Texas is moving closer to loosening restrictions on virtual schools and enabling students to learn online within their local districts even after the pandemic subsides.
The House on Tuesday advanced a bill by Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney, that would empower school districts and charters to establish their own, full-time remote learning programs that are funded similarly to brick-and-mortar campuses.
Several area school districts are eager for the Legislature to make a decision about the future of virtual education. While most kids struggled when the pandemic forced a shift to virtual learning, some children thrived in online classrooms. District leaders say they want the flexibility to continue serving those students remotely.
“As we continue to recover from COVID-19, students and parents have asked our districts to continue virtual education programs for students who excelled in this setting,” Bell said.
But under current state law, only districts or charters that offered an online program prior to 2013 are authorized to operate virtual schools and still receive complete state funding. Texas has seven authorized full-time online programs sprinkled throughout the state.
These programs have mixed academic track records and can enroll students from across Texas. Some students who live in Dallas, for example, instead choose to enroll in Houston ISD, which is home to one of the few legacy online schools.
When COVID-19 hit, state education commissioner Mike Morath issued a waiver allowing all districts to receive full funding for students who attend school remotely this year. But it expires at the end of this school year, meaning it’s up to lawmakers to develop a framework for how virtual education should be structured and funded after the pandemic.
Under Bell’s plan, districts could run their own virtual learning programs for students in third-grade or higher.
His bill includes provisions mandating districts periodically assess how a student is doing in the virtual model. If it’s not working out, officials could require a child return to a traditional classroom. Virtual students enrolled in a local program would be eligible for extracurriculars and UIL contests sponsored by their home district. Online learning could be combined with in-person instruction, too.
Even some of those historically opposed to expanding virtual learning are in support of Bell’s bill, saying it institutes appropriate guardrails.
“We should not replicate the poor performance of statewide full-time virtual programs that often enroll students hundreds of miles away,” officials with Raise Your Hand Texas testified. But they believe Bell’s approach ensures a district or charter “remains responsible for the student’s education and performance in that community, not at the other end of the state.”
His proposed model has the support of several superintendents, too, who say they’re tired of losing students within their district to one of the few authorized statewide programs.
The change would take effect next school year.
Tuesday’s progress is welcome news for the handful of district leaders who have already started moving ahead with plans to establish their own long-term virtual learning options.
Frisco ISD, for example, announced last week its intention to create a permanent, full-time virtual school to serve its own students. Officials said it was important to move fast if they were going to be ready to open by the fall.
“While FISD is still waiting for the Texas Legislature to pass legislation that would allow this opportunity to become a reality for our district, we are encouraged with several bills that are currently making their way through the legislative process,” Wes Cunningham, chief academic officer, said in a statement.
Garland ISD trustees will consider virtual school proposals during a Tuesday meeting, and in Dallas, officials plan to move ahead with a hybrid program in the fall.
Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, added a sunset provision from the House floor, allowing for these changes be reassessed in a few years.
“We are making quite a bit of change in this form of education,” he said, “and I think we need to study it and look for best practices.”
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from The Beck Group, Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, The Meadows Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University and Todd A. Williams Family Foundation. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
