EHDE - EXTENDED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS: DISTANCE LEARNING

DISTANCE LEARNING

Credit toward state graduation requirements may be granted for distance learning courses only as follows:

1. Students may earn course credit through distance learning technologies, such as satellite, Internet, two-way videoconferencing, and instructional television.
2. The distance learning courses must include the state-required essential knowledge and skills for such a course.

19 TAC74.23

ELECTRONIC COURSES

"Electronic course" means an educational program or course:

1. That includes use of the Internet or other electronic media; and
2. In which a student and a teacher are in different locations for a majority of the student's instructional period.

The Commissioner shall implement a program under which a district may offer electronic courses to students enrolled in the district or in another district, as provided by an agreement between the districts.

The Commissioner may determine the number of districts permitted to participate, but may not require a district to participate. To the extent possible, the Commissioner shall permit the participation of rural and urban districts with a higher than average number of at-risk students, dropout rate, or population of underserved gifted and talented students.

The School may offer electronic courses. The School may not require a student to enroll in an electronic course.

APPLICATION

To participate in the electronic course program, the School must submit a written application to the

Commissioner not later than July 1 preceding the school year the School proposes to begin participation, or an earlier date set by the Commissioner. The School’s application must include:

1. A proposed budget for the program;
2. A method to verify student attendance;
3. Any requested waiver of a requirement, restriction, or prohibition imposed by the Education Code or by rule and the period for which any requested waiver is proposed to be in effect; and
4. The information required for the Informed Choice Report.

Informed Choice Report

Not later than a date determined by the Commissioner, if the School participates in the electronic course program, the School shall create and maintain on the School’s Internet Web site an "informed choice" report in a format determined by the Commissioner. Each report must include a description of:

1. Each course of instruction offered to students in the program, including the number of lessons, the expected duration of each lesson, and a description of each lesson that requires use of a computer.
2. All materials required for each course offered in the program.
3. The process used to ensure that each course meets the essential knowledge and skills requirements, including any consultation with a district curriculum specialist.
4. The process used to place students in the appropriate academic levels of the program, including:
   1. Sample placement evaluations;
   2. Information related to each person responsible for placement of a student;
   3. The circumstances in which a student may be placed in different academic levels for different course subjects during a school year; and
   4. The circumstances in which a student may complete more than one course level during a school year.
5. Any technology provided to each student enrolled in the program, including any computer, computer software, or Internet access.
6. The method used to report attendance in the program.
7. The method used to authenticate student coursework and attendance.
8. The location and content of each scheduled meeting between parents or guardians of students enrolled in the program and teachers or other school officials, and the method used to notify parents and guardians of the time and location of each meeting.
9. The program policies relating to:
   1. Computer security and privacy; and
   2. Truancy, absences, discipline, withdrawal, and expulsion of students.
10. Any extracurricular activities provided by the program.
11. The teaching model used by the program, including:
    1. Each teacher's responsibilities;
    2. Minimum teacher qualifications;
    3. Minimum hours of training provided to teachers;
    4. Average and maximum student/teacher ratios;
    5. Hours of teacher availability; and
    6. For each grade level, minimum and expected amounts of contact between teachers and parents and between teachers and students.
12. Any academic services that the program expects a student's parent or guardian to provide to the student.
13. Each standardized assessment instrument, in addition to any assessment instrument required under Chapter 39, that the student is required to complete during the school year and, if available, the location for administration of the instrument.
14. A summary of the results of each assessment instrument administered to students in the program during the school year preceding the year the report is submitted.
15. The school year calendar for the program, including any options for continued participation outside of the standard district calendar.

Adopted: 1/28/05

Amended:

Reviewed: