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Buchanan Virtual Academy reports improved graduation, attendance and participation after targeted supports
Summary
Presenter Reed told the Buchanan Community Schools board that the Virtual Academy (53 students) and Step Up program showed gains: a 3% index-score increase from the previous year, a 3% rise in graduation rate from last year (7% since initial measurement), reduced absenteeism and expanded tutoring supports.
Reed, a district presenter, told the Buchanan Community Schools Board on Dec. 16 that the district's Virtual Academy and Step Up programs are showing measurable improvement after targeted interventions. "We have 53 students currently in the virtual academy," Reed said, and described stepped-up tutoring, parent-teacher conferences and drop-in supports.
The presentation said the Virtual Academy's index score rose about 3% from the previous school year and about 20% since the program was placed on the state's CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) list. Reed said the academy's graduation rate increased about 3% from last year and about 7% since the district's earlier measurement, but noted the district reports graduation using students' original cohort years rather than the date they enter the virtual program.
Reed cited attendance and engagement improvements: virtual-student absenteeism has improved by about 19%, Step Up attendance increased about 12% from July to November, and tutoring-intervention sessions rose roughly 67%. Reed credited federal/state CSI-directed supports and local tutoring with the gains and outlined continued strategies: expanded drop-in tutoring for ELA and math at middle school levels, college and career pathway sessions and social-emotional supports.
During Q&A a trustee asked whether the reported graduation statistic is a four-year rate; Reed explained that state reporting places students in their original cohort year, which can depress percentages for students who later enroll in alternative or virtual programs. The presenter also confirmed adult-education enrollment is being phased out under a partner's timetable and that the district receives some adult-ed students transferred from closing programs elsewhere.
Why it matters: District officials said steady improvements reduce the risk that the Virtual Academy would be closed for low performance and that incremental gains could move the program off the CSI list without shutting it down. Trustees pressed only briefly on cohort definitions and the presenter provided the cohort-year clarification.
What's next: The board received the presentation for information; no formal action was taken on program structure during the meeting.
