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<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0.25in; width: 7.2in;font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 19, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Grand Canyon Education, Inc.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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<TD nowrap align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>001-34211
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>20-3356009</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>3300 W. Camelback Road<BR>
Phoenix, Arizona
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>&nbsp;<BR>85017</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B> (602) 639-7500 </B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</FONT></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">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: </DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio --> </DIV>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>
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<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 10pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="7%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><DIV style="text-align: justify"><U><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers: Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers</B></U><B>.</B></DIV></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">On March&nbsp;19, 2009, the compensation committee of the board of directors of Grand Canyon
Education, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) adopted a performance-based cash bonus plan (the &#147;Bonus Plan&#148;) for
the Company&#146;s named executive officers and other eligible senior management team members for the
2009 fiscal year. Under the Bonus Plan, a participant&#146;s bonus will be based on the Company&#146;s
achievement of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) targets, as well as the participant&#146;s
achievement of individual performance goals. Depending on a participant&#146;s level, the financial
metrics will account for between 60% and 80% of the target bonus and the specific individual
performance goals will account for between 20% to 40% of the target bonus. For purposes of the
Bonus Plan, Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense net of interest income,
plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i)
royalty payments incurred pursuant to an agreement with our former owner that has been terminated
as of April&nbsp;15, 2008; (ii)&nbsp;share-based compensation accrued pursuant to Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No.&nbsp;123 (revised 2004) &#147;Share Based Payment,&#148; and any other GAAP expense
related to equity compensation awards for the 2009 fiscal year; (iii)&nbsp;any extraordinary,
nonrecurring items, as determined in accordance with APB Opinion No.&nbsp;30; and (iv)&nbsp;all amounts
(including settlement payments, legal fees, costs and other litigation and/or settlement expenses)
expensed during the 2009 fiscal year in connection with the settlement of litigation matters.
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">Under the Bonus Plan, the compensation committee has established a target bonus for each of
the named executive officers and eligible senior management. The target bonus has been set at 100%
of base salary for Brian E. Mueller, our Chief Executive Officer, and 50% of base salary for each
of Daniel E. Bachus, our Chief Financial Officer, Dr.&nbsp;W. Stan Meyer, our Executive Vice President,
and Dr.&nbsp;Kathy Player, President of Grand Canyon University. For each of these named executive
officers, the financial metrics will account for 80% of the target bonus, with the revenue target
and the Adjusted EBITDA target accounting for 37.5% and 62.5% of such 80%, respectively, and the
specific individual performance goals will account for 20% of the target bonus. The actual
percentage is determined on the basis of the Company&#146;s achievement of the revenue and Adjusted
EBITDA targets that the compensation committee established for the 2009 fiscal year. With respect
to these targets, the threshold goal was set using the Company&#146;s budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
For participants to earn any payout under the Bonus Plan, the Company must achieve a threshold of
95% of budgeted revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. Assuming these thresholds are achieved, payouts will
be made based on a minimum of 95% of budgeted revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and a maximum of 105% of
budgeted revenue and 107% of Adjusted EBITDA. Performance between minimum and maximum levels
result in prorated payments to plan participants using straight-line interpolation.
</DIV>


<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; margin-left: 4%">Shown below is a summary of the matrix:
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Goal</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Threshold</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Target</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>


