The Pullman School District board heard an annual student-transfer report showing 82 students transferred out of the district during the 2025–26 year and 55 transferred in, Superintendent Bob said during the meeting. Bob said 71% of students who left enrolled in online schools.

District staff reported that most transfers out were high school and elementary students and that transfers in tended to cluster at Pullman High School, where Career and Technical Education offerings attract some students. The district noted renewals account for a large share of transfers: about 71% of transfers out and 77% of transfers in were renewals at the time of the report.

In discussion, board members and staff flagged three related trends: a statewide increase in homeschooling, sustained interest in online academies, and the local effects of Pullman’s status as a university town where families sometimes leave on short sabbaticals. Bob told the board state data he referenced showed homeschooling has risen about 32.5% in recent years. He said the district has been working to connect with home-based families and to invite them to try district classes.

Board members asked whether the district should develop a more robust virtual option to retain students. Staff cautioned that a district-operated online program would require an up-front investment in staffing, technology and curriculum and stressed funding and accountability limits tied to Alternative Learning Environment (ALA) rules. A board member who said they had previous experience with Spokane Virtual Learning noted that districts can “receive full funding for those students, but it’s through alternative learning environment,” and that ALA-funded students must have written learning plans and show monthly progress to be claimed for state funding.

Staff outlined possible incremental approaches: partner with another district to offer a few online courses (sharing FTE), pilot one or two online classes in-house, or seek a critical mass of students before launching a full online academy. Bob emphasized the district has not made a decision and recommended further study and cost modeling before pursuing a district-led online program.

The board did not take formal action on virtual-program development at the meeting. Staff said transfer counts continue to change month to month and the district will report updated numbers as enrollment evolves.