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District trainer says Acellus virtual program is expanding; 82 of ~93 virtual students passed recent grading periods
Summary
Stephanie Simmons updated the Hardy County Board on the district's virtual program (Acellus Learning), reporting about 93 active students, school-by-school enrollment, built-in special-education supports, and that 82 students passed the first two nine-week grading periods while 11 did not largely because of attendance and engagement.
Stephanie Simmons, the district's virtual-school coordinator and a teacher at Morfield Middle School, told the Hardy County Board that the district's virtual program uses Acellus Learning, a video-based online curriculum that includes diagnostic tools to fill knowledge gaps and supports for special-education students. "Acellus is built not to replace the teacher but to work as an enhancement," Simmons said.
Simmons said the program had about 97 students before the semester ended and 93 active students at the time of her report, with the majority enrolled at the high school level. She provided a school-by-school breakdown during the presentation and said Morfield High School accounts for the largest share of virtual enrollees. Simmons described examples of classroom integration and sample lessons she had shown to board members, including virtual field-trip footage used in high-school lessons.
On outcomes, Simmons said 82 students passed coursework for the first and second nine-week periods; 11 students did not meet passing standards "because of lack of attendance and lack of effort," she told the board. She said the district is working with those students and families, moving some back to in-person instruction or into alternative options such as night school or after-school supports. "I have office hours where I call the parents or call kids or check in," Simmons said, describing daily tracking and outreach.
Simmons also noted the platform's flexibility: she can accelerate students who master content quickly and provide additional steps for those who need more time. She highlighted that some students use a hybrid model (taking one or two in-person classes such as band while completing most coursework virtually) and that it is possible for students to complete all required credits virtually and graduate. Simmons said the district has attracted some students from neighboring counties and homeschool families, which has helped enrollment.
Board members asked clarifying questions about where lessons are produced and how the system supports students who struggle; Simmons said lessons are filmed by real instructors in studio and on location, and she can assign multiple lessons if a student needs extra practice. She described positive anecdotal outcomes and said the program appears to be "a very, very good program" overall. The board requested corrected enrollment rosters and follow-up on the 11 students who did not pass so next steps can be tracked.
The board did not take any final action on the virtual program during the meeting; the update was presented for information and discussion.
