Virtual and Hybrid Education

The virtual and hybrid education webpage serves as a central resource for school systems, students, and parents, offering guidance and information about available options. Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 30B provides a range of instructional models, allowing school systems to align virtual offerings with their educational goals and operational capacity, whether by starting with targeted individual courses or implementing comprehensive full-time virtual and hybrid programs and campuses.

With virtual and hybrid education, school systems have multiple pathways to innovate and meet diverse student needs. These approaches can:

• Broaden access to advanced and specialized coursework.
• Support personalized learning and flexible pathways.
• Address staffing challenges and enable credit recovery.
• Enable flexible scheduling for work-based learning initiatives.

All of this is achievable through individual course offerings, full-time virtual or hybrid programs, and full-time virtual and hybrid campus models, giving schools the flexibility to align with their strategic goals.

Definitions:

Virtual course—a course in which instruction and content are delivered synchronously or asynchronously primarily over the Internet.

Hybrid course—a course in which a student is in attendance in person for less than 90 percent of the minutes of instruction provided; and the instruction and content may be delivered synchronously or asynchronously over the Internet, in person, or through other means.

Full-time virtual program—a full-time educational program offered by a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus in which a student is in attendance in person minimally or not at all; the instruction and content are delivered synchronously or asynchronously primarily over the Internet; and less than 50 percent of the enrolled students at the campus participate in the program.

Full-time hybrid program—a full-time educational program offered by a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus in which a student is in attendance in person for less than 90 percent of the minutes of instruction provided in a school year; the instruction and content may be delivered synchronously or asynchronously over the Internet, in person, or through other means; and less than 50 percent of the enrolled students at the campus participate in the program.

Full-time virtual campus—a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus at which at least 50 percent of the enrolled students are enrolled in a full-time virtual program authorized under TEC, Chapter 30B, Subchapter C.

Full-time hybrid campus—a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus at which at least 50 percent of the enrolled students are enrolled in a full-time hybrid program authorized under TEC, Chapter 30B, Subchapter C.

Resources & Information

SB 569 Overview: Virtual and Hybrid Learning Guidance for the 2025-2026 School Year

The To The Administrator Addressed (TAA) correspondence provides guidance for Texas school systems to begin planning and implementing virtual and hybrid education under Senate Bill 569. This legislation replaces the Texas Virtual School Network with Chapter 30B of the Texas Education Code, establishing a new framework for virtual and hybrid education. The letter outlines key requirements for program approval, funding eligibility, instructional standards, and attendance tracking—helping school systems prepare for compliance and the successful delivery of virtual and hybrid learning options.

LASO

As part of the Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) grant, the Virtual and Hybrid Program Accelerator (VHPA) offers resources to support virtual and hybrid education. 

Participating school systems will receive customized technical assistance to design, implement, and continuously improve their virtual or hybrid program. Through VHPA, school systems will receive funding and technical assistance (TA) to develop flexible, personalized learning models that support students requiring adaptable education pathways. The program also enables school systems to implement innovative staffing strategies, expand course offerings, and increase access to high-quality instruction statewide. 

State Law & Rule

See the following links for the relevant law and rules:

Law—TEC, Chapter 30B. Virtual and Hybrid Campuses, Programs, and Courses.
Rule—Texas Administrative Code (TAC) rulemaking will take place during the 2025-2026 school year.