Source: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2012/03/12-03-067.htm
Timestamp: 2019-06-27 04:58:42
Document Index: 794145140

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392']

WSR 12-03-067
[ Filed January 12, 2012, 10:44 a.m. , effective February 12, 2012 ]
Purpose: The proposed changes:
• Align the rules with ESHB 2065, passed by the 2011 legislature.
• Remove the "district responsibility" section to eliminate duplication between chapter 28A.250 RCW and the rules.
• Adjust the approval process timeline so that, beginning with the 2012-13 school year, applications are available January 1. This timeline will shorten the time between approval notification and the effective date of approval and avoid the scheduling conflicts inherent in the current timeline.
• Add a formal process to modify the assurances, criteria, and approval process. Potential changes will be announced in October, any interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the proposal. Final versions will be posted by January 1.
• Add clarity to the assurances, approval, and rescindment sections.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending chapter 392-502 WAC.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28A.250 RCW.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 11-23-150 on November 22, 2011.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 9, Repealed 1.
Date Adopted: December 29, 2011.
OTS-4452.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-01-099, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10)
WAC 392-502-001 Authority. The authority for these rules is ((chapter 34.05)) RCW 7.60.055, which authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to adopt rules ((regarding approval of multidistrict on-line)) defining minimum requirements and accountability for alternative learning experience on-line programs and RCW 28A.250.020, which authorizes the superintendent to adopt by rule criteria and processes for approving on-line providers.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-001, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-005 Purposes. The purpose of this chapter is to develop and implement criteria and processes for approving ((multidistrict)) on-line providers in order to further on-line learning opportunities for K-12 students in Washington state.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-005, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) "Multidistrict on-line provider" means:
(a) A private or nonprofit organization that enters into a contract with a school district to provide on-line courses or programs to K-12 students from more than one school district;
(b) A private or nonprofit organization or a school district that enters into contracts with multiple school districts to provide on-line courses or programs to K-12 students from those districts; or
(c) Except as provided in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, a school district that provides on-line courses or programs to students who reside outside the geographic boundaries of the school district.
(i) "Multidistrict on-line provider" does not include a school district on-line learning program in which fewer than ten percent of the students enrolled in the program are from other districts under the interdistrict student transfer provisions of RCW 28A.225.225. ((If, at the end of a school year, the annual average headcount for that school year of students who reside outside the geographic boundaries of a school district and are enrolled in a school district on-line program increases to ten percent or more of the total program enrollment headcount, the program shall be required to apply as a multidistrict on-line provider in the next approval cycle. The program can continue operating the year of the required approval review, but not the following school year unless approved as a multidistrict on-line provider.))
(ii) "Multidistrict on-line provider" also does not include regional on-line learning programs that are jointly developed and implemented ((by)) through an interdistrict cooperative program between two or more school districts or between one or more school districts and an educational service district ((through an interdistrict cooperative program)), unless the annual average headcount of students who reside outside the geographic boundaries of those school districts and who are enrolled in the regional on-line program is ten percent or more of the total program enrollment headcount. Any agreement ((that addresses)) establishing such a program must address, at minimum, how the districts share student full-time equivalency for state basic education funding purposes and how categorical education programs, including special education, are provided to eligible students ((unless at the end of a school year, the annual average headcount for that school year of students who reside outside the geographic boundaries of those school districts and are enrolled in the regional on-line program increases to ten percent or more of the total program enrollment headcount, the program shall be required to apply as a multidistrict on-line provider in the next approval cycle. The program can continue operating the year of the required approval review, but not the following school year unless approved as a multidistrict on-line provider)).
(2) "On-line course" means a course ((that)) in which:
(a) ((Is)) More than half of the course content is delivered ((primarily)) electronically using the internet or other computer-based methods; and
(b) ((Is taught by a teacher primarily)) More than half of the teaching is conducted from a remote location((. Students enrolled in)) through an on-line course ((may have access to the teacher synchronously, asynchronously,)) learning management system or ((both)) other on-line or electronic tools.
An on-line course may be delivered to students at school as part of the regularly scheduled school day. An on-line course also may be delivered to students, in whole or in part, independently from a regular classroom schedule((, but such courses)). On-line courses delivered to students independently of a regular classroom schedule must comply with RCW 28A.150.262 and WAC 392-121-182 to qualify for state basic education funding.
(3) "On-line school program" means a school program that:
(a) ((Is)) Offers courses or grade-level course work that are delivered primarily electronically using the internet or other computer-based methods;
(b) ((Is)) Offers courses or grade-level course work that are taught by a teacher primarily from a remote location using on-line or other electronic tools. Students enrolled in an on-line program may have access to the teacher synchronously, asynchronously, or both;
(c) ((Delivers a part-time or full-time sequential program)) Offers a sequential set of on-line courses or grade-level course work that may be taken in a single school term or throughout the school year in a manner that could provide a full-time basic education program if so desired by the student. Students may enroll in the program as part-time or full-time students; and
(d) Has an on-line component of the program with on-line lessons and tools for student and data management.
An on-line school program may be delivered to students at school as part of the regularly scheduled school day. An on-line school program also may be delivered to students, in whole or in part, independently from a regular classroom schedule((, but such programs)). On-line programs delivered to students independently of a regular classroom schedule must comply with RCW 28A.150.262 and WAC 392-121-182 to qualify for state basic education funding.
(4) "On-line provider" means any provider of an on-line course or program, multidistrict on-line providers, all school district on-line learning programs, and all regional on-line learning programs.
(5) "Accrediting organizations" means the designated bodies identified by the superintendent of public instruction after consultation with the Washington council for on-line learning and published on the superintendent of public instruction web site. Accrediting organizations are for providers to use to satisfy the accreditation qualification for being an approved ((multidistrict)) on-line provider.
(((5) "Approval" means the provider may offer courses/programs taught by Washington certified teachers to Washington students, and districts can claim the students for basic education funding starting with the 2011-12 school year.))
(6) For the purposes of this section, "primarily" is defined as more than half.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-010, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-020 ((Multidistrict)) On-line provider approval process and timeline. (1) ((Multidistrict)) This section sets forth the process that on-line providers ((as defined in WAC 392-502-010)) must ((complete the approval process as specified in this subsection in order to be eligible for listing as an)) follow to be approved ((multidistrict provider on)) in accordance with RCW 28A.250.020. On-line providers must be approved by the ((OSPI web site; and)) superintendent of public instruction for ((school)) districts to ((claim)) collect state ((basic education)) funding ((for students enrolled in those approved multidistrict on-line courses or programs beginning in the 2011-12 school year and)), to the extent otherwise allowed by state law, for courses offered by those providers in accordance with WAC 392-502-080.
((When questions arise whether an entity is subject to approval as a multidistrict on-line course or program provider, the final determination will be made by the superintendent of public instruction taking into consideration the intent of the SSB 5410 legislation.
(2) The superintendent of public instruction shall make a first round of approval decisions by April 1, 2010, for those multidistrict on-line providers applying for approval. Subsequent approval decisions shall be made annually by November 1, 2010, and each subsequent year.
((Application for approval available Application due date Approval decisions made by
Initial Approval December 31, 2009 January 31, 2010 April 1, 2010
Fall 2010 Approval Cycle July 1, 2010 September 1, 2010 November 1, 2010
Subsequent Approvals April 1 September 1 November 1))
For each of the dates on the table above, the effective dates move to the subsequent business day if they fall on a holiday or weekend; all are 5:00 p.m. deadlines.
(3))) (2) Any multidistrict on-line provider that was approved by the digital learning commons or accredited by the Northwest ((association of accredited schools)) accreditation commission before July 26, 2009, and meets the Washington state teacher certification requirements is exempt from the initial approval process until August 31, 2012, but must comply with the process for renewal of approvals and must comply with approval requirements including the approval assurances and criteria.
(((4))) (3) If at the end of ((a given)) the 2011-12 school year, the annual average headcount for that school year of students who reside outside the geographic boundaries of a school district or regional on-line learning program and are enrolled in a school district on-line program or regional on-line learning program increases to ten percent or more of the total on-line program enrollment headcount, the program ((shall)):
(a) ((Be required to)) Must seek approval ((in the upcoming)) prior to November ((cycle in order to be eligible to claim state basic education funding the subsequent school year)) 1, 2013.
(b) May continue operating during the 2012-13 school year ((of the required review)), but not the following school year unless approved as a multidistrict on-line provider.
(((5) Multidistrict on-line providers seeking approval will)) (4) Prior to the 2012-13 school year, multidistrict on-line providers seeking approval must submit an application for approval. The application form is outlined on the superintendent of public instruction web site. The superintendent or his or her designee will review submitted applications for compliance with the assurances and designated approval criteria set forth in WAC 392-502-030 and must meet or exceed the acceptable defined score. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all on-line providers seeking approval must submit an application outlined on the superintendent of public instruction web site which will be reviewed for compliance with the requested assurances and designated approval criteria and must meet or exceed the acceptable defined score.
(((6))) (5) The superintendent of public instruction ((will notify provider applicants)) makes decisions regarding approval of applications submitted pursuant to this chapter no later than November 1st of each year. An on-line provider's approval status takes effect the ((results)) beginning of the ((review, including feedback about)) school year following the date of the superintendent's approval of the on-line provider's application.
(6) For the 2011-12 school year, final modifications to the conditions for approval, required assurances ((and)), approval criteria ((that were not in compliance)), and application forms will appear on the superintendent of public instruction's web site by ((April 1, 2010, for the initial round of approvals and by November 1, 2010, and each subsequent year after that)) February 15, 2012.
(7) ((Any)) Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, any proposed modifications to the conditions for approval, required assurances, approval criteria, and application forms will appear on the superintendent of public instruction web site by ((July 1, 2010, and April 1st each subsequent)) October 1st of each year. The superintendent will accept feedback from on the proposed modifications from any interested parties prior to November 1st of each year. Any final modifications to the conditions for approval, required assurances, approval criteria, and application forms will appear on the superintendent of public instruction's web site by January 1st of each year.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-020, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-030 Approval assurances and criteria. (1) ((In order to be approved, multidistrict on-line providers must meet)) This section sets forth the ((following)) assurances and criteria that on-line providers must meet to be approved under this chapter.
(a) To be approved, on-line providers must provide the following ((required)) assurances ((include, but are not limited)) to the superintendent of public instruction:
(i) ((Have accreditation)) The on-line provider is accredited through an accrediting body as defined in WAC 392-502-010 and agrees to maintain accredited status for the duration of the approval period.
(ii) ((Offer courses/programs eighty percent aligned to Washington state academic standards.
(iii) Demonstrate that all teachers are certificated in accordance with chapter 181-82 WAC.
(iv) For multidistrict)) Each course and program the on-line provider offers is aligned with at least eighty percent of the current applicable grade/subject area of Washington state standards. For courses with content that is not included in state standards, the on-line provider's courses are aligned with at least eighty percent of nationally accepted content standards set for the relevant subjects. On-line providers must submit information to the superintendent regarding the standards alignment and the standards aligned.
(iv) For on-line providers that offer high school courses, the courses offered by the on-line provider must be eligible for high school credit ((per)) pursuant to WAC 180-51-050. (((However, final decisions regarding the awarding of high school credit shall remain the responsibility of school districts.)
(v) Courses meet the credit/content requirements as outlined in any respective WACs.))
(v) All of the on-line provider's current and future courses in the following areas meet the credit/content requirements as provided for in WAC 392-410-120 (Washington state history and government requirements), WAC 392-410-135 (Physical education -- Grade school and high school requirement), and WAC 392-410-140 (Sexual health education -- Definition -- Optional course or subject matter -- Excusal of students).
(vi) All advanced placement courses offered by the on-line provider have ((all)) been approved ((via)) in accordance with the college board advanced placement course audit. For advanced placement courses not yet offered at the time of application, the on-line provider must assure that those courses will be approved by the college board prior to offering those courses to students.
(vii) The on-line provider's data management systems ensure all student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (((FERPA))) of 1974, as amended.
(viii) The on-line provider's web systems and content meet ((specified)) accessibility conformance levels specified in the list of approved provider assurances on the office of superintendent of public instruction's web site.
(ix) The on-line provider provides all information as directed or as requested by the office of superintendent of public instruction, the secretary for the department of education, and other federal officials for audit, program evaluation compliance, monitoring, and other purposes and to maintain all records for the current year and three previous years.
(x) The on-line provider informs the office of superintendent of public instruction in writing of any significant changes to the program including, but not limited to, changes in assurances, program description, fiscal status, or ownership.
(xi) The on-line provider upholds any pertinent federal or state laws, rules or regulations, in the delivery of the on-line courses or programs.
(xii) The ((applicant)) on-line provider retains responsibility for the quality of courses and content offered, regardless of any third-party contractual arrangements, partnerships or consortia, contributing to the content or delivery of the on-line courses or programs.
(xiii) ((Comply)) The on-line provider complies with the state assessment requirements including, but not limited to, the requirements of chapter 28A.655 RCW and WAC 392-121-182, as applicable.
(xv) The on-line provider agrees to abide by any additional assurances required by the superintendent of public instruction.
(b) On-line providers must meet the following approval criteria ((categories must be met through)) by a preponderance of evidence submitted with the on-line provider's application ((at an acceptable level established by the superintendent of public instruction. Criteria shall include, but are not limited to)):
(iii) Student assessment incorporating various types, frequent feedback, and appropriateness for the on-line learning environment.
(vi) ((Mentor)) School-based support incorporating strategies and systems to allow ((them)) school-based staff to support student success.
(viii) Staff development and support including training and on-line instructor performance reviews conducted on a planned and regularly scheduled basis.
(((2))) (x) The superintendent may require additional approval criteria pursuant to WAC 392-502-080.
(2) After review by the on-line learning advisory committee, the approval criteria with explanations and suggested supporting evidence will be posted on the superintendent of public instruction web site ((by December 31, 2009, and any modifications to those will appear by July 1, 2010, and by April 1st each subsequent year after review by the on-line learning advisory committee and the state board of education)) on or before the date the application is made available.
(3) On-line provider's application((s)) will be reviewed by ((a committee)) reviewers selected by the superintendent of public instruction for their experience and expertise. The ((committee)) reviewers will be provided orientations and training to review and score the ((multidistrict)) on-line provider applications using the approval criteria and scoring protocols.
(4) Prior to the 2013-14 school year, when developing local or regional on-line learning programs, school districts ((shall)) must incorporate the approval criteria developed by the superintendent of public instruction into the program design.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-030, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-040 Appeal of the superintendent's decision. (((1) Provider applicants not approved may file an appeal to)) In the event the superintendent of public instruction denies an on-line provider's application for ((reconsideration within)) approval, the on-line provider may appeal the decision as follows:
(1) The on-line provider may file a revised application with the superintendent of public instruction no later than fifteen ((business)) days ((of notification)) after the on-line provider received notice of the denial. ((The provider must provide specific, objective information that details the basis for their appeal.))
(2) The superintendent of public instruction ((shall act upon the appeal and)) will designate an official to review the on-line provider's revised application. The designated official will notify the applicant in writing whether the ((appeal was)) revised application is approved or denied within forty-five business days of the superintendent's receipt of the revised application. This deadline for acting on the ((appeal)) request may be extended by the superintendent of public instruction if additional information is required from the applicant.
(3) Decisions made by the superintendent of public instruction under WAC 392-502-020 may be appealed as provided for in RCW 34.05.514.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-040, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-050 Approval duration and conditions for continued approval. Approvals will be for the four subsequent consecutive full school years.
