Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-15.12 - Department general supervision of telecommunications and online learning

(1) Nature of general supervision. The department shall exercise general supervision over compliance with this chapter and shall offer advice and technical assistance to foster compliance and improved outcomes. This shall be accomplished by department staff, the state board of education, and the education telecommunications council.

(2) Data collection and reporting.

a. Each school district and accredited nonpublic school shall include in its comprehensive school improvement plan a list and description of the online coursework offered by the school district or accredited nonpublic school to which the student is enrolled.

b. Online schools. A school district providing educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the Internet that is required to seek approval under subrule 15.7(4) shall annually submit to the department, in the manner prescribed by the department, data that includes but is not limited to the following:

(1) Student achievement and demographic characteristics.

(2) Retention rates.

(3) The percentage of enrolled students' active participation in extracurricular activities.

(4) Academic proficiency levels, consistent with requirements applicable to all school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in this state.

(5) Academic growth measures, which shall include either of the following:

1. Entry and exit assessments in, at a minimum, math and English for elementary and middle school students, and additional subjects, including science, for high school students.

2. State-required assessments that track year-over-year improvements in academic proficiency.

(6) Academic mobility. To facilitate the tracking of academic mobility, school districts shall request the following information from the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in educational instruction and course content that are delivered primarily over the Internet:

1. For a student newly enrolling, the reasons for choosing such enrollment.

2. For a student terminating enrollment, the reasons for terminating such enrollment.

(7) Student progress toward graduation. Measurement of such progress shall account for specific characteristics of each enrolled student, including but not limited to age and course credit accrued prior to enrollment in educational instruction and course content that are delivered primarily over the Internet, and shall be consistent with evidence-based best practices.

c. Department responsibilities. The department shall compile and review the data collected pursuant to this subrule and shall submit its findings and recommendations for the continued delivery by school districts of educational instruction and course content delivered primarily over the Internet in a report to the general assembly by January 15 annually.

(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 shall 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 required 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 shall 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 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 shall be construed to comply with this chapter until that policy, document, or procedure is amended, corrected, rescinded, or repealed.

e. This chapter shall 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 orby a governor's proclamation on a temporary basis, no school district, accredited nonpublic school, or AEA shall provide a completely online educational program, including completely online instruction for a particular grade. All school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and AEAs must maintain a physical presence for their educational programs.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-15.12

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 February 13, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 17, effective 3/20/2019 Amended by IAB June 30, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 27, effective 8/4/2021