2024 Online Learning
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The Yelm Community Schools board of directors believes that a variety of learning options, including online courses and programs, are critical for 21st Century learners. The board recognizes that the online learning environment provides students with unique opportunities to become self-disciplined learners with life-long learning skills. Further, the board believes that online learning provides tremendous opportunities for students to access curriculum and specialized courses in a flexible learning environment that might not otherwise be available.
Therefore, the board supports a range of online learning opportunities that are equally accessible to all students in the school district. The board directs the superintendent to provide information to parents, students and staff regarding online learning options and the guidelines for participation.
The superintendent or designee will develop procedures to implement this policy. The procedures will include, but not be limited to, a description of student access to online learning courses/grade-level coursework, student eligibility criteria, the types of online courses available to students, methods the district will use to support student success, payment of course fees and other costs, granting of course credit and conditions under which no credit will be awarded.
Cross References:
Board Policy
2022 Electronic Resources
2255 Alternative Learning Experience Programs
2410 Graduation Requirements
Legal References:
RCW 28A.150.220 Basic Education – Minimum instructional requirements – Program accessibility – Rules
RCW Chapter 28A.225 Compulsory School Attendance and Admission
RCW 28A.230.090 High School graduation requirements or equivalencies – Reevaluation of graduation requirements – Review and authorization of proposed changes – Credit for courses taken before attending high school – Postsecondary credit equivalencies.
RCW Chapter 28A.250 Online Learning
RCW 28A.320.035 Contracting out – Board’s powers and duties – Goods and services
WAC Chapter 180-51 High School Graduation Requirements
WAC 392-121-182 Alternative learning experience requirements
WAC 392-121-188 Instruction provided under contract
WAC 392-410-310 Equivalency course of study – Credit for correspondence courses, electronically mediated courses, and college courses.
WAC Chapter 392-502 Online Learning – Approval of multidistrict on-line providersManagement Resources:
Policy News Dec. 2009
Policy & Legal News Feb. 2014; April 2017ADOPTED: 08/26/2010
REVISED: 07/24/14; 5/10/18
Procedure No. 2024P Online Learning
Definitions- Online courses: or “grade-level coursework” means a course in which;
a. more than half of the content is delivered online;
b. more than half of the teaching instruction is delivered online by a teacher from a different location than that of the student;
c. a certificated teacher has the primary responsibility for the student’s instructional interaction. Instructional interaction between the teacher and the student includes, but is not limited to, direct instruction, review of assignments, assessment, testing, progress monitoring, and educational facilitation; and
d. students have access to the teacher synchronously and/or asynchronously. - Online school program means a school program that offers a sequential set of online courses or grade-level coursework throughout the school year in a manner that could provide a full-time basic education program if so desired by the student. The student may enroll as a part-time or full-time student.
- Online provider means any provider of an online course or program, including multidistrict online providers, all school district online learning programs, and all regional online learning programs.
- The Online Learning Support Team: includes the assigned district staff who will provide assistance to the student in accessing courses, understanding coursework and maintaining successful progress in the course.
Student Access to Online Courses and Online School Programs
The district will facilitate access to the following types of online learning opportunities:- Online courses:
a. District-created and taught online courses;
b. District-taught online courses created by a third-party contracted provider; and
c. Courses created and taught online by OSPI-approved online providers. - Online school programs:
a. District-sponsored programs created by third-party course providers and taught by district teachers; or
b. Out-of-district online school programs accessed through an interdistrict transfer.
Types of Online Courses Available
The district will facilitate access to the following types of online courses:- Credit recovery courses allowing students to make up failed credits needed for graduation;
- Standard-level courses meeting high school graduation requirements; and
- Grade level coursework for grades 6-8.
Student Eligibility Criteria
The district will facilitate access to online learning courses and programs for students enrolled in grades K-12. Students taking an online course or participating in a district-created online school program must adhere to the following criteria:- Comply with existing district policies for registering/enrolling in a course or district program.
- Students interested in attending an online school program in another district must follow the interdistrict transfer procedures in district policy 3141 prior to entering that program.
Supporting Student Success
The district will provide the following support to students to help ensure a successful online learning experience:- All online students will receive assistance from the district assigned online learning support team;
- The district assigned registrar will advise students in selecting and registering for online learning options to which the district facilitates access;
- Online students will be assigned and meet regularly with an advisor to ensure they are connecting to the online coursework and the online teacher and are making satisfactory progress in their online coursework;
- The district will offer opportunities during the school day in which the student may connect to an online course and to their local advisor; and
- The district will offer access to online computers during the school day.
