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Richmond Public Schools says Richmond Virtual Academy cannot continue without added funding; district will reassign students and staff
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Summary
Superintendent Jason Cameron told the council that without additional funding the Richmond Virtual Academy (RVA) cannot be maintained; he said students will be served in‑person or via homebound services and staff will be absorbed into district vacancies, with an estimated $3.2M in savings from the change.
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Cameron told the City Council the district lacks the funding to continue the Richmond Virtual Academy (RVA) as currently operated and that, absent additional money, the program will not continue.
"Absent additional funding, we do not have the capacity to maintain the Richmond Virtual Academy," Cameron said, adding the district will ensure every student currently enrolled in RVA will be served in person or through existing homebound services for medically fragile students.
Cameron said the district employs roughly 22–25 staff at the RVA, most of whom hold teaching licenses, and that those staff members are guaranteed positions within Richmond Public Schools. "Every single individual with a teaching license is guaranteed a job in RPS," he said, and the district is holding targeted hiring events to place affected staff into vacancies. Cameron said the district expects the staffing and program changes to yield roughly $3.2 million in savings.
Councilmembers pressed for options to preserve some portion of the RVA if funding could be found or reprioritized; several said they would continue to seek funding and matching grants. Council members also raised concerns about transitions for students with disabilities and the need to ensure continuity of services.
Cameron emphasized the district’s legal and moral obligation to provide services to all students and said the majority of students with disabilities attend in‑person programs already. He noted that the homebound program (for medically fragile students) remains in place and that students eligible for homebound services will continue to receive instruction in their homes.
Council did not adopt a final funding decision during the work session; the superintendent and council agreed to continue discussions and to route questions through staff so the district can respond with more detail.
