Beloit updates virtual-school program, cites typical low engagement and plans to raise credit/pass rates

Jeff Sandroos, director of CTE and alternative education for the School District of Beloit, told the School Board on Sept. 16 that the district’s virtual program has been run in partnership with Wisconsin Virtual School (WVS) since the 2022–23 school year and that staff are working to raise student credit-earning and engagement rates.

Sandroos said the district moved to WVS because the prior platform was “not meeting our needs” and that WVS uses Wisconsin-certified teachers. He described an orientation gatekeeper course required before formal enrollment and said Sue Bailey serves as the Beloit Virtual School coordinator in a half-time role that includes tutoring and regular progress monitoring.

The program’s enrollment during recent years has fluctuated, Sandroos said, noting “coming off of the COVID year, we had 71, 124, 118, 124 — now that’s what we’ve serviced during the course of the school year,” and that students sometimes come and go during the year. He said elementary enrollment is low, middle-school enrollment rises, and most students are in high school.

Sandroos told the board the district measures “engagement/attendance” in part by whether a student has completed three quarters of assigned lessons and that benchmark historically yields low percentages in virtual programs. “Fifty percent is a pretty good rate for them to be engaged in,” he said, adding that some students placed in the program through administrative hearings are reluctant to attend regular school in any format.

For academic outcomes, the district’s targets for 2025–26 include raising the percentage of middle- and high-school virtual students earning a C or better by 5% from the prior year, and increasing overall passing-for-credit rates to at least 50%. Sandroos said the district expects many students to earn credit even if some grades are Ds, but that the district wants to push more students to higher grades.

Board members asked how Beloit’s results compare with other virtual programs. Megan Miller, a board member, asked for comparisons, and Sandroos said he did not have “hard data” but that other alternative programs he has consulted reported similar passing/engagement rates in the 40–50% range. He added that some stand-alone virtual providers counsel out low-performing students, which can raise their measured success rates.

Board members also asked about testing and counting. Sandroos said the district filed an alternate accountability report with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) because the virtual program often fails to produce enough in-person test takers for state reporting. He said the district will offer a virtual option for the forward exam in spring if DPI guidance allows it.

On supports, Sandroos said WVS provides more teacher communication and that the district coordinator conducts weekly progress monitoring, outreach and, where necessary, withdrawal from the program if students do not engage. “We don't want you to keep just spending your time here and not earning credits,” he said, explaining that the program’s per-course cost also motivates ensuring students earn credit.

The board discussed ways to track outcomes after students leave the district’s virtual program, and district staff said they already collect post-enrollment destination data and that virtual students remain eligible to participate in extracurriculars and sports at Beloit schools. Sandroos and board members said expanding blended options — allowing students to combine brick-and-mortar courses and virtual classes — is a priority as the district refines the continuum of learning.

The board did not take formal action on the virtual program at the Sept. 16 meeting; staff said updates and ongoing monitoring will continue into the school year.