KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and a non-binding advisory Say-on-Pay resolution.

The proxy letter highlights several governance changes made in the months before the filing. Robert E. Knowling, Jr. was appointed CEO in July 2026, at which point the company also separated the Chair and CEO roles, elevating Steven B. Fink to independent Board Chair. Brian A. Shepherd, former CEO of CSG Systems, joined as an independent director in July 2026. Dylan G. Haggart, Founder and Managing Partner of Fivespan Partners, LP, joined in October 2026; the filing identifies Fivespan Partners Fund, Ltd. as one of the company's significant stockholders. In connection with Mr. Haggart's appointment, director Allison Lawrence temporarily resigned from the board and the Compensation Committee effective October 22, 2026 and is serving as a non-voting board observer.

On the financial side, the company disclosed that fiscal year 2026 represented its tenth consecutive year of revenue growth, alongside a 4.2% increase in enrollment, net income growth of more than 17%, and Adjusted EBITDA growth of more than 8%. The filing notes that Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and that a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided in Appendix A of the proxy. Stride operates in the online K-12 and adult learning segments, serving students and families through partnerships with school districts and public charter schools across the United States.

What Was Disclosed

Stride, Inc. released its 2026 definitive proxy statement on October 27, 2026, covering board expansion to ten members, three new director appointments, CEO and Chair role separation, fiscal 2026 financial highlights, and an upcoming stockholder vote scheduled for December 10, 2026.