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Yukon virtual program expands services, adds dedicated special-education support
Summary
District staff described growth in Yukon’s virtual school program, including dedicated special-education support, in-person meetups and rising enrollment—157 full-time high school virtual students and 312 students taking at least one virtual class were reported.
YUKON, Okla. — District staff updated the board Tuesday on Yukon’s virtual school, describing growth in enrollment, new in-person supports and a dedicated special-education teacher for virtual students.
"We offer flexibility for students who want to do their learning at home or need to do their learning at home," said Bridal Ajay, who presented the program overview to the board. The presentation said the virtual program began in 2020 and has since added site-based community activities such as lunch meetups, monthly middle-school "Friendly Friday" gatherings and a virtual learning office where students may come in for lessons and assessments.
Ajay said the district provides a dedicated special-education teacher for virtual students who can meet pupils in person or via Google Meet. "We offer a dedicated special education teacher to just our virtual school students and that teacher actually provides direct instruction," Ajay said. She said the teacher has about 20 years of experience.
The district reported staffing and enrollment figures: six full-time high-school virtual teachers, one full-time middle-school teacher, two part-time elementary teachers, a full-time high-school counselor, and several adjuncts. Ajay said the high school has 157 full-time virtual students, about 114 students who are at least half-time virtual, and 312 Yukon High School students who take one to two classes through the virtual program. She also said 37 students served on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) participate in the virtual program.
Ajay described blended enrollment at the middle school this year, where students take core courses online but attend in-person for electives, and said the district offers multiple content-management systems and some courses developed by Yukon teachers for virtual students, including forensics and space science.
Board members did not vote on program changes at the meeting but asked clarifying questions about scheduling and staffing.
