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Sumner County Board highlights online learning expansion, says 1,900 students used district courses this year
Summary
District leaders told the board Patricia Brown Virtual Academy and an expanded online offerings served roughly 1,900 students this year, provided credit recovery and alternative placements, and will expand capacity next year while keeping district courses free to students.
District officials told the Sumner County School Board on April 22 that online learning programs — including the newly opened Patricia Brown Virtual Academy (PBVA) — have expanded access for students countywide.
"This year we have almost 1,900 students who have taken or are taking online courses," said Dr. David Hallman (speaker 3), who led the presentation. "PBVA has served 62 students so far; in the first semester 19 completed graduation requirements, and we anticipate up to 100 seats next year." Dr. Hallman credited the programs with supporting credit recovery and offering alternatives for students who otherwise would have no course options.
Rachel Sawyer (speaker 18), who coordinates online services, described the district's partnership with Imagine Learning and how teacher-of-record classes and live tutor features work. "Each of our students are placed in courses that have Tennessee state-certified teachers of record," Sawyer said. She added that the platform includes tutor buttons and live office hours so students can get real-time help.
Board members asked how courses are delivered and whether families face fees. Sawyer said core PBVA and district online courses are free to students and that the district pays for school-level packages rather than charging families. "We do not charge students," she said. The presenters explained labs and local lab coordinators at each high school monitor engagement and send weekly reports to counselors to flag students who fall behind.
Officials described a 48-hour turnaround target for rostering students who transfer midterm or enter the program due to disciplinary placements. "When students transfer mid-semester we modify the course so they do not repeat work already completed," Dr. Hallman said, adding that counselors and the online team coordinate to make the course load feasible for midyear entrants.
The presentation also pointed to measurable outcomes: district high school classes delivered through online platforms have shown increased EOC averages in some subjects, and the PBVA has helped previously expelled students earn credits toward graduation. The district plans to increase PBVA capacity and continue integrating CTE and AP access through teacher-of-record options.
The board requested additional details on rostering, long-term staffing and evaluation metrics; district leaders said they will provide a more detailed implementation briefing at the May study session and include cost and scaling assumptions in the forthcoming budget materials.
The meeting closed the item by noting PBVA's role in expanding options while cautioning that online learning is intended to supplement, not supplant, in-person instruction.
