6 Ways Texas School Districts Can Scale Virtual Learning Under SB 569

Texas schools are entering a new era of virtual and hybrid learning. With the passage of SB 569, districts now have expanded flexibility to design instructional models that better meet student needs, from offering individual virtual courses to building hybrid pathways and full-time programs.

At the same time, districts continue to face persistent challenges including staffing shortages, limited course access, and increasing pressure to keep students on track for graduation. In this environment, flexibility is essential.

Virtual learning is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. Today, Texas districts are using Edmentum to support everything from a single virtual course to district-run virtual programs, giving them the flexibility to meet local needs while scaling over time.

1) Addressing Staffing Gaps Without Limiting Student Opportunity

Teacher capacity can quickly limit course availability. When critical roles go unfilled, student opportunities are often put on hold.

Edmentum's EdOptions Academy helps districts maintain instructional continuity with Texas-certified virtual educators, ensuring students can stay enrolled in the courses they need while expanding instructional capacity as enrollment grows.

2) Expanding Course Access Beyond the Master Schedule

Course availability is often shaped by staffing, enrollment thresholds, and scheduling limitations, leaving gaps in what students can access.

Edmentum Courseware—the foundational curriculum behind EdOptions Academy—helps districts expand access to a broad catalog of courses that fit within the existing master schedule, giving schools more flexibility without requiring additional staff.

At a rural high school in Vermont, educators built what they describe as "one integrated learning ecosystem" to support credit completion, extended absences, acceleration, and expanded course access within the existing school day. Students can explore electives and career pathways that would otherwise be unavailable, demonstrating how digital learning can expand opportunities while complementing traditional instruction.

3) Supporting Alternative Pathways to Graduation

Not every student follows a traditional path to graduation. Many districts are looking for flexible ways to support students who are behind on credits, enrolled in alternative education programs, or simply need a different learning environment to stay engaged.

Edmentum helps districts create personalized pathways that combine flexible pacing, certified virtual instruction, and digital curriculum to meet students where they are while keeping them on a path toward graduation.

• At South Harrison High School in rural Missouri, students used Edmentum Courseware and EdOptions Academy to recover credits through flexible pacing and access certified virtual instruction in hard-to-staff subjects like world languages. By creating multiple pathways to earn credits, the district helped more students stay on track for graduation.
• Similarly, Van Dyke Public Schools in Michigan used Edmentum to strengthen its alternative education program by providing students with greater flexibility while supporting individualized instruction and graduation success.

4) Enabling Flexible and Hybrid Learning Models

Hybrid learning is helping districts do more than provide scheduling flexibility. Many schools are using blended instructional models to expand teacher capacity, support alternative education programs, and create flexible pathways that keep more students connected to their district.

Rather than creating separate programs for different student populations, districts can use virtual learning to support a wide range of learners within one flexible model.

At Jefferson-Morgan School District in Pennsylvania, district leader Dr. Robinson said “Like many schools, we were watching kids leave for big-name cyber charters, and it was costing us up to $24,000 per student.”

They created a locally run virtual academy that serves a wide range of learners while keeping students connected to their home district. Through a combination of synchronous, asynchronous, and blended learning, the district provides flexible options that support student retention and individualized learning.

“There’s not any situation we can’t handle through our brick-and-mortar and our partnership with Edmentum.” 
— Dr. Brandon Robinson, Superintendent, Jefferson-Morgan School District, Pennsylvania

5) Expanding Career and Technical Education Opportunities

Career and Technical Education is a growing priority as Texas districts work to improve College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes. But expanding high-quality pathways often requires specialized teachers, flexible scheduling, and access to courses that aren't feasible to offer at every campus.

• At Stafford Municipal School District near Houston, leaders partnered with Edmentum to strengthen career pathways aligned to workforce needs and postsecondary readiness. By expanding access to career-focused coursework, the district created more opportunities for students to explore high-demand fields and prepare for future success without needing to build every program in-house.

This approach allows districts to scale CTE opportunities while making the most of existing resources.

6) Scaling Toward Full-Time Virtual Learning Programs

As school choice continues to expand, many Texas districts are looking for ways to retain students who might otherwise enroll in statewide virtual schools, charter schools, or other alternative programs. A district-run virtual program gives families another option while keeping students connected to their local schools, teachers, and community.

SB 569 creates new opportunities for districts to build these programs and offer flexible learning pathways that support student choice while strengthening enrollment.

• In Decatur County Schools in Tennessee, a rural district that was facing enrollment decline implemented a virtual program to retain students and stabilize enrollment. By offering that flexible learning option, the district was able to keep students engaged within the system. 

“Over the past few years, we lost more than 100 kids—that was close to half a million dollars gone. Last year alone, our virtual academy generated $493,000. About a quarter of that was from new kids we brought back into the district.” 
— Dr. Scott King, Alternative Learning Director, Decatur County Virtual Academy, Tennessee

As Texas districts explore the opportunities created by SB 569, virtual learning is becoming more than an alternative option. It is a strategic tool for expanding access, supporting enrollment, and giving families more choices while keeping students connected to their local district.

How to Move Forward with Texas SB 569

SB 569 gives Texas districts the flexibility to design learning models that reflect local priorities. Some districts begin by filling a staffing gap. Others expand course access, strengthen graduation pathways, launch new CTE opportunities, or build district-run virtual programs. The common thread is starting with a local need and scaling as demand grows.

Edmentum supports districts at every stage of that journey through flexible digital curriculum, Texas-certified virtual educators, and implementation expertise that helps districts create sustainable virtual learning models.

• Evaluate your district's readiness with the SB 569 Checklist
• Use our Virtual Learning Workbook to develop a launch plan 
• Connect with your Texas Edmentum team to put these strategies to work in your schools