This week the Fall River School Committee voted to approve a limit on how many students in the city can receive their K-12 education through a Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School.
School Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley said 143 students, or 1.29% of the district’s population, are enrolled this year in virtual schools. The state notifies districts once it reaches a threshold of one percent to consider action on imposing a cap. Dr. Curley did not recommend approving a cap but laid out a scenario by which one could be implemented.
School committee member Kevin Aguiar said the state caps virtual school enrollment across the Commonwealth at two percent. His concern is that an increase in virtual students could impact education funding if no cap is set. He argued in favor of imposing a two-percent cap in Fall River as a compromise.
A majority of the committee voted in favor of Mr. Aguiar’s proposal to set a two-percent cap.
Video courtesy Fall River Educational Television
