S.B. 65 Enrolled

1

STATEWIDE ONLINE EDUCATION PROGRAM
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
5 House Sponsor: Bradley M. Daw
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates the Statewide Online Education Program to enable a student to earn
10 high school graduation credit through the completion of online courses.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . establishes the purposes of the Statewide Online Education Program;
14 . allows an eligible student to enroll in an online course offered through the Statewide
15 Online Education Program;
16 . identifies entities that may offer online courses through the Statewide Online
17 Education Program;
18 . provides for the payment of online courses;
19 . requires reporting on the performance of online course providers;
20 . requires the dissemination of information on the Statewide Online Education
21 Program;
22 . requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
23 . requires the legislative auditor general to conduct a review and issue a report on the
24 Statewide Online Education Program;
25 . directs the Education Interim Committee to study the funding of and other issues
26 relating to the Statewide Online Education Program and the Electronic High School;
27 and
28 . makes technical amendments.
29 Money Appropriated in this Bill:

30 This bill appropriates:
31 . to the State Board of Education, as an ongoing appropriation:
32 . from the Education Fund, $250,000.
33 Other Special Clauses:
34 This bill provides an effective date.
35 Utah Code Sections Affected:
36 AMENDS:
37 53A-15-1002, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 227
38 53A-15-1006, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 227
39 63I-2-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 11
40 ENACTS:
41 53A-15-1201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
42 53A-15-1202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
43 53A-15-1203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
44 53A-15-1204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
45 53A-15-1205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46 53A-15-1206, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47 53A-15-1207, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48 53A-15-1208, Utah Code Annotated 1953
49 53A-15-1209, Utah Code Annotated 1953
50 53A-15-1210, Utah Code Annotated 1953
51 53A-15-1211, Utah Code Annotated 1953
52 53A-15-1212, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53 53A-15-1213, Utah Code Annotated 1953
54 53A-15-1214, Utah Code Annotated 1953
55 53A-15-1215, Utah Code Annotated 1953
56
57 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

58 Section 1. Section 53A-15-1002 is amended to read:
59 53A-15-1002. Definitions.
60 As used in this part:
61 (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
62 (2) "Electronic High School" means a rigorous program offering grade 9 - 12 level
63 online courses [delivered over the Internet] through the Statewide Online Education Program
64 and coordinated by the board.
65 (3) "Eligible student" has the meaning defined in Section 53A-15-1202 .
66 [(3)] (4) "Home-schooled student" means a student:
67 (a) who attends a home school;
68 (b) is exempt from school attendance pursuant to Section 53A-11-102 ; and
69 (c) attends no more than two regularly scheduled classes or courses in a public school
70 per semester.
71 [(4)] (5) "Open-entry, open-exit" means:
72 (a) a method of instructional delivery that allows for flexible scheduling in response to
73 individual student needs or requirements and demonstrated competency when knowledge and
74 skills have been mastered; and
75 (b) students have the flexibility to begin or end study at any time, progress through
76 course material at their own pace, and demonstrate competency when knowledge and skills
77 have been mastered.
78 Section 2. Section 53A-15-1006 is amended to read:
79 53A-15-1006. Payment for an Electronic High School course.
80 [(1) Electronic High School courses are provided to students who are Utah residents, as
81 defined in Section 53A-2-201 , free of charge.]
82 (1) (a) The Electronic High School shall receive payment for an eligible student's
83 enrollment in an online course as provided by Sections 53A-15-1206 through 53A-15-1208 .
84 (b) For fiscal year 2012-13, a private or home school student whose custodial parent or
85 legal guardian is a resident of Utah may enroll in an Electronic High School course subject to

86 the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
87 (2) [Nonresident students] A student whose custodial parent or legal guardian is not a
88 resident of Utah may enroll in an Electronic High School [courses] course for a fee set by the
89 board, provided that the course can accommodate additional students.
90 Section 3. Section 53A-15-1201 is enacted to read:
91 Part 12. Statewide Online Education Program Act
92 53A-15-1201. Title.
93 This part is known as the "Statewide Online Education Program Act."
94 Section 4. Section 53A-15-1202 is enacted to read:
95 53A-15-1202. Definitions.
96 As used in this part:
97 (1) "Adjusted per pupil revenues" means an amount equal to average charter high
98 school per pupil revenues times 0.77.
99 (2) "Average charter high school per pupil revenues" means an amount equal to charter
100 high school revenues divided by the average daily membership of charter high schools
101 statewide.
102 (3) "Charter high school" means a charter school in which only students in grades 9,
103 10, 11, or 12 are enrolled.
104 (4) "Charter high school revenues" means an amount equal to total general fund
105 revenues of charter high schools statewide as reported in the most recently published annual
106 financial report.
107 (5) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
108 elected pursuant to Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
109 Boards.
110 (6) "Eligible student" means:
111 (a) a student enrolled in a district school or charter school in Utah; or
112 (b) beginning on July 1, 2013, a student:
113 (i) who attends a private school or home school; and

