Over the summer, Hutto ISD opened its virtual academy to all students residing in the state of Texas.
This comes as the district is seeking to increase virtual enrollment as a way to bolster revenue, district staff said.
How it works
Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, HISD’s virtual academy provides a flexible and personalized education option for students with needs and academic goals that are not met by the eight-hour school day model, according to the district.
Students in the academy are able to work at their own pace and on their own schedule, said James Gazzale, HISD executive director of communications and community relations. Local students also have the opportunity to take some courses in person in a hybrid model.
Virtual students can also now take dual credit courses through the district’s partnership with Temple College, Gazzale said.
The why
HISD continued developing its virtual academy even following the return to in-person learning after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the district is looking to the academy as a way to receive additional state funding.
In the virtual academy model, funding from the state follows the student from school district to school district. Virtual students who transfer into HISD from other districts count toward the district’s funding calculation in the same way students who report to a physical campus do, HISD Chief of Schools C.J. Lowery said.
What’s next
Over the summer, the district hired Jamey Guarascio as the administrator for the virtual academy as part of an effort to expand its enrollment by providing leadership and enhancing programming.
Guarascio said her philosophy for education is based on relationships with students. She also highlighted the importance of innovation in education and staying aligned with technology that many students are likely already familiar with.
“I want to provide the service and value that students deserve and want,” she said. “I want to make sure that we are innovative and unique, and that every student gets the one-on-one that they need to be successful.”
Guarascio said the academy is exploring a partnership with a new vendor to expand course offerings.
Additionally, she is developing a distinction program, which will require students to identify a problem, create a plan to solve it and give a presentation at the end of their senior year. Plans will include a volunteering component, she said.
“[The program will] help them build a portfolio so when they graduate, they will actually have a full working portfolio for employers,” she said.
The district is also in the process of determining how to open the virtual academy to out-of-state students, Gazzale said.
