Lewisville ISD is gearing up for a major shift in how some students go to school, rolling out a full-time virtual option for incoming ninth graders and a hybrid setup for upperclassmen starting in the 2026-27 school year. Trustees signed off on the plan at a Feb. 9 board meeting, and the district has committed millions to get it off the ground, following a statewide overhaul of virtual-school rules that opens new funding streams for district-run online programs.
What the new programs include
Under the district's "LISD Everywhere" plan, students entering ninth grade in 2026-27 will be able to enroll in a fully online program that covers all eight required annual credits. Students in grades 10 through 12 will stick with their home campus but can mix virtual and in-person classes. Courses are set to be taught by LISD-certified teachers, with structured pacing and targeted supports built in, and the district says some out-of-district Texas students could participate through transfers. According to Lewisville ISD, families can already signal interest through posted forms, and a detailed virtual course catalog is expected ahead of the 2026-27 year.
Board approval and budget
The board formally approved the new options at its Feb. 9 meeting, and district documents outline a $3.04 million annual commitment over two years to launch the programs. Those same documents indicate the expansion is intended to widen access to Advanced Placement, dual-credit and career and technical education offerings as part of the rollout, according to Community Impact.
Why this is happening now
The timing traces back to Senate Bill 569, which reshaped how virtual and hybrid programs are approved and funded and added new reporting and attendance rules tied to state aid. Guidance on SB 569 from the Texas Education Agency lays out how districts can run full-time virtual or hybrid programs and how average daily attendance will be factored into state funding.
How families can get details
LISD is hosting an online parent information session next Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. via Webex, where staff will walk families through enrollment, eligibility and course options. Families are also being asked to fill out interest forms for incoming ninth graders and for students in grades 10 through 12. The district's virtual-learning page houses the registration links and forms, according to Lewisville ISD.
Local reaction and program alignment
District leaders say the move is driven in part by growing demand for online options and an effort to keep students within LISD rather than losing them to outside virtual providers. "We’re gonna start with a specific cohort of kids," Superintendent Lori Rapp told the Cross Timbers Gazette, explaining that following one cohort over time will help the district phase in and refine the model as those students move through high school. Community Impact has also reported that LISD is considering relocating its Virtual Learning Academy into existing campus space as part of a broader realignment of programs, which officials say would centralize services and supports.
Where Lewisville fits into the statewide trend
Lewisville is not operating in a vacuum here. The district's expansion lines up with a broader wave of online public-school growth across Texas, where full-time virtual enrollment has climbed significantly as districts and third-party providers have added more options. Virtual enrollment has surged over the past decade, and lawmakers have responded by tightening oversight and adjusting funding rules in an effort to safeguard quality, according to the Houston Chronicle.
For now, LISD officials say the target remains the 2026-27 school year, and they are urging parents to review the district's virtual-learning page and tune in to the Feb. 18 Webex session to get a handle on next steps and deadlines. More specifics on course offerings, transfer rules and student supports are expected to roll out on the district website in the coming weeks.