114 (ii) whose custodial parent or legal guardian is a resident of Utah.
115 (7) "LEA" means a local education agency in Utah that has administrative control and
116 direction for public education.
117 (8) "Online course" means a course of instruction offered by the Statewide Online
118 Education Program through the use of digital technology.
119 (9) "Primary LEA of enrollment" means the LEA in which an eligible student is
120 enrolled for courses other than online courses offered through the Statewide Online Education
121 Program.
122 Section 5. Section 53A-15-1203 is enacted to read:
123 53A-15-1203. Statewide Online Education Program created -- Designated as
124 program of the public education system -- Purposes.
125 (1) The Statewide Online Education Program is created to enable an eligible student to
126 earn high school graduation credit through the completion of publicly funded online courses.
127 (2) Pursuant to Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 2, the Statewide Online
128 Education Program is designated as a program of the public education system.
129 (3) The purposes of an online school are to:
130 (a) provide a student with access to online learning options regardless of where the
131 student attends school, whether a public, private, or home school;
132 (b) provide high quality learning options for a student regardless of language,
133 residence, family income, or special needs;
134 (c) provide online learning options to allow a student to acquire the knowledge and
135 technology skills necessary in a digital world;
136 (d) utilize the power and scalability of technology to customize education so that a
137 student may learn in the student's own style preference and at the student's own pace;
138 (e) utilize technology to remove the constraints of traditional classroom learning,
139 allowing a student to access learning virtually at any time and in any place and giving the
140 student the flexibility to take advantage of the student's peak learning time;
141 (f) provide personalized learning, where a student can spend as little or as much time

142 as the student needs to master the material;
143 (g) provide greater access to self-paced programs enabling a high achieving student to
144 accelerate academically, while a struggling student may have additional time and help to gain
145 competency;
146 (h) allow a student to customize the student's schedule to better meet the student's
147 academic goals;
148 (i) provide quality learning options to better prepare a student for post-secondary
149 education and vocational or career opportunities; and
150 (j) allow a student to have an individualized educational experience.
151 Section 6. Section 53A-15-1204 is enacted to read:
152 53A-15-1204. Option to enroll in online courses offered through the Statewide
153 Online Education Program.
154 (1) Subject to the course limitations provided in Subsection (2), an eligible student may
155 enroll in an online course offered through the Statewide Online Education Program if:
156 (a) the student meets the course prerequisites; and
157 (b) the course is open for enrollment.
158 (2) An eligible student may enroll in online courses for no more than the following
159 number of credits:
160 (a) in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, two credits;
161 (b) in the 2013-14 school year, three credits;
162 (c) in the 2014-15 school year, four credits;
163 (d) in the 2015-16 school year, five credits; and
164 (e) beginning with the 2016-17 school year, six credits.
165 (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2):
166 (a) a student's primary LEA of enrollment may allow an eligible student to enroll in
167 online courses for more than the number of credits specified in Subsection (2); or
168 (b) upon the request of an eligible student, the State Board of Education may allow the
169 student to enroll in online courses for more than the number of credits specified in Subsection

170 (2), if the online courses better meet the academic goals of the student.
171 (4) An eligible student's primary LEA of enrollment:
172 (a) in conjunction with the student and the student's parent or legal guardian, is
173 responsible for preparing and implementing a student education/occupation plan (SEOP) for
174 the eligible student, as provided in Section 53A-1a-106 ; and
175 (b) shall assist an eligible student in scheduling courses in accordance with the
176 student's SEOP, graduation requirements, and the student's post-secondary plans.
177 (5) An eligible student's primary LEA of enrollment may not:
178 (a) impose restrictions on a student's selection of an online course that fulfills
179 graduation requirements and is consistent with the student's SEOP or post-secondary plans; or
180 (b) give preference to an online course or online course provider.
181 Section 7. Section 53A-15-1205 is enacted to read:
182 53A-15-1205. Authorized online course providers.
183 The following entities may offer online courses to eligible students through the
184 Statewide Online Education Program:
185 (1) beginning with the 2012-13 school year, the Electronic High School established in
186 Part 10, Electronic High School Act;
187 (2) beginning with the 2011-12 school year, a charter school or district school created
188 exclusively for the purpose of serving students online; and
189 (3) beginning with the 2011-12 school year, an LEA program, approved by the LEA's
190 governing board, that is created exclusively for the purpose of serving students online.
191 Section 8. Section 53A-15-1206 is enacted to read:
192 53A-15-1206. Payment for an online course.
193 (1) The fee for an online course is an amount equal to the product of:
194 (a) adjusted per pupil revenues; and
195 (b) one-eighth the number of credits a student may earn for the online course.
196 (2) An online learning provider shall receive payment for an online course as follows:
197 (a) for a one semester online course, 50% of the online course fee upon the student

