AUSTIN, Texas — School districts across the state are hoping that state funding for virtual learning could soon be on the way. 


What You Need To Know

  • Currently, districts that are providing a virtual learning option are paying for the programs with their own funding

  • Texas Legislature failed to pass a bill to fund remote learning during the regular legislative session

  • A new bill would allow school districts that receive a C grade or higher from the state can offer a virtual option, and only up to 10% of their enrolled students can participate

Currently, districts that are providing a virtual learning option are paying for the programs out of pocket. The Texas Legislature failed to pass a bill to fund remote learning during the regular legislative session. 

As the delta variant causes a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the state and country, parents have been increasingly concerned about their children returning to in-person school. 

“I’ve been in a hospital room where I don't know if my child is going to wake up," said Austin ISD parent Meghen Hiller. 

Hiller’s three kids all have medical conditions that put them at a high risk for severe illness or death if they get COVID-19, and they’re also too young to get the vaccine. For them, virtual learning this year was the only option. 

“Obviously, I wish I could send my kids back to school…but I think it's just one of those things that we had to weigh the health implications, versus the educational implications. And in our case, health won out," said Hiller. 

Austin ISD is one of a number of school districts offering a virtual option for students this semester, and paying for it out of pocket. 

“All of our schools have been challenged by the experience of the last 18 months. Virtual learning is certainly not for every student, but the option is one we know students, parents and districts want in appropriate instances," said Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney. 

The Texas House Public Education committee Tuesday pushed state funding for virtual learning one step closer to the governor’s desk, voting 9-1 to advance a bill that would provide state funding for the program until the fall of 2023.  

In the bill, only school districts that receive a C grade or higher from the state can offer a virtual option, and only up to 10% of their enrolled students can participate. The bill also requires regular assessments for students learning remotely, after lawmakers expressed concerns about the quality of virtual learning and student learning loss. 

“Elementary and middle school reading proficiency is actually worse than it's ever been since the dawn of the STAAR test. So... we've lost roughly about a decade's worth of academic gain," said Mike Morath, Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency. 

Supporters of the bill say they also intend for it to provide retroactive funding for school districts currently providing a virtual learning option.

Dallas ISD’s superintendent previously estimated that if about 9-thousand of its students opt to learn virtually this year, the district will lose about 100 million dollars in state funding if this bill doesn’t pass. 

In Austin ISD, 3,000 students signed up for virtual learning this semester, costing the district about $12 million. 

“We are using federal stimulus funding that we received to cover it," said Jacob Reach, chief officer of governmental relations and board services at Austin ISD. "If we were able to receive the state funding, then we would be able to move those funds for the federal funds that we have over to some of our other needs that are going to benefit the entire district.”

Hiller hopes that the legislature votes to approve the bipartisan bill before the end of the special session, so Austin ISD doesn't take a  financial hit. 

“I don't understand why, you know, the district would be penalized for taking care of their students," said Hiller. "So I really do hope they fund it, and then AISD isn't left holding the bag because they've done a really good thing that's helped out a lot of families.”