The 3 Rivers School District Board of Directors voted to sponsor a new K–8 virtual charter school aimed at enrolling local homeschool students and recapturing average daily membership funding, the board decided Wednesday.

Travis Osborne, who led development of the proposal, described the Applegate Virtual Academy as a locally sponsored virtual option that will use the Open Ed platform and be capped at 200 students initially. "We put together the Applegate Virtual Academy," Osborne told the board, explaining the program will target K–5 families who currently enroll in outside virtual providers.

Administrators told the board the district will contract with Open Ed for curriculum and platform services at a stated cost of $595 per student per month. The district estimated it will retain approximately 40% of the ADM (average daily membership) funding for these students while Open Ed provides instructional delivery; administrators said the district’s responsibilities will include reporting attendance and student performance to the state and providing special education services as required.

Board members asked about testing and curriculum controls. Administrators said statewide testing requirements, opt-out rules and other statutory obligations for public schools will apply to the charter; parents may opt students out of statewide tests under existing law. Staff also said families would register through Open Ed and that the district would manage the required reporting and oversight, including regular progress checks.

Proponents described the plan as a way to slow enrollment decline by offering a district-run virtual option so that state funds tied to students living in the district remain with 3 Rivers. Administrators said some families already working with distant virtual providers expressed interest in a local option.

A motion to approve sponsorship of the charter passed with no recorded opposition. Administrators said they will advertise the new option if the board’s approval stands and will monitor enrollment and outcomes during the first year.