198 enrolling in the online course;
199 (b) for a full-year online course, 25% of the online course fee upon the student
200 enrolling in the online course and 25% of the online course fee upon the beginning of the
201 second semester; and
202 (c) if a student completes a full-year online course within 12 months or a one-semester
203 course within nine weeks following the end of the semester, 50% of the online course fee.
204 (3) (a) If a student fails to complete a one-year course within 12 months or a
205 one-semester course within nine weeks following the end of the semester, the student may
206 continue to be enrolled in the course until the student graduates from high school.
207 (b) To encourage an online course provider to provide remediation to a student who
208 remains enrolled in an online course pursuant to Subsection (3)(a) and avoid the need for credit
209 recovery, an online course provider shall receive a payment equal to 30% of the online course
210 fee if the student completes the online course before the student graduates from high school.
211 Section 9. Section 53A-15-1207 is enacted to read:
212 53A-15-1207. State Board of Education to deduct funds and make payments --
213 Remaining balance to lapse into Uniform School Fund -- Plan for the payment of online
214 courses taken by private and home school students.
215 (1) Upon the receipt of a course credit acknowledgment described in Section
216 53A-15-1208 , the State Board of Education shall deduct an amount equal to the online course
217 fee described in Section 53A-15-1206 from funds allocated to the student's primary LEA of
218 enrollment under Chapter 17a, Minimum School Program Act.
219 (2) From money deducted under Subsection (1), the State Board of Education shall
220 make payments to the student's online course provider as provided in Section 53A-15-1208 .
221 (3) A balance remaining at the time a student graduates shall lapse into the Uniform
222 School Fund.
223 (4) The Legislature shall establish a plan, which shall take effect beginning on July 1,
224 2013, for the payment of online courses taken by a private school or home school student.
225 Section 10. Section 53A-15-1208 is enacted to read:

226 53A-15-1208. Course credit acknowledgement.
227 (1) A student's primary LEA of enrollment and the student's online course provider
228 shall enter into a course credit acknowledgement in which the primary LEA of enrollment and
229 the online course provider acknowledge that the online course provider is responsible for the
230 instruction of the student in a specified online course.
231 (2) The terms of the course credit acknowledgement shall provide that:
232 (a) the online course provider shall receive a payment in the amount provided under
233 Section 53A-15-1207 ;
234 (b) the online course provider shall refund a payment received for a student who
235 enrolls in an online course if the student withdraws from the online course within 10 days; and
236 (c) the student's primary LEA of enrollment acknowledges that the State Board of
237 Education will deduct an amount equal to the online course fee from funds allocated to the
238 LEA under Chapter 17a, Minimum School Program Act.
239 (3) A primary LEA of enrollment and an online course provider shall submit a copy of
240 a course credit acknowledgement to the State Board of Education in accordance with
241 procedures established by the State Board of Education.
242 Section 11. Section 53A-15-1209 is enacted to read:
243 53A-15-1209. Online course credit hours included in daily membership --
244 Limitation.
245 (1) Subject to Subsection (2), a student's primary LEA of enrollment shall include
246 online course credit hours in calculating daily membership.
247 (2) A student may not count as more than one FTE, unless the student intends to
248 complete high school graduation requirements, and exit high school, early, in accordance with
249 the student's education/occupation plan (SEOP).
250 (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), a student enrolled in an online course may
251 earn no more credits in a semester than the number of credits a student may earn by taking a
252 full course load during the regular school day in a high school classroom.
253 (4) A student enrolled in an online course may earn more credits in a semester than the

