- Procedure
Procedure: 2024P
Section: 2000 - Instruction
Title: Online Learning
Status: Active
Adopted: August 26, 2010
Procedure - Online Learning
A. Definitions
1. Online Courses: An “online course” is one in which more than half of the content is delivered online and more than half of the instruction is delivered online by a teacher from a different location than that of the student.
2. Online School Program: “online school program” is delivered by a school district or cooperative of school districts, and provides an online, comprehensive and sequential program of courses or grade- level coursework and instruction in which more than half of the program is delivered online and more than half of the instruction is delivered online by a teacher from a different location than that of the student.
3. Online Learning Support Team: “online learning support team” means district/school staff who will provide assistance to the student in accessing courses, understanding coursework and maintaining successful progress in the course. Depending on grade level and individual school, this may include: school administrator, school counselor, student advisor, registrar, and/or other appropriate staff as needed to help support student success.
B. Student Access to Online Courses and Online School Programs
The district will facilitate access to the following types of online learning opportunities:
1. Online courses:
a. District created and taught online courses;
b. District taught online courses created by a third party contracted provider; and
c. OSPI approved online courses created and taught by third- party course providers.
2. Online school programs:
a. District sponsored programs created and taught by third party course providers;
b. District sponsored programs created by third party course providers and taught by district teachers; and
c. Out of district online school programs accessed through an interdistrict transfer.
C. Types of Online Courses Available
The district will facilitate access to the following types of online courses:
1. Credit recovery courses allowing students to make up failed credits needed for graduation;
2. Advanced Placement courses;
3. Foreign language courses;
4. Courses which may already be offered in the student’s school but are inaccessible to the student due to scheduling or other factors;
5. Courses not available at the student’s school that meet four-year college entrance requirements;
6. Elective and career and technical courses;
7. Standard level courses meeting high school graduation requirements;
8. Grade level coursework for 9-12; and
9. A course that meets the criteria for district use of a non-approved course.
D. Student Eligibility Criteria
The district will facilitate access to online learning courses and programs for students enrolled in grades 9-12. For grade levels outside the 9-12 parameter, the district will review on a case by case basis. Students taking an online course or participating in a district created online school program must adhere to the following criteria:
1. Have completed any required prerequisites and provide teacher/counselor recommendations to confirm that he/she possesses the academic level needed to function effectively in an online learning environment;
2.Comply with existing district policies for registering/enrolling in a course or district program.
3. Students interested in attending an online school program in another district must follow the interdistrict transfer procedures in School Board Policy No. 3140 Attendance of Resident and Acceptance of Nonresident Students prior to entering that program.
E. Supporting Student Success
The district will provide the following support to students to help ensure a successful online learning experience:
1. All online students will receive assistance from the online learning support team;
2. The registrar, school counselor and/or other staff member as deemed appropriate by individual school, will advise students in selecting and registering for online learning options to which the district facilitates access;
3. A member of the online learning support team will meet regularly with online students to ensure they are connecting to the online coursework and the online teacher and are making satisfactory progress in their online coursework;
4. Depending on availability of district resources including necessary staffing and appropriate equipment, the district may offer a dedicated class period during the school day in which the student may connect to an online course and to a member of their online learning support team or other staff member as deemed appropriate by individual school; and
5. Depending on availability of district resources, including necessary staffing and appropriate equipment, The district may offer access to online computers during the school day and outside regular school hours if available.
F. Costs/Fees
1. Courses offered to students for which the district claims state education funding or that are included as part of the legally- required annual average total instructional hour offering of one thousand (1,000) hours will be paid for by the school district. Students/families may be responsible for fees as specified by the district fee schedule.
2. Courses offered to students for which the district claims no state education funding and that are not included as part of the legally- required annual average total instructional hour offering of one thousand (1,000) hours will be paid for by students/families. Students/families may also be responsible for fees as specified by the district fee schedule.
G. Granting of High School Credit for Online Courses
1. Credit for online courses will be granted in the same manner as other course offerings in the district.
2. Currently enrolled students should notify the district prior to enrolling in an online course provided outside of the district. The student will be informed, in writing, whether or not the course is eligible for academic credit from the district.
3. For students transferring credit from online courses or programs taken while enrolled outside of the district, credit will be granted according to the district transfer credit policy School Board Policy No. 3600 Student Records.
4. For eligible courses, if course credit is earned, the course will be recorded on the transcript using the standardized identifier for online courses provided in the Comprehensive Education Data Research System (CEDARS).
5. Prior to enrollment, students and/or parents will be informed in writing whether a course is eligible for academic credit.
H. Information to Students and Parents or Guardians
The district will use a variety of methods to provide information to parents/guardians and students regarding online learning opportunities. Information will be provided through the district webpage, counseling office brochures, newsletters, the student handbook and other appropriate district communication resources.
Information provided will include descriptions of online courses or online school programs, enrollment information, potential fees, a description of credit awarded for courses, student eligibility requirements, and methods the district will use to support student success.
I. Criteria for District Use of Non-OSPI Approved Online Courses
1. The district may offer courses to students from providers not on the OSPI approved list only after ensuring that they meet the criteria for district use of nonapproved courses as posted on the OSPI website.
2. The district will ensure proper documentation when using nonapproved online courses.
J. Student Responsibilities
1. Adhere to the district’s code of conduct for academic integrity.
2. Comply with course/program participation and completion requirements.
3. Maintain high academic involvement.
4. Notify the district if participation in an online course/program ceases or changes.
5. Maintain agreed upon levels and kinds of communication with the online learning support team throughout the term of the online course.
6. Participate in an online course/program orientation.
K. Parent or Guardian Responsibilities
1. Parents or guardians are responsible for costs/fees as outlined in Section F above.
2. Parents or guardians are responsible for seeking appropriate technology—per district recommendations—for student participation in coursework outside of the school day or designated online learning period.
L. District Responsibilities
1. Inform parents/guardians prior to student enrollment in any online course or program.
2. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of the online courses and programs that are available to them.
3. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of the online course/online school program prerequisites, technology requirements, course outlines, syllabi and possible fees.
4. Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of how to seek and access technology resources and technological requirements beyond the school day.
5. Provide online students with an online learning support team.
6. Ensure communication between the student’s online learning support team and parent/guardian.
7. Ensure online courses are appropriately identified with CEDARS coding.
8. The district will inform students and their parent/guardian of rescheduling options or grade impacts in the event a student withdraws from an online course or online school program prior to completion.
Adopted: 08/26/2010
Revised:
- 2000