TITLE 126

LEGISLATIVE RULE

BOARD OF EDUCATION



SERIES 48

Distance Learning and the West Virginia Virtual School (2450)





§126-48-1. General.



1.1. Scope--Establishes requirements for distance, online, and technology-delivered learning programs, including student needs, course content, teacher/facilitator
guidelines, virtual classes, funding, and management at the state, county and school
levels.



1.2. Authority--West Virginia Constitution, Article XII,§2; West Virginia Code

§18-2-5 and §18-2E-9.

1.3. Filing Date-- August 12, 2002



1.4. Effective Date--September 11, 2002

1.5. This is a revision of 126CSR48, West Virginia Board of Education Policy
2450, filed September 18, 2000 and effective October 18, 2000.

§126-48-2. Purpose.

2.1. The purpose of this policy is to assure consistent high quality education for the students of West Virginia while utilizing technology-delivered courses. In order for a student to receive credit for a technology-delivered course, he/she must be a student enrolled in a West Virginia public school.



§126-48-3. Course Approval.



3.1. Distance, online or virtual learning courses offered for public school credit
shall be approved by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE). In order to
register the technology-delivered learning courses for credit, providers shall submit an
online registration form to WVDE for approval. In order for students to receive distance
learning courses for credit, a county superintendent or designee shall verify that courses
and providers are WVDE approved.



3.2. Distance learning courses may be approved when curriculum content cannot be delivered because there is a shortage of certified personnel, a need to provide



126CSR48



low-incidence courses, a need to offer a course while the teacher/facilitator renews
course-related skills, or any other validated student need to access technology-
delivered courses.



3.3. Distance learning course content will be reviewed for correlation with the
West Virginia Board of Education content standards and objectives (CSOs). Copies of
the CSOs and instructional policies may be found on the WVDE web page at
http://wvde.state.wv.us.

3.4. The quality courses approved by the West Virginia Virtual School will be aligned with the CSOs and include appropriate course materials. These materials are exempt from the mandatory primary source materials listed on the state multiple list.

3.5. Providers will adhere to the state and federal privacy regulations regarding students.

3.6. In an alternative education setting, distance learning shall in no case be a student's only source of instruction. Provisions of 126CSR20, West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2418: Regulations for Alternative Education Programs for Disruptive Students shall be adhered to including, but not limited to, the provision of behavioral components in addition to academic course work.



§126-48-4. Management.



4.1. Course facilitators located in West Virginia schools may be required to hold
specific certification/qualifications based upon provider guidelines that may vary from
course to course.



4.2. The distance learning course facilitator shall receive inservice training or
technology-delivered instructions pertaining to the course organization, classroom
management, technical aspects, monitoring of student testing, and securing other
student services as needed.



4.3. The county superintendent shall designate a distance learning contact at the school level to ensure virtual class information is provided to students and parents, any
necessary affiliation agreements with the course provider are secured, the course
facilitator has been identified, and complete other duties as necessary to provide
student access.



4.4. If a course is to be produced and delivered from within West Virginia, the
West Virginia Virtual Course Production guidelines and procedures must be followed as
outlined.









126CSR48



§126-48-5. Evaluation of Pupil Progress.

5.1. The local education agency is responsible for establishing specific uniform
procedures for evaluating pupil progress and administering a final grade based upon
provider guidelines and county policy.



5.2. Evaluations of the success of the virtual program must be documented to
provide any continued funding requests.



§126-48-6. Technology Access.

6.1. With the statewide technology installations in public schools, students
should have access to virtual courses at school.

6.2. When available, student access may be authorized at other equipped
locations such as public libraries, community learning centers and homes.



6.3. The school distance learning coordinator will be responsible for assisting
students in finding solutions for access.

§126-48-7. Funding.

7.1. Funding for distance learning courses and associated materials may be provided through the school system instructional budgets or grant awards.



7.2. Parents will be responsible for distance learning costs if the selected course is currently being offered at the school and there is no justifiable reason to duplicate the
school course.

§126-48-8. Guidelines and Procedures.



8.1. To accommodate rapidly changing options for virtual classes and distance
learning, guidelines and procedures will be developed to review operational issues in a timely manner and will include legislation components.

8.2. Whenever necessary to provide appropriate virtual classes and distance
learning, the waiver process will be utilized.

§126-48-9. Severability.

9.1. If any provision of this rule or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this rule.