Board hears data on Blended Academy flexible school day; presenters stress individualized plans and mastery requirements

District staff presented a review of the Optional Flexible School Day program at Blended Academy and answered questions from trustees about attendance, credit attainment and graduation outcomes.

Presenter Miss Laura Sandate told trustees the program exists for students at risk of dropping out or failing to graduate on time and outlined performance indicators: equivalent days present of 509.5, 122,355 total eligible minutes, 742.5 credits earned this year and a reported 89% graduation rate (75 of 84 students). She said campus staff create individualized plans that monitor academic progress, behavior and credit deficiencies.

Board members probed how attendance is counted for the program. A trustee asked about the meaning of the attendance figures; Sandate and others clarified that high school students in the program are held to mastery requirements and may be credited for as little as 45 minutes per day. "They have to have at least 45 minutes per day," a presenter said. Dr. Rios added, "Mastering the course is what's required. So therefore, they could come 45 minutes a day," and noted many students work or have family responsibilities that affect daily scheduling.

Trustees also noted the district‑wide contrast: the board was shown a blended attendance rate of 55.4% compared with a district average of about 88.23%. A board member said the chart can be misleading because participant numbers are lower even as the graduation percentage is higher. Trustees asked administration to continue monitoring the program and its progress.

With no members of the public offering comment, the public hearing on the program was adjourned.