Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-15.10 - Department general supervision of telecommunications and online learning

(1) Nature of general supervision. The department will exercise general supervision over compliance with this chapter and offer advice and technical assistance to foster compliance and improved outcomes. This will be accomplished by department staff.

(2) Data collection and reporting.

a. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school will list and describe the online coursework offered by the school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the student is enrolled.

b. A school district providing educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the Internet that is required to seek approval under subrule 15.5(4) will annually submit to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, data sought by the department, including data specified in Iowa Code section 256.7(32) "b"(1).

c. The department will comply with the responsibilities set out in Iowa Code section 256.7(32) "b."

(3) Accreditation criteria. All online courses and programs shall meet existing accreditation standards.

(4) Prohibited activities. A rebate for tuition or fees paid or any other dividend or bonus moneys for enrollment of a child shall not be offered or provided directly or indirectly by a school district, school, or private provider to the parent or guardian of a pupil who enrolls in a school district or school to receive educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the Internet.

(5) Rules of construction.

a. Nothing in this chapter will be construed to require a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or AEA to use a particular assessment, curricular material, online learning platform, provider, or textbook.

b. Unless otherwise prescribed by a state or federal law protecting students with disabilities, or in accordance with a proclamation of public health disaster emergency issued by the governor pursuant to Iowa Code section 29C.6, nothing in this chapter will be construed to require a school district or accredited nonpublic school to offer continuous remote learning, to maintain a program of continuous remote learning, to deliver instruction primarily over the Internet, to continue delivering instruction primarily over the Internet, or to become or remain an approved provider of online learning.

c. Schools may use virtual learning or online learning for days of inclement weather to count toward the minimum school calendar to the extent permitted by the Iowa Code.

d. The Iowa learning online (ILO) initiative was repealed by 2020 Iowa Acts, chapter 1107, section 10. Any remaining references to ILO in any department policy, document, or procedure will be construed to comply with this chapter until that policy, document, or procedure is amended, corrected, rescinded, or repealed.

e. This chapter will be broadly construed to allow school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and AEAs to meet the needs of individual students and the local community.

(6) Prohibition on offering a completely online educational program. Unless specifically authorized by statute or by a governor's proclamation on a temporary basis, no school district, accredited nonpublic school, or AEA is authorized to provide a completely online educational program, including completely online instruction for a particular grade. All school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and AEAs will maintain a physical presence for their educational programs.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-15.10

ARC 0522C, lAB 12/12/12, effective 1/16/2013 Amended by IAB August 29, 2018/Volume XLI, Number 5, effective 10/3/2018 Amended by IAB June 30, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 27, effective 8/4/2021 Amended by IAB August 25, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 4, effective 9/29/2021 Adopted by IAB April 17, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 21, effective 5/22/2024