Education
BY SARAH BRAGER
Cy-Fair ISD will oer three virtual learning options to certain grade levels in the 2026-27 academic year, according to a Nov. 6 presentation to the board of trustees. In a nutshell Students in the new Virtual Pathways Program can choose between three options, according to the presentation: • Full-time and primarily asynchronous Virtual Academy, available to fourth and fth grade and ninth through 12th grade • Partially remote Flex Learning with one to two classes completed asynchronously, available to 11th and 12th grade • Tuition-based supplemental courses taken outside of the school day, available to all high school students Virtual Pathways Director Meredith Akers said the district developed the program after almost 40% of surveyed parents indicated interest in exible online learning. All online courses will be taught by CFISD teachers, many of whom will be hired specically for the program, Akers said. Students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will remain students at their home CFISD campus, Akers said, and their curriculum will match in-person learning. They can also participate in extracurricular activities at their campus of residence, she said. Cy-Fair ISD to oer virtual learning starting fall 2026
Akers said the benets of the Flex Learning program and supplemental courses include bal- ancing classwork with jobs and extracurriculars, accelerated graduation and college readiness, as many postsecondary institutions also oer virtual coursework. “We know that online learning is the ‘now’ big thing because many of our CFISD resident students are already choosing to attend virtual schools and programs instead of staying here in our district,” Akers told the board Nov. 6. Some context Texas Senate Bill 569, signed into law in May, allows school districts to receive average daily attendance funding for students in virtual pro- grams, meaning virtual enrollment will not hurt CFISD’s annual funding, per the presentation. Akers said it’s also possible the district could gain back average daily attendance funding if students who previously withdrew to attend non-CFISD virtual options enroll in the Virtual Pathways program. Learn more Akers said the district plans to expand the full- time virtual academy in fall 2027 to include middle school students and oer ex learning courses to grades ninth and 10th, depending on interest. CFISD also intends to oer virtual summer school for high school students by 2028, she said. There is no exact cap on the number of students who can enroll in Virtual Pathways as of press time. Families can sign up on the district’s website by Dec. 18 for priority enrollment or Feb. 16 for nal enrollment. “I’m excited that we’re embracing new technol- ogy [and] the educational competition that’s only going to increase every single year,” Trustee Justin Ray said Nov. 6.
Resident students in non-CFISD virtual programs, 202425 According to withdrawal reports, 1,112 students who live within district boundaries chose to attend non-CFISD virtual schools or programs in the 2024-25 academic year.
CFISD enrollment, as of Oct. 30
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Elementary school
Middle school
High school
Virtual transfers, 2024-25
600
400
200
0
Elementary school
Middle school
High school
SOURCE: CYFAIR ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
“Something I’m really excited about and proud to share is that our program is not going to be an outside curriculum.” MEREDITH AKERS, CFISD VIRTUAL PATHWAYS DIRECTOR
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