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Board weighs flexibility for correspondence (BEST) students, accountability and virtual course policy
Summary
Trustees discussed correspondence school (BEST) graduation flexibility and a virtual/distance delivery policy, balancing family flexibility with concerns about academic rigor and testing participation.
The board reviewed the district’s correspondence program, BEST, and a new policy on virtual/distance delivery courses. Miss Dillard said the BEST policy is an edited version of the district’s existing correspondence policy and that administrators adjusted high‑school graduation language to allow exemptions for prescribed courses where curriculum options vary.
Trustees discussed whether the district should allow alternative course choices for BEST students while maintaining credit and state requirements. Administrator Doctor Minor and other staff said the changes would preserve the same number of credit requirements but allow families flexibility in which specific courses satisfy a subject‑area requirement. Miss Julian and others argued that flexibility should not reduce rigor and raised concerns about accountability and testing.
The board debated how to encourage correspondence students to participate in statewide standardized testing so the district can better evaluate outcomes. Trustees suggested language that "encourages" BEST students to participate in assessments or that the district provide facilitation or outreach. Doctor Minor said BEST already encourages testing and that participation rates are higher than in some other correspondence programs but still below desired levels.
On virtual/distance delivery (new policy BP 6184), administrators said district teachers currently provide some virtual courses when needed; the policy is a placeholder to allow such delivery when appropriate. No votes were taken. Trustees asked administration to return the correspondence policy with clarified wording about enrollment/eligibility and recommended the district explore ways to encourage standardized‑test participation among correspondence students without creating a mandate.
Administration will redraft the BEST paragraphs for clarity, consider adding an encouragement statement for testing participation and provide a brief explanation of eligibility and enrollment for correspondence students.
