Montgomery ISD board weighs virtual pilot as enrollment drops

Montgomery ISD trustees will vote on whether to launch a virtual learning pilot program at a 6:30 p.m. meeting on Monday.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin has not committed to a recommendation, but he stated the district is evaluating the model as Texas education options expand. "We're really trying to measure up how virtual learning may look at Montgomery ISD," Ruffin said. He noted that virtual learning is not a temporary trend.

The push for a new option follows a two-year period in which the district lost approximately 170 students to virtual learning alternatives. Each departing student removes the district from the state funding stream. The Texas Education Agency allocates $6,215 per student to school districts. Ruffin indicated that the introduction of school vouchers, which provide families with funds for non-public education, has intensified the need to retain local students.

If the board approves the proposal, the program would begin with a cohort of about 30 students in grades 9 through 12. The pilot would likely start as early as next year, though the district said it requires time to build the necessary systems before potentially extending the option to all students. The initiative would be managed by Pearson, a third-party vendor from whom the district already purchases curriculum.

The financial structure of the pilot assigns 40% of the per-student state allotment directly to the program, with the remaining 60% retained by the district. Ruffin emphasized that the board expects leaders to evaluate how the district meets student needs in a changing environment. "We kind of live in this new world of public education now," Ruffin said. "Our board has done a really good job of always challenging us as leaders to evaluate how we can meet the needs of our students."

The superintendent stressed that the district's responsibility extends to all children living within its boundaries, not just those currently enrolled in its schools. "We're tasked with educating every single one of our kids that live within our boundaries, not just the ones who may be attending our schools, but all the kids that live in our boundaries," Ruffin said.