UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2025
Strategic Education, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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Maryland | | 0-21039 | | 52-1975978 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
2303 Dulles Station Boulevard
Herndon, VA 20171
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(703) 561-1600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
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Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | | STRA | | Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Strategic Education, Inc. (“SEI” or the “Company”) recently conducted a review of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. As a result of this process, on February 25, 2025, the Committee approved the dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. PwC was dismissed on February 27, 2025.
The reports of PwC on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and in the subsequent interim period through February 27, 2025, there were: (i) no disagreements within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K between the Company and PwC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, any of which, if not resolved to PwC’s satisfaction, would have caused PwC to make reference thereto in their reports, and (ii) no “reportable events” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
We previously provided PwC with a copy of the above disclosures and requested PwC to furnish us with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether PwC agreed with the statements made by us in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of PwC’s letter, dated March 3, 2025, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
On February 25, 2025, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, subject to Deloitte’s standard client acceptance procedures and execution of an engagement letter. During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and in the subsequent interim period through February 27, 2025, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Deloitte regarding: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or (iii) any “reportable event” within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
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104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC. |
Date: March 3, 2025 | | |
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| By: | /s/ Daniel W. Jackson |
| | Daniel W. Jackson |
| | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |