Texas Virtual School Network
The 80th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1788, authorizing the Texas Education Agency to establish and administer a state virtual school network to provide education to students through electronic means. An electronic course is defined as a course in which instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet; a student and teacher are in different locations for a majority of the student's instructional period; most instructional activities take place in an online environment; the online instructional activities are integral to the academic program; extensive communication between a student and a teacher and among students is emphasized; and a student is not required to be located on the physical premises of a school district or open-enrollment charter school.
TxVSN Facts
- The Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) is a supplemental rather than diploma granting program.
- Electronic courses will supplement the services the district currently offers students, based on students’ academic needs.
- The home (receiving) district will continue to award credits and diplomas and the TxVSN partners with the home district to meet student needs.
- SB 1788 does not affect the provision of distance learning courses offered under other law.
- Education Code Chapters 30A Sec 30A.001 State Virtual School Network
- Districts are course providers
- Private providers are eligible via districts
- The Network will include:
TxVSN Student Eligibility
- Eligible to enroll in TxVSN provided courses only if:
- Younger than 21
- Has not graduated from high school, and
- Is otherwise eligible to enroll in a public school
- Full-time enrollment
- Enrolled in a Texas public school in the preceding school year or
- Is a dependent of a member of the US military,
- Was previously enrolled in a Texas public school in the preceding year, and
- Does not reside in Texas due to military deployment or transfer