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Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated applications open May 24.
Bastrop ISD will join several school districts across the state this fall, when students will log on to its virtual academy for the first time.
However, unlike programs launched by some of its peers, BISD's online school pilot will start with middle school students.
What you need to know
District administrators announced during an April 21 board meeting that the pilot program will launch in the fall, initially serving students in grades six through eight, to build a foundation before expanding the program to serve grades nine through 12.
Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Eberly said the program will initially be limited to 200 students, about 50 per middle school, to ensure sustainability of the program. She added that the district may revisit this number if interest is high.
The academy will be open to students both in and out of the district, and average daily attendance funding for out-of-district students would follow them to BISD.
How it works
Evan Moilan, BISD's executive director of communications, said the virtual academy will be an asynchronous "school within a school" model.
Students who live in the district will have access to a hybrid version of the academy, in which students complete their core academic courses online, but can still go to their zoned campus to participate in extracurricular classes.
Students who do not reside in the district will only have access to online curriculum.
Eberly said students will be able to access course materials on their own time, as long as they maintain the expected pacing and meet weekly deadlines for quizzes and assessments.
The district will employ full-time, virtual-only educators for the program, she said, who will focus on monitoring progress and providing targeted intervention.
Computers will be supplied to students by the district, with parents required to confirm reliable internet access.
Students will have to take academic screening tests throughout the semester and annual state exams in person.
What's next?
More information about the future online learning program is available at www.bisdtx.org/virtual, where applications for the virtual academy's pilot year will open April 24.
