Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 3 - Board Policies › Chapter 56 - Distance Learning, Blended Learning and Online Courses › Rule 7-3-56.1 - Distance Learning, blended Learning, and Online Courses

Current through June 25, 2024
This policy provides guidance to Local Education Agencies
				  (LEAs) regarding the use of distance learning, blended learning, and online
				  courses through the Digital Education Network (DEN) and courses approved
				  through the Mississippi Online Course Application (MOCA) process, and other
				  distance learning/online course providers not already approved by the
				  Mississippi Department of Education (MDE). The MDE does not accredit online
				  programs or schools, but rather approves individual online courses for use in
				  Mississippi schools.
For the purposes of this policy, distance learning is defined
				  as a technological delivery model in which regularly scheduled real-time
				  instructions occurs during school where students and instructors are not in the
				  same place and in which a Mississippi-certified teacher is responsible for
				  providing instruction. Blended Learning is defined as a hybrid instructional
				  delivery model where pupils are provided face -to-face instruction in part at a
				  supervised school facility away from home and in part in a computer-based,
				  internet-connected learning environment with some degree of pupil control over
				  time, location, and pace of instruction and in which a Mississippi-certified
				  teacher is responsible for providing instruction. An online course is defined
				  as a course delivered through an interactive computer-based and
				  internet-connected learning environment by a vendor/provider in which students
				  are separated from their teachers by time or location or both and in which a
				  Mississippi-certified teacher is responsible for providing instructions. These
				  courses must be approved through the MOCA process. Currently approved courses
				  in which the content is adapted into a learning management system, delivered by
				  a district employee/classroom teacher, and used with their students virtually
				  or in a blended model do not require approval through the MOCA process. These
				  online courses would be subject to local district review and would qualify for
				  use of the face-to-face course codes found in MSIS and the Approved Courses for
				  Secondary Schools of Mississippi.
1.
				The Digital Education Network (DEN) is a distance learning system that has been
				approved by the MDE. This system links certified teachers in one school with
				classes of students in other schools or districts as a means of delivering
				real-time instruction. These courses are listed in Mississippi Student
				Information System
.
2. For blended learning courses in which an
				LEA provides a face-to-face instruction with a Mississippi certified teacher,
				no prior approval from the MDE is required. For online programs or
				computer-assisted instruction in which an LEA is using for the sole purpose of
				credit recovery, no prior approval from the MDE is required. For online dual
				enrollment courses through a Mississippi Community College or Institution of
				Higher Learning, no prior approval from the MDE is required.
3. For all online courses other than the
				delivery methods listed in Section 1 and 2 above, secondary courses (grades
				6-12) must go through the MOCA process for approval. LEAs must submit an
				application to the MDE for approval to ensure that the vendor/provider's
				content, curriculum, and assessments are aligned to Mississippi's course
				standards. Courses that are reviewed and denied MOCA approval may not be
				resubmitted to the MDE for review for three years. LEAs are responsible for
				determining course funding structure. To count as a credit toward graduation,
				course codes must be listed in the Mississippi Student Information System.
				Additionally, online courses can only be listed upon MOCA approval. There is no
				limit to the number of courses a student may take. Enrollment in such courses
				must have prior approval by the principal.
4. Any LEA that provides a distance
				learning/online program other than the delivery methods listed in Section 1 and
				2 above shall develop and implement a distance learning and online course
				policy
5. and handbook guidance
				that has been adopted by the local school board and that includes the rules,
				regulations, and processes for online courses. The rules, regulations, and
				processes shall be available to faculty, students, and parents/guardians.
a. At a minimum, LEAs must ensure the
				following through local board policy:
i.
				Teachers are licensed by the Mississippi Department of Education to teach the
				respective course;
ii. Background
				checks are conducted for the teachers;
iii. The content, curriculum, and assessments
				for each course are aligned to the competencies, objectives, and standards of
				the respective Mississippi course;
iv. Appropriate course codes are
				used;
v. A facilitator is assigned
				to assist students;
vi. Students
				have access to the technology needed for courses;
vii. Students have all instructional
				materials needed for courses;
viii.
				The district grading policy is followed;
ix. Students enrolled in the courses take the
				required state assessments where applicable; and
x. Documentation is maintained on file at the
				central office.