254 number of credits a student may earn by taking a full course load during the regular school day
255 in a high school classroom if the student intends to complete high school graduation
256 requirements, and exit high school, early, in accordance with the student's
257 education/occupation plan (SEOP).
258 Section 12. Section 53A-15-1210 is enacted to read:
259 53A-15-1210. Administration of statewide assessments to students enrolled in
260 online courses.
261 (1) A student enrolled in an online course that is a course for which a statewide
262 assessment is administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests, shall take the
263 statewide assessment.
264 (2) (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules providing for the administration
265 of a statewide assessment to a student enrolled in an online course.
266 (b) Rules made under Subsection (2)(a) shall:
267 (i) provide for the administration of a statewide assessment upon a student completing
268 an online course; and
269 (ii) require an online course provider to proctor the statewide assessment.
270 Section 13. Section 53A-15-1211 is enacted to read:
271 53A-15-1211. Report on performance of online course providers.
272 (1) The State Board of Education, in collaboration with online course providers, shall
273 develop a report on the performance of online course providers, which may be used to evaluate
274 the Statewide Online Education Program and assess the quality of an online course provider.
275 (2) A report on the performance of an online course provider shall include:
276 (a) data on the performance of the online course provider's students on statewide
277 assessments administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests;
278 (b) the percentage of the online course provider's students who complete online
279 courses; and
280 (c) the pupil-teacher ratio of the online course provider.
281 (3) The State Board of Education shall post a report on the performance of an online

282 course provider on the Statewide Online Education Program's website.
283 Section 14. Section 53A-15-1212 is enacted to read:
284 53A-15-1212. Dissemination of information on the Statewide Online Education
285 Program.
286 (1) The State Board of Education shall develop a website for the Statewide Online
287 Education Program which shall include:
288 (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
289 (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in
290 an online course;
291 (c) a directory of online course providers;
292 (d) a link to a course catalog for each online course provider; and
293 (e) a report on the performance of online course providers as required by Section
294 53A-15-1211 .
295 (2) An online course provider shall provide the following information on the online
296 course provider's website:
297 (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
298 (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in
299 an online course;
300 (c) a course catalogue;
301 (d) data on the performance of the online course provider's students on statewide
302 assessments administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests;
303 (e) the percentage of an online course provider's students who complete online courses;
304 and
305 (f) the online learning provider's pupil-teacher ratio.
306 (3) An LEA shall provide information both written and online on the Statewide Online
307 Education Program, including:
308 (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
309 (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in

310 an online course; and
311 (c) information on how to access the Statewide Online Education Program website.
312 (4) An LEA shall include the written information described in Subsection (3) in high
313 school course registration materials.
314 Section 15. Section 53A-15-1213 is enacted to read:
315 53A-15-1213. State Board of Education -- Rulemaking.
316 The State Board of Education shall make rules in accordance with this part and Title
317 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that:
318 (1) establish a course credit acknowledgement form and procedures for completing and
319 submitting to the State Board of Education a course credit acknowledgement; and
320 (2) establish procedures for the administration of a statewide assessment to a student
321 enrolled in an online course.
322 Section 16. Section 53A-15-1214 is enacted to read:
323 53A-15-1214. Review by legislative auditor general.
324 The legislative auditor general shall conduct a review and issue a report on the
325 Statewide Online Education Program after the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year.
326 Section 17. Section 53A-15-1215 is enacted to read:
327 53A-15-1215. Interim Study.
328 The Education Interim Committee shall study and make recommendations for proposed
329 legislation in the 2012 General Session on the Statewide Online Education Program, including:
330 (1) the appropriate course fee and whether course fees should be tiered based on
331 instructional requirements;
332 (2) administration of the program, including assuring that students and parents have
333 appropriate guidance in selecting and enrolling in online courses;
334 (3) the feasability of allowing private online course providers to offer online courses
335 directly to students and the appropriate standards and oversight required;
336 (4) how to provide students who take a majority of their courses through the Statewide
337 Online Education Program:

338 (a) assistance in selecting courses that fulfill high school graduation requirements and
339 prepare the student for postsecondary education and a career; and
340 (b) a high school diploma; and
341 (5) the role and funding of the Electronic High School.
342 Section 18. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
343 63I-2-253. Repeal dates -- Titles 53, 53A, and 53B.
344 (1) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2012.
345 (2) Subsection 53A-1-603 (5) is repealed July 1, 2015.
346 (3) Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 10, UPSTART, is repealed July 1, 2014.
347 (4) Subsection 53A-13-110 (4) is repealed July 1, 2013.
348 [(5) Section 53A-17a-152 is repealed July 1, 2010.]
349 (5) Section 53A-15-1215 is repealed July 1, 2012.
350 (6) Section 53A-17a-162 is repealed July 1, 2012.
351 Section 19. Appropriation.
352 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
353 following sums of money are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated out of the
354 funds or accounts indicated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30,
355 2012. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2011-12.
356 To State Board of Education
357 From Education Fund

$250,000

358 Schedule of Programs:
359 Statewide Online Education Program $250,000
360 Section 20. Effective date.
361 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011, except the amendments to Sections 53A-15-1002
362 and 53A-15-1006 take effect on July 1, 2012.