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Virtual academy enrollment climbs; district leaders say hybrid model could help recapture students
Summary
Virtual Academy principal Dave Peters told the Keystone Central School Board the district's online program has grown to about 271 active students and that a hybrid model and outreach could help keep tuition dollars in-district. Peters warned cyber-charter tuition differentials and pending state funding changes affect the district budget.
Dave Peters, the principal of Keystone Central's Virtual Academy, told the school board on May 7 that the district's online program has grown rapidly and could have material budget implications if more students choose outside cyber charters.
Peters said the academy currently has "a total of 271 active students," of whom roughly 100 are full-time online and about 171 participate in a hybrid model that combines in-person and online coursework. He said the program spent about $300 per course through the district's consortium, which equates to roughly $2,400 for an eight-period day. By contrast, he said tuition paid to some outside cyber charters can exceed $14,000 per student, with higher costs for special-education placements.
The principal sketched statewide context, describing cyber-charter enrollment trends that rose sharply during the pandemic and have since stabilized at roughly 55,000—60,000 students. He said recent and proposed state reforms'including more frequent residency verification and possible funding formula changes'could reduce billing for students who do not live in a district and could ultimately change how much money returns to Keystone Central.
Why it matters: Peters told the board the district can recapture revenue by marketing and investing in the Virtual Academy'particularly the hybrid option that lets students keep hands-on CTE experiences while taking online coursework. "We only have one online room," Peters said, describing plans to expand staffing and rooms if demand grows and urging the board to "invest in the virtual academy like all other schools" so the district can become the "virtual school of choice."
Board members pressed Peters on graduation outcomes and participation: Peters said recent seniors in the program graduated and that some students who returned from outside cyber charters were those who had fallen behind academically. He also walked the board through course-count figures and the consortium model, highlighting that an increase in locally enrolled virtual students could produce substantial budget savings for the district if students stay in-district rather than enrolling in cyber charters.
Next steps: Board members noted an IU10 study of cyber-charter impacts and asked administration to coordinate with the staffing study and any future strategic planning. Peters urged coordinated outreach to families and a clear staffing plan to support growth. The board did not vote on any funding for the Virtual Academy at the work session.
