Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) is preparing to expand educational opportunities with the launch of Amarillo ISD Online, a flexible learning platform for students in grades 6-12 starting in August 2026. The program is designed to provide families with a range of learning options, including fully virtual and hybrid instruction, while maintaining the quality and breadth of courses offered in the district’s traditional schools.
“What we are learning is that our families want flexibility. That flexibility isn’t always supported in a traditional school model,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jennifer Wilkerson. “We decided to offer it because we want to ensure that every student has what he or she needs to be successful and that we meet the needs of our families. Not all families. But some families need a more flexible learning environment to meet the needs of their families.”
Amarillo ISD Online will initially serve middle and high school students, with plans to expand to all grade levels beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Students will be able to enroll in core academic subjects, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, physical education, and foreign languages. Hybrid students will also have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as AmTech Career Academy, athletics, band, choir, and orchestra, ensuring they remain connected to the broader school community.
The program is structured with individual student needs in mind, addressing common concerns about isolation and the one-size-fits-all nature of many online learning models. Classes will be led by dedicated teachers, and students will be supported by success coaches who monitor academic, social, and emotional growth.
“We’ve been in the virtual world with Texas Virtual School Network for more than a decade; we’re just expanding by offering more opportunities than we’ve ever had before,” said Director of Counseling/College, Career & Military Readiness Tracey Morman.
Parents like Susan Kendall see the benefits of a more flexible learning model. Her son, Sam, enrolled in an online learning platform this school year to accommodate his tennis schedule. The Kendalls view Amarillo ISD Online as a way to combine their child’s extracurricular interests with consistent support from the district.
“We will 100 percent consider coming back,” Kendall said. “We never had anything but amazing support from all the school staff. It was purely a decision for our child’s health, so the convenience of doing it through the school system he has always been in feels like it could be very cohesive.”
To ensure students thrive in a virtual setting, AISD Online requires interested families to complete a Readiness Quiz. This quiz evaluates learning environment, student habits and motivation, the role of the learning coach (parent or guardian), and time and community resources. Wilkerson emphasized that this process helps determine whether the program is the right fit for each student.
“So not every student is an ideal candidate for virtual learning,” Wilkerson explained. “Really taking into account the needs of the learner and making sure that we’re meeting those needs… that’s what that interest form is for.”
Instruction will include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning, with safeguards such as lockdown browsers for assessments and monitoring tools to maintain academic integrity. AISD has accelerated the program with the help of a $200,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency, enabling the district to invest in new technology and resources to support online learners.
Looking ahead, AISD plans to expand Amarillo ISD Online to elementary students, with experts studying the best approaches to bring the program to younger learners. For now, families interested in enrolling students can visit the district website to complete the interest form and start the enrollment process.
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