District virtual academy retained several students but enrollment remains below targets
Summary
Miss Shields told the board the district's middle-school virtual academy started with 10 students (target 15), regained seven previously unenrolled students to the district, ended the first semester with eight students, and staff plan to continue middle-grade virtual offerings while exploring high-school expansion.
Miss Shields, speaking to the Franklin County School Board, provided an update on the district's Virtual Academy program for grades 6'08. "We started with 10 students," she said, noting the program was capped at 30 and initially aimed for 15 enrollments. According to Shields, seven of the initial enrollees were students who had not been previously enrolled in district brick-and-mortar schools and were brought back into the district.
Shields said enrollment declined over time with two students choosing to return to homeschool programs; other students who left the virtual program were retained in brick-and-mortar schools rather than leaving the district entirely. The presenter and board members characterized some departures as students' individual choices and cited accountability and the absence of in-person teacher presence as factors for those who returned to other programs.
The board discussed long-term goals to expand the virtual program into high school, which would require review of credits and graduation requirements. Shields said the program is being adjusted iteratively and that staff plan to continue offering middle-grade virtual schooling next year while looking for ways to increase enrollment and supports.
No formal action was taken; the item was presented for information and planning.
