2370.01 - ON-LINE/BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM

Ida Public School District

Bylaws & Policies

2370.01 - ON-LINE/BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM

The District shall provide eligible students the option of participating in on-line or blended learning courses. The purpose of the program is to make instruction available to eligible students using on-line and distance education technology in both traditional and nontraditional classroom settings. The District must make all eligible students and their parents or guardians aware of this program.

A.	Definitions

	1.	On-Line Learning - Means a course of study that is capable of generating a credit or a grade, that is provided in an interactive internet-connected learning environment, in which students and their teachers are separated by time or location, or both, and in which the teacher is responsible for determining appropriate instructional methods for each student, diagnosing learning needs, assessing student learning, prescribing intervention strategies, reporting outcomes, and evaluating the effects of instruction and support strategies.

	2.	Blended Learning - A hybrid instructional delivery model where students are provided content, instruction, and assessment in part at the classroom, with a teacher, and in part through internet-connected learning environments with some degree of student control over time, location, and pace of instruction.

B.	Program Eligibility

	The District shall offer a program for students in Grades 6-12.

	The District may offer a full time or part time program for grade 9-12 students enrolled in dropout prevention, academic intervention, core courses to meet graduation requirements, or dual enrollment programs.

C.	Student Eligibility

	1.	Students eligible for the District on-line/blended learning program must meet at least one of the following conditions:

		a.	The student has spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school in this State and was enrolled and reported by a public school district.

		b.	The student is a dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who was transferred within the last twelve (12) months to Michigan from another state or foreign country pursuant to the parent’s permanent change of station orders.

	2.	Only students enrolled in grades 6 to 12 are eligible to enroll in an On-Line Learning course. Students in grades K-5 are only eligible to participate in Blended Learning Courses.

D.	Course Availability and Access

	1.	The District shall provide access to enroll and participate in the available courses and shall award credit, as may be appropriate, for successful completion. Access shall be available to eligible students during or after the school day and during summer school enrollment. The District will provide at least one of the following:

		a.	On-line Learning, pursuant to the requirements set forth in Pupil Accounting Manual 5-O-D.

		b.	Virtual Learning, pursuant to the requirements set forth in Pupil Accounting Manual 5-O-A.

		c.	Independent Study, pursuant to the requirements set forth in Pupil Accounting Manual 5-O-A.

	2.	The District shall enroll an eligible student in up to two (2) on-line courses as requested by the student during an academic term, semester, or trimester. Consent from the student's parent or legal guardian must be obtained for students under the age of eighteen (18).

3.	The District will provide two (2) or fewer courses per semester in Grades K-5 and one (1) or more courses per semester in Grades 6-12. If students are taking more than two (2) courses per semester, the guidance found in the Pupil Accounting Manual 5-0-B shall be followed and seat time waivers obtained.

4.	An eligible student may enroll in an on-line course published in the District on-line course syllabus, as described in section 8 below, or the statewide catalog of on-line courses maintained by the Michigan virtual university.

5.	The District may deny a student enrollment in an on-line course if any of the following apply, as determined by the District:

	a.	The student has previously gained the credits provided from the completion of the on-line course.

	b.	The on-line course is not capable of generating academic credit.

	c.	The on-line course is inconsistent with the remaining graduation requirements or career interests of the student.

	d.	The student does not possess the prerequisite knowledge and skills to be successful in the on-line course or has demonstrated failure in previous on-line coursework in the same subject.

	e.	The on-line course is of insufficient quality or rigor. If the District denies a student enrollment for this reason, the District shall make a reasonable effort to assist the student to find an alternative course in the same or a similar subject that is of acceptable rigor and quality.

		f.	If a student is denied enrollment in an on-line course by the District, the student may appeal the denial by submitting a letter to the Principal. The appeal must include the reason provided by the District for not enrolling the student and the reason why the student is claiming that the enrollment should be approved.

			The Principal shall respond to the appeal within five (5) days after it is received. If the Principal determines that the denial of enrollment does not meet one (1) or more of the reasons specified in subsection 4(E)i.-vi., the District shall allow the student to enroll in the on-line course.

	6.	An on-line learning student shall have the same rights and access to technology in his/her District's school facilities as all other students enrolled in that District.

	7.	If a student successfully completes an on-line course, as determined by the District, the District shall grant appropriate academic credit for completion of the course and shall count that credit toward completion of graduation and subject area requirements. A student's school record and transcript shall identify the on-line course title as it appears in the on-line course syllabus.

	8.	The enrollment of a student in one (1) or more on-line courses shall not result in a student being counted as more than 1.0 full-time equivalent student under this act.

E.	Nonresident Applicants

	1.	The District shall determine whether or not it has capacity to accept applications for enrollment from nonresident applicants in on-line courses and may use that limit as the reason for refusal to enroll an applicant.

	2.	If the number of nonresident applicants eligible for acceptance in an on-line course does not exceed the capacity of the District to provide the on-line course, the District shall accept for enrollment all of the nonresident applicants eligible for acceptance.

	3.	If the number of nonresident applicants exceeds the District's capacity to provide the on-line course, the District shall use a random draw system.

F.	Requirements Specific to On-Line Learning Courses

	To offer an on-line course, the District must:

	1.	Provide the Michigan virtual university with the course syllabus in a form and method prescribed by the Michigan virtual university for inclusion in a statewide on-line course catalog.

	2.	Provide on its publicly accessible website a link to the course syllabi for all of the on-line courses offered by the District, as described in section 8, and a link to the statewide catalog of on-line courses maintained by the Michigan virtual university.

	3.	Offer the on-line course on an open entry and exit method, or aligned to a semester, trimester, or accelerated academic term format.

G.	On-line Course Syllabus

	The District must publish an on-line course syllabus for each on-line course offered. The on-line course syllabus must include:

	1.	State academic standards addressed in an on-line course.

	2.	On-line course content outline.

	3.	On-line course required assessments.

	4.	On-line course prerequisites.

	5.	Expectations for actual teacher contact time with the on-line learning student and other student-to-teacher communications.

	6.	Academic support available to the on-line learning student.

	7.	On-line course learning outcomes and objectives.

	8.	Name of the institution or organization providing the on-line instructor.

	9.	Number of eligible nonresident students that will be accepted by the District in the on-line course.

	10.	Results of the on-line course quality review using the guidelines and model review process published by the Michigan virtual university.

M.C.L. 388.1621f
Michigan Department of Education Guidance on Best Practices as Defined in,
M.C.L. 388.1622f

Adopted 6/23/14
Revised 12/8/14