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<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Revenue Goal</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">95% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">100% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">105% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Adjusted EBITDA</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">95% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">100% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="right">107% of budget</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff; padding-top: 1px">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Pay-Out as % of Target Bonus</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">50</TD>
    <TD nowrap>%</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">100</TD>
    <TD nowrap>%</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">150</TD>
    <TD nowrap>%</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">Under the Bonus Plan, the actual bonus that each of these named executive officers could earn
for the 2009 fiscal year ranges from 0% to a maximum of 140% of his or her annual target bonus
(with such maximum achieved by obtaining the maximum payout for achieving the financial metrics
(80% * 150%) and achieving the individual goals (an additional 20%). To illustrate how the 2009
fiscal year Bonus Plan functions, assume that a named executive officer&#146;s base salary for 2009 is
$300,000 and that the target bonus is 50% of base salary. Of this target bonus of $150,000,
$45,000 (or 37.5% of the 80% subject to achievement of the financial metrics) would be based upon
the Company&#146;s achievement of the revenue target, $75,000 (or 62.5% of the 80% subject to the
achievement of the financial metrics) would be based on the Company&#146;s achievement of the Adjusted
EBITDA target, and $30,000 (20%) would be based on the participant&#146;s achievement of his or her
individual performance goals. If the revenue target is achieved at the threshold level (so only 50%
of the revenue component is payable at that level), the Adjusted EBITDA target is achieved at the
maximum level (so that 150% of the Adjusted EBITDA component is payable at that level), and the
specific individual performance goals are met, the participant would be entitled to a potential
bonus of $165,000 (calculated as $22,500 plus $112,500 plus $30,000).
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">The Bonus Plan for eligible senior management other than the named executive officers is
similar to the above, except that, for participant&#146;s below the named executive officer level, the
bonus will be calculated based on two six-month cycles, such that the determination of the bonus
payable for the first half of fiscal 2009 will be determined on the basis of the achievement of the
revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and individual performance targets established for each period.
</DIV>
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->2<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 8%">Effective September&nbsp;1, 2008, the Company appointed Dr.&nbsp;Kathy Player as President of Grand
Canyon University. In preparation for the filing of the Company&#146;s proxy statement relating to its
2009 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company determined that Dr.&nbsp;Player will be a named
executive officer, as that phrase is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, in 2009. A
copy of the employment agreement that we entered into with Dr.&nbsp;Player is attached hereto as Exhibit
10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
</DIV>

<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01. </B><U><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></U><B>.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="7%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">

    <TD align="left" valign="top">10.1</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Employment Agreement between Grand Canyon Education, Inc. and Dr.&nbsp;Kathy Player, dated
September&nbsp;1, 2008</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->3<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">SIGNATURES
</DIV>


<DIV align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">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, thereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">Date: March 25, 2009&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Daniel E. Bachus
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Daniel E. Bachus&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left" nowrap>Chief Financial Officer<br>
(Principal Financial and Principal Accounting  Officer)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->4<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">EXHIBIT INDEX
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head --><TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>


<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR><TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">10.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Employment Agreement between Grand Canyon Education, Inc. and Dr.&nbsp;Kathy Player, dated September&nbsp;1, 2008</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body --></TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->5<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