(1) Grandfathered multidistrict on-line providers are granted their initial approval only until August 31, 2012, and must be approved in a renewal process prior to that date in order to continue offering their courses/school programs for the 2012-13 school year.
(2) ((Multidistrict)) On-line providers that have been approved ((shall)) must annually ((be required to)) provide the superintendent of public instruction information ((on)) regarding the following:
(a) On-line provider's overall instructional program;
(b) Content of individual on-line courses and on-line school programs;
(c) Direct link to the on-line provider's web site;
(d) Registration information for on-line learning programs and courses;
(3) On-line providers must carry out the program/courses described in the approval application, abide by the assurances listed in WAC 392-502-030 and certified in the application process and maintain the approval criteria listed in WAC 392-502-030.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-050, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-060 Rescinding approvals. (1) Approved ((multidistrict)) on-line providers that fail to comply with the conditions of approval in WAC 392-502-050, may be subject to rescindment of approval.
(a) The superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee will notify an on-line provider((s will be notified)) when there is substantial evidence that ((they are)) the on-line provider is not meeting one or more of the approval conditions and that the superintendent is considering rescindment ((is being considered)). The ((letter shall)) notification will be in writing and will state the specific areas of concern.
(b) The on-line provider will be invited to submit a corrective action plan with a timeline to address the specific areas of concern. The corrective action plan must be submitted within fifteen business days of the superintendent's notification. If no corrective action plan is received by the superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee, the provider's approval will be rescinded.
(c) The superintendent of public instruction ((shall)) will consider the corrective action plan and ((make a determination)) determine whether ((it)) the plan satisfactorily addresses the specific areas of concern, whether additional actions are necessary, or whether the plan is substantially incomplete and ((the)) approval ((should)) must be immediately rescinded. Before making this decision, the superintendent ((shall)) or his or her designee will provide an opportunity for the ((multidistrict)) on-line provider to clarify and adjust ((their)) its plan.
(d) Recognizing the serious nature of rescindment and its potential impact on students, districts and providers, the superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee will only rescind approvals if he or she finds that the multidistrict on-line provider is unwilling to take the necessary corrective actions to bring the courses/programs in compliance with the approval assurances and criteria. If the superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee determines that a multidistrict on-line provider's approval must be rescinded, the implementation of the rescindment shall, to the greatest extent possible, be timed to prevent unnecessary disruption to the education of the students.
(3) Rescinded providers are responsible for communicating that change in status to their clients. The superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee will remove rescinded providers from the agency's web site.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-060, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-080 Approval required for state funding. (1) Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, school districts may claim state basic education funding, to the extent otherwise allowed by state law, for students enrolled in on-line courses or programs only if the on-line courses or programs are:
(a) Offered by a multidistrict on-line provider approved by the superintendent of public instruction;
(b) Offered by a school district on-line learning program if the program serves students who reside within the geographic boundaries of the school district, including school district programs in which fewer than ten percent of the program's students reside outside the school district's geographic boundaries; or
(c) Offered by a regional on-line learning program jointly developed and offered by two or more school districts or an educational service district through an interdistrict cooperative or consortium program agreement in which fewer than ten percent of the program's students reside outside the school districts' geographic boundaries.
(2) Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, school districts may claim state funding under RCW 28A.150.260, to the extent otherwise allowed by state law, for students enrolled in on-line courses or programs only if the on-line courses or programs are offered by an on-line provider approved under RCW 28A.250.020 by the superintendent of public instruction.
(3) Criteria shall be established by the superintendent of public instruction to allow on-line courses that have not been approved by the superintendent of public instruction to be eligible for state funding if the course is in a subject matter in which no courses have been approved and, if it is a high school course, the course meets Washington high school graduation requirements. These criteria will be posted on the superintendent of public instruction web site by December 31, 2009, and any modifications to those will appear by July 1, 2010, and April 1st each subsequent year after review by the on-line learning advisory committee and the state board of education.
[Statutory Authority: 2009 c 542. 10-01-099, § 392-502-080, filed 12/17/09, effective 1/17/10.]
WAC 392-502-011 District responsibility.