Texas Digital Learning Landscape
The Texas Education Agency a DLC State Affiliate, was instrumental in conducting the research for this profile.
| State virtual school? | NO |
| Multi-district fully online schools? | YES |
| Online learning requirement for graduation? | NO |
| State approval process for online providers? | NO |
| State approval process for online courses? | YES |
Much of the state-level online learning activity in Texas is handled through the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN), which is administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). TXVSN provides online learning options to students through two programs: a supplemental statewide course catalog of high school courses (including Advanced Placement and dual credit) and the full-time TXVSN Online Schools (OLS) program for grades 3–12. In SY 2021-22 the TXVSN catalog served 6,891 supplemental course enrollments.
The TXVSN OLS includes seven multi-district fully online schools with 38,485 student enrollments in SY 2021-22, an increase from 29,521 student enrollments in SY 2020-21: iUniversity Prep, Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville, Texas Connections Academy at Houston, Texas Online Preparatory School, Premier High School Online, eSchool Prep, iSchool Virtual Academy of Texas.
Many districts have significant online programs that provide supplemental online courses for resident students. Students must be physically present at school to be eligible to generate Foundation School Program (FSP) funding for these non-TXVSN courses. Fourteen districts, regional education service centers, a consortium, and one institution of higher education currently act as course providers to the TXVSN course catalog.
There are several consortia including SUPERNet, a consortium of smaller school districts in north Texas that offers supplemental online courses to students at no cost through 26 largely rural districts who pay a membership fee. Most courses are built by district teachers, and some courses are also offered through the TxVSN catalog to allow students outside the consortium to enroll in them. SUPERnet participates in the TXVN statewide course catalog as a course provider. There are other consortia, however, they are not required to report to the state and therefore TEA does not collect that data.
There are several higher education institutions with online programs for high school students including TTU K-12, an online program operated by Texas Tech University that provides students with full-time and supplemental options across Texas, the United States, and globally. TTU K-12 served about 1,500 full-time students and 15,000 supplemental course enrollments in 2021-22, along with 1,500 students in its International Partnership Program. Texas students enrolling in the full-time program are eligible for tuition-free state funding. Students outside the state are enrolled on a tuition basis.
TXVSN course providers offering courses through the TXVSN catalog are responsible for instruction. Receiver districts (student’s home district) participating in the TXVSN statewide course catalog approve their students’ TXVSN course requests and can deny those course requests per Texas Education Code (TEC), §26.0031, provide ongoing support to local students enrolled in TXVSN statewide catalog courses, and award credits and diplomas. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools serving as TXVSN course providers may seek a waiver from the TXVSN course review and approval process administered by the TEA, but they must certify that the district or charter has verified that each course meets 100% of all TXVSN course standards.
Texas law gives students the option to take up to three year-long supplemental online courses through the TXVSN each year to be funded by their district or open-enrollment charter school as part of the student’s normal course load; a student may enroll in additional courses but may be required to pay. A normal course load is defined by the state attorney general as seven credit hours per instructional year. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools may deny a student’s enrollment request if the district or school offers a “substantially similar course” and have discretion to select the course provider for the course a student requests. A parent may appeal a denial to enroll in a TXVSN course to the commissioner of education.
For students in grades 9–12 enrolled in TXVSN catalog courses or the full-time TXVSN OLS program, state funding is generated when a student successfully completes a course provided through the TXVSN, which is defined as completion of the TXVSN semester course and demonstrated academic proficiency with a passing grade sufficient to earn credit for the online semester course. Course credit for high school graduation may be earned only if the student received a grade that is the equivalent of 70 or above on a scale of 100, based upon the state curriculum standards for the course. A student taking one or more courses through the TXVSN catalog may count their participation in the TXVSN course toward eligibility for part-time or full-time FSP funding, presuming the student successfully completes the TXVSN course. Districts may not count more than three year long TXVSN courses, or the equivalent, per student per school year toward FSP funding eligibility. Authorized full-time TXVSN online schools are exempt from this funding limitation. Students enrolled in a TXVSN online school are funded at one of three levels: if the student completes at least five credits, the school receives full funding; if the student completes at least three credits, the school receives partial funding; and if the student completes fewer than three credits, the school receives no funding.
Grades 3–8 students enrolled in full-time TXVSN online schools generate state FSP funding based on successful program completion. Successful completion is defined as completion of the TXVSN education program and demonstrated academic proficiency with passing grades sufficient for promotion to the next grade level. If a student successfully completes their grade-level instructional program, the school receives full funding; if the student does not, the school receives no funding.
For details of online learning funding in this state see the DLC's report A Review of Online Learning Funding.
State Policies
No major legislation impacting online and/or blended learning was passed January through October 2022.
SB 15 (2021) allows LEAs to receive full ADA funding for remote learning delivered through synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction for grades K-12. LEAs and students must meet requirements outlined in SB15. The number of students receiving remote instruction is capped at 10% of the LEAs total enrollment. No LEAs are required to offer remote instruction. SB 15 expires on September 1, 2023.
HB 3643, creates the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. It was passed and signed into law in June 2021.
TXVSN courses and teachers must meet the standards established for the TXVSN program. All TXVSN courses must meet quality course standards prior to being offered through the network. Courses must be teacher-led with emphasis on interaction between the appropriately credentialed instructor teaching the course and the student and among students. All teachers must meet TXVSN credentialing and professional development standards and demonstrate mastery of best practices in online instruction prior to teaching a TXVSN course.