Mehlville Board of Education votes to end At Home Academy
Posted on 12/15/2023
At the December 14 meeting, the Mehlville Board of Education voted to close At Home Academy at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year.
At Home Academy is a virtual school managed by Mehlville School District and serving Missouri students in grades K-8. There are about 100 students enrolled. The school is a full-time virtual education provider through the Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP).
This is the second school year that At Home has been a MOCAP provider. Being a MOCAP provider entitles the district to receive $6,375 per out-of-district student who enrolls for the school year. Mehlville School District committed to offering At Home via MOCAP for two school years before reviewing financial information and considering the effectiveness of the program.
On December 7, the board held a special meeting to consider the future of At Home Academy and hear public comments from families, staff and community members.
In the 2022-2023 school year, Mehlville School District deficit spent $1.1 million on At Home. Class sizes at the elementary grades average around 7 students per core teacher, while the district average is about 20 students for every core teacher. Despite becoming a MOCAP provider to serve students statewide, At Home enrollment has continued to drop.
“I applaud our teachers and staff for their passion and commitment to providing high-quality virtual education,” said Dr. Jeff Haug, superintendent. “However, the district is deficit spending $1.1 million on the program. That, compounded by class size ratios not in line with district ratios and subsidizing out-of-district students with local revenue, led to the district’s recommendation to close the At Home Program.”
At Home Academy will continue to serve students through the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Staff will begin working with families on transition plans after winter break. Any At Home student may continue to attend school virtually through a different MOCAP provider. They can also return to their home school. Mehlville’s At Home Academy teachers will be reassigned to other positions following the district’s board policies.