Elenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
PHOENIX — At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, all students could do was learn through a screen from home. As time moved forward, students started going back to their classrooms, and now, some districts with online programs will start downsizing or closing down.
Because they’re downsizing the digital academy to only help middle school students, the number of staff also decreased. Cupp said some of the educators who are part of the digital academy are retiring, moving or have found other positions within the district. According to the Arizona Department of Education, data shows there were more than 14,000 public district students enrolled in online schools before the pandemic in the 2018-2019 school year. It grew the year after that, and then in the 2020-2021 school year, enrollment skyrocketed to nearly 66,000 students. In the last school year, 2022-2023, nearly 25,000 students were enrolled in online schools.
“It just doesn’t make sense to continue to provide a full school with curriculum with a teacher and only have that few students that are going to be able to participate in that program. Again, the academics that we’re seeing are not matching what their peers are doing, it just means we’re not doing the best by our students. Everything we do has to be driven by the best interest of our students,” she said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Phoenix Union High School District working to decrease dropout ratesElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
WATCH: Some polls say voters are exhausted, want different candidate optionsElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Federal free food program expands, helping more schools and students in ArizonaElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Arizona schools chief lays out priorities, emphasizes dire need for teachersElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Prosecutor files charges against man accused of hitting Goodyear cyclistsElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Governor Hobbs signs new law allowing out-of-state counselors to work in ArizonaElenee Dao joined ABC15 in August 2022 as a multimedia journalist.
Read more »