Costs/Fees
- Courses offered to students for which the district claims state education funding or that are included as part of the regular school day will be paid for by the school district. Students/families may be responsible for fees as specified by the district fee schedule.
- Courses offered to students for which the district claims no state education funding and that are not included as part of the regular school days will be paid for by students/families. Students/families may also be responsible for fees as specified by the district fee schedule.
Granting of High School Credit for Online Courses
- School districts will award credit and grades for online high school courses successfully completed by a student that meet the school district's graduation requirements and are provided by an approved online provider. Credit for online courses will be granted in the same manner as other course offerings in the district.
- Currently enrolled students should notify the district prior to enrolling in an online course provided outside of the district. The student and/or parent will be informed, in writing, whether or not the course is eligible for academic credit from the district.
- 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 in policy 2410 and procedure 2410P High School Graduation Requirements.
- 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).
- Prior to enrollment, students and/or parents will be informed in writing whether a course is eligible for academic credit.
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 Web site, counseling office brochures, newsletters, the student handbook and/or 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.
Criteria for District Use of Non-OSPI Approved Online Providers- 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 non-approved providers as posted on the OSPI website.
- The district will ensure proper documentation when using non-approved online providers.
Student Responsibilities
- Adhere to the district’s code of conduct for academic integrity.
- Comply with course/program participation and completion requirements.
- Maintain high academic involvement.
- Notify the district if participation in an online course/program ceases or changes.
- Maintain agreed-upon levels and kinds of communication with the local advisor throughout the term of the online course.
- Participate in an online course/program orientation.
Parent or Guardian Responsibilities
- Parents or guardians are responsible for costs/fees as outlined above in the Costs/Fees section.
- 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.
District Responsibilities
- Inform parents/guardians prior to student enrollment in any online course or program.
- Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of the online courses and programs that are available to them.
- Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of the online course/online school program prerequisites, technology requirements, course outlines, syllabi and possible fees.
- Provide online students who remain enrolled in the district and who participate in the online course or program during the school day, with computing hardware and connectivity required for participation in the online course or online school program.
- Inform staff, parents/guardians and students of how to seek and access technology resources and technological requirements beyond the school day.
- Provide online students with an online learning support team.
- Ensure communication between the student’s advisor and parent/guardian.
- Ensure online courses are appropriately identified with CEDARS coding.
- 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: 04/26/12; 07/24/14; 5/10/18; 2/23/2023 - Online courses: or “grade-level coursework” means a course in which;
2000 Policies
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES
2000 Student Learning Goals
2004 Accountability Goals
2005 School Improvement Plans
2019 Curriculum Development
2020 Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials
2021 Library Information and Technology Program
2022 Electronic Resources and Internet Safety
2023 Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy
2024 Online Learning
2025 Copyright Compliance
2027 District Ownership of Staff-Created Work
2029 Animals as Part of the Instructional Program
2030 Service Animals in Schools
2090 Program Evaluation
LEARNING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS
2100 Educational Opportunities for Military Children
2104 Federal and/or State Funded Special Instructional Programs
2106 Program Compliance
2107 Comprehensive Early Literacy Plan
2108 Learning Assistance Program
2110 Transitional Bilingual Instruction
2121 Substance Abuse Program
2125 Sexual Health Education
2126 AIDS Prevention Education
2140 Guidance and Counseling
2145 Recognition, Screening, and Response to Distress in Students
2150 Co-Curricular Program
2151 Interscholastic Athletics
2152 Extracurricular Activities
2153 Non-curriculum-Related Student Groups
2161 Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
2162 Education of Students with Disabilities under Section 504
2165 Home or Hospital Instruction
2170 Career and Technical Education
2178 Traffic Safety Education
2190 Advanced Academic Program
2195 Academic Acceleration
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
2220 School Calendar
2240 Summer School
2255 Alternative Learning Experience Programs
PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTS
2320 Field Trips, Excursions and Outdoor Education
2331 Controversial Issues/Guest Speakers
2333 Flag Exercises
2336 Required Observances
2337 Disability History Month
2340 Religious-Related Activities and Practices
REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS
2409 Credit for Competency/Proficiency
2410 High School Graduation Requirements
2411 Certificate of Educational Competency
2412 Diplomas for Veterans
2413 Equivalency Credit for Career and Technical Education Courses
2414 Community Service
2418 Waiver of High School Graduation Credits
2420 Grading and Progress Reports
2421 Promotion/Retention