</BODY>
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Form 8-K
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): March 19, 2009
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-34211
20-3356009
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
3300 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, Arizona
85017
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(602) 639-7500
(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:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers: Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
.
On March 19, 2009, the compensation committee of the board of directors of Grand Canyon
Education, Inc. (the "Company") adopted a performance-based cash bonus plan (the "Bonus Plan") for
the Company's named executive officers and other eligible senior management team members for the
2009 fiscal year. Under the Bonus Plan, a participant's bonus will be based on the Company's
achievement of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) targets, as well as the participant's
achievement of individual performance goals. Depending on a participant's level, the financial
metrics will account for between 60% and 80% of the target bonus and the specific individual
performance goals will account for between 20% to 40% of the target bonus. For purposes of the
Bonus Plan, Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense net of interest income,
plus income tax expense, and plus depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), as adjusted for (i)
royalty payments incurred pursuant to an agreement with our former owner that has been terminated
as of April 15, 2008; (ii) share-based compensation accrued pursuant to Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) "Share Based Payment," and any other GAAP expense
related to equity compensation awards for the 2009 fiscal year; (iii) any extraordinary,
nonrecurring items, as determined in accordance with APB Opinion No. 30; and (iv) all amounts
(including settlement payments, legal fees, costs and other litigation and/or settlement expenses)
expensed during the 2009 fiscal year in connection with the settlement of litigation matters.
Under the Bonus Plan, the compensation committee has established a target bonus for each of
the named executive officers and eligible senior management. The target bonus has been set at 100%
of base salary for Brian E. Mueller, our Chief Executive Officer, and 50% of base salary for each
of Daniel E. Bachus, our Chief Financial Officer, Dr. W. Stan Meyer, our Executive Vice President,
and Dr. Kathy Player, President of Grand Canyon University. For each of these named executive
officers, the financial metrics will account for 80% of the target bonus, with the revenue target
and the Adjusted EBITDA target accounting for 37.5% and 62.5% of such 80%, respectively, and the
specific individual performance goals will account for 20% of the target bonus. The actual
percentage is determined on the basis of the Company's achievement of the revenue and Adjusted
EBITDA targets that the compensation committee established for the 2009 fiscal year. With respect
to these targets, the threshold goal was set using the Company's budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
For participants to earn any payout under the Bonus Plan, the Company must achieve a threshold of
95% of budgeted revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. Assuming these thresholds are achieved, payouts will
be made based on a minimum of 95% of budgeted revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and a maximum of 105% of
budgeted revenue and 107% of Adjusted EBITDA. Performance between minimum and maximum levels
result in prorated payments to plan participants using straight-line interpolation.
Shown below is a summary of the matrix:
Goal
Threshold
Target
Maximum
Revenue Goal
95% of budget
100% of budget
105% of budget
Adjusted EBITDA
95% of budget
100% of budget
107% of budget
Pay-Out as % of Target Bonus
50
%
100
%
150
%
Under the Bonus Plan, the actual bonus that each of these named executive officers could earn
for the 2009 fiscal year ranges from 0% to a maximum of 140% of his or her annual target bonus
(with such maximum achieved by obtaining the maximum payout for achieving the financial metrics
(80% * 150%) and achieving the individual goals (an additional 20%). To illustrate how the 2009
fiscal year Bonus Plan functions, assume that a named executive officer's base salary for 2009 is
$300,000 and that the target bonus is 50% of base salary. Of this target bonus of $150,000,
$45,000 (or 37.5% of the 80% subject to achievement of the financial metrics) would be based upon
the Company's achievement of the revenue target, $75,000 (or 62.5% of the 80% subject to the
achievement of the financial metrics) would be based on the Company's achievement of the Adjusted
EBITDA target, and $30,000 (20%) would be based on the participant's achievement of his or her
individual performance goals. If the revenue target is achieved at the threshold level (so only 50%
of the revenue component is payable at that level), the Adjusted EBITDA target is achieved at the
maximum level (so that 150% of the Adjusted EBITDA component is payable at that level), and the
specific individual performance goals are met, the participant would be entitled to a potential
bonus of $165,000 (calculated as $22,500 plus $112,500 plus $30,000).
The Bonus Plan for eligible senior management other than the named executive officers is
similar to the above, except that, for participant's below the named executive officer level, the
bonus will be calculated based on two six-month cycles, such that the determination of the bonus
payable for the first half of fiscal 2009 will be determined on the basis of the achievement of the
revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and individual performance targets established for each period.
2
Effective September 1, 2008, the Company appointed Dr. Kathy Player as President of Grand
Canyon University. In preparation for the filing of the Company's proxy statement relating to its
2009 annual meeting of stockholders, the Company determined that Dr. Player will be a named
executive officer, as that phrase is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, in 2009. A
copy of the employment agreement that we entered into with Dr. Player is attached hereto as Exhibit
10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
.
10.1
Employment Agreement between Grand Canyon Education, Inc. and Dr. Kathy Player, dated
September 1, 2008
3
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, thereunto duly authorized.
GRAND CANYON EDUCATION, INC.
Date: March 25, 2009
By:
/s/ Daniel E. Bachus
Daniel E. Bachus
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Principal Accounting  Officer)
4
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
10.1
Employment Agreement between Grand Canyon Education, Inc. and Dr. Kathy Player, dated September 1, 2008
5