The Montgomery ISD school board could decide Monday night whether to launch a virtual learning pilot program, the district said. Superintendent Mark Ruffin would not say whether he will recommend that the board approve it.
Ruffin said the district has lost about 170 students over the last two years who left for a virtual learning option, taking thousands of dollars in state funding with them. He said the district is looking for ways to keep students as school vouchers, which give families money for education outside public school, have been introduced. Ruffin said virtual learning "isn't going away."
The Texas Education Agency lists state funding at $6,215 per student. Under the plan, about 40% of that amount would fund the program and 60% would go to the district. If approved, the program would start with about 30 students in grades 9 through 12 as early as next year, and it would be offered through Pearson, a third party the district already buys some curriculum from. The district said it would need time to build the systems before offering it to all students.