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Utah's Electronic High School may award its last credits this year, following a Friday vote by the state school board to recommend stripping the online school's funding from the state education budget.
More than 7,000 students last year earned high school degrees through the school, which offers free online courses on a year-round basis.
But board members argued that with more school districts and charter schools offering their own online credit programs, the Electronic High School's $1 million appropriation could be better used to address administrative priorities at the state Office of Education.
"We have a lot of things we're asking for for this office this year," board member Jennifer Johnson said. "Since there are so many other [online] options, I see this as less value than it once was — not that it is without value."
Board member Brittney Cummins agreed, saying the Electronic High School had become redundant within the state.
"There's a lot of duplication in what's offered in different way," she said.
The decision to close or continue funding the school rests with the Legislature, and two board members voted against the recommendation to cease funding Electronic High School.
Barbara Corry said the decision was being made too quickly, with little discussion. And Dixie Allen said Utah's rural school districts rely on the Electronic High School and lack the online resources of Wasatch Front schools.
"I think some of you need to go to the outskirts of Utah and try to get online education," she said. "The electronic high school has been very advantageous for students in rural Utah."
In 2013, funding for the Electronic High School was cut in half, from $2 million to $1 million.
Enrollment at the school has fluctuated, from more than 10,000 students earning credits during the 2012-2013 school year, followed by 4,817 students in 2013-2014 and 7,419 students last year.
The school is seen as a tool to increase graduation rates, as many students use the online option to either accelerate completion of required courses, or to make up for failed or incomplete credits.
Deputy state superintendent Sydnee Dickson said online charter schools and online school district programs often rely on Electronic High School for graduation requirements like financial literacy and fitness for life.
If the Electronic High School closes, she said, those programs would be required to expand their course offerings.
"It saves them money," she said. "They don't have to hire a teacher for those courses, so they'll send kids out to Electronic High School."
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