Denton ISD officials are looking to reinstate a virtual learning option for students.
District officials discussed Denton Digital, a K-12 virtual learning program offering full-time or single-course online learning options, during a Feb. 10 board meeting.
Some context
DISD previously operated its Virtual Academy for K-8 students which launched in the 2021-22 school year. This program was ended after the 2022-23 school year due to state funding not increasing for public schools during the 88th legislative session.
Denton Digital would be a virtual learning program and not a virtual campus, said Lisa Thibodeaux, DISD’s director of secondary curriculum, instruction and staff development. Under Senate Bill 569, passed during the 89th legislative session, virtual campuses require at least 50% of a campus population to be enrolled in the virtual program. A virtual program allows less than 50% of a campus to be enrolled in virtual instruction, according to the meeting presentation.
Several area districts have recently launched open enrollment online learning programs, such as Frisco ISD’s Frisco Flex.
“We really want to keep our students in Denton ISD,” said Lacey Rainey, DISD’s assistant superintendent of school leadership and academic programs. “We know that by reinstating a virtual program ... we will be able to meet our student’s needs. We know that by keeping our students, we are being fiscally responsible.”
About the program
The Denton Digital K-5 program is a full-time virtual elementary program. Students will be enrolled through Stephens Elementary School with instruction balanced between real-time instruction and self-paced learning, according to the meeting presentation. The program would follow TEKS-aligned curriculum designed for virtual instruction and will be taught by a team of Stephens Elementary teachers organized by grade level and content area.
Students may enroll or exit the program at designated grading periods and daily attendance is required.
For the Denton Digital 6-12 program, students will be enrolled at their zoned campus. The program will offer full-time instructional experience and allow limited on-campus course participation. Through the program, students will be able to attend one to two courses at their home campus. Thibodeaux explained this could be for students who want to participate in in-person fine arts courses, such as Advanced Placement art or band, or students looking for in-person instruction for other academic courses.
Virtual instruction for the 6-12 program will primarily be self-paced with scheduled synchronous office hours, according to the presentation. The program would follow the Denton ISD academic calendar, and daily attendance will be required and monitored.
What else?
Denton Digital Original Credit gives students the ability to accelerate their learning or create flexibility in their course schedule by taking up to two online credits per year. Instruction would primarily be self-paced, and students would work independently outside of the regular instruction day, though campuses may approve scheduled school-day time when available.
This option would also be available during the district’s Summer Learning program.
Denton Digital Credit Recovery is intended for students who need to recover course credit for previously attempted courses. This program would allow students to recover up to three credits per year to remain on track for graduation. Enrollment for this program will begin at the start of every semester, and the courses would be self-paced.
This option is available at no cost during the district’s Summer Learning program, according to the meeting presentation.
