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S.B. 65

             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          .    prescribes requirements for an online course provider;
             19          .    provides for the payment of online courses;
             20          .    requires reporting on the performance of online course providers;
             21          .    requires the dissemination of information on the Statewide Online Education
             22      Program;
             23          .    requires the State Board of Education to make rules;
             24          .    requires the legislative auditor general to conduct a review and issue a report on the
             25      Statewide Online Education Program;
             26          .    directs the Education Interim Committee to study how to provide course selection
             27      advisement and a high school diploma to students who take a majority of courses


             28      through the Statewide Online Education Program; and
             29          .    makes technical amendments.
             30      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             31          None
             32      Other Special Clauses:
             33          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.
             34      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             35      AMENDS:
             36          53A-15-1002, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 227
             37          53A-15-1006, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 227
             38          63I-2-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 11
             39      ENACTS:
             40          53A-15-1201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41          53A-15-1202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42          53A-15-1203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43          53A-15-1204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          53A-15-1205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45          53A-15-1206, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             46          53A-15-1207, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             47          53A-15-1208, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             48          53A-15-1209, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             49          53A-15-1210, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             50          53A-15-1211, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             51          53A-15-1212, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             52          53A-15-1213, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             53          53A-15-1214, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             54          53A-15-1215, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55          53A-15-1216, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             56          53A-15-1217, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             57     
             58      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             59          Section 1. Section 53A-15-1002 is amended to read:
             60           53A-15-1002. Definitions.
             61          As used in this part:
             62          (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
             63          (2) "Electronic High School" means a rigorous program offering grade 9 - 12 level
             64      online courses [delivered over the Internet] through the Statewide Online Education Program
             65      and coordinated by the board.
             66          (3) "Eligible student" has the meaning defined in Section 53A-15-1202 .
             67          [(3)] (4) "Home-schooled student" means a student:
             68          (a) who attends a home school;
             69          (b) is exempt from school attendance pursuant to Section 53A-11-102 ; and
             70          (c) attends no more than two regularly scheduled classes or courses in a public school
             71      per semester.
             72          [(4)] (5) "Open-entry, open-exit" means:
             73          (a) a method of instructional delivery that allows for flexible scheduling in response to
             74      individual student needs or requirements and demonstrated competency when knowledge and
             75      skills have been mastered; and
             76          (b) students have the flexibility to begin or end study at any time, progress through
             77      course material at their own pace, and demonstrate competency when knowledge and skills
             78      have been mastered.
             79          Section 2. Section 53A-15-1006 is amended to read:
             80           53A-15-1006. Payment for an Electronic High School course.
             81          [(1) Electronic High School courses are provided to students who are Utah residents, as
             82      defined in Section 53A-2-201 , free of charge.]
             83          (1) (a) The Electronic High School shall receive payment for an eligible student's
             84      enrollment in an online course as provided by Sections 53A-15-1208 through 53A-15-1210 .
             85          (b) For fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13, a private or home school student whose
             86      custodial parent or legal guardian is a resident of Utah may enroll in an Electronic High School
             87      course subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
             88          (2) [Nonresident students] A student whose custodial parent or legal guardian is not a
             89      resident of Utah may enroll in an Electronic High School [courses] course for a fee set by the


             90      board, provided that the course can accommodate additional students.
             91          Section 3. Section 53A-15-1201 is enacted to read:
             92     
Part 12. Statewide Online Education Program Act

             93          53A-15-1201. Title.
             94          This part is known as the "Statewide Online Education Program Act."
             95          Section 4. Section 53A-15-1202 is enacted to read:
             96          53A-15-1202. Definitions.
             97          As used in this part:
             98          (1) "Average charter high school per pupil revenues" means an amount equal to charter
             99      high school revenues divided by the average daily membership of charter high schools
             100      statewide.
             101          (2) "Charter high school" means a charter school in which only students in grades 9,
             102      10, 11, or 12 are enrolled.
             103          (3) "Charter high school revenues" means an amount equal to:
             104          (a) total general fund revenues of charter high schools statewide as reported in the most
             105      recently published financial report; minus
             106          (b) total revenues distributed to charter high schools statewide for an allocation per
             107      student in the amount of statewide average debt service revenues under Section 53A-1a-513 .
             108          (4) "District school" means a public school under the control of a local school board
             109      elected pursuant to Title 20A, Chapter 14, Nomination and Election of State and Local School
             110      Boards.
             111          (5) "Eligible student" means:
             112          (a) a student enrolled in a district school or charter school in Utah; or
             113          (b) beginning on July 1, 2013, a student:
             114          (i) who attends a private school or home school; and
             115          (ii) whose custodial parent or legal guardian is a resident of Utah.
             116          (6) "LEA" means a local education agency in Utah that has administrative control and
             117      direction for public education.
             118          (7) "Online course" means a course of instruction offered by the Statewide Online
             119      Education Program through the use of digital technology.
             120          (8) "Primary LEA of enrollment" means the LEA in which an eligible student is


             121      enrolled for courses other than online courses offered through the Statewide Online Education
             122      Program.
             123          Section 5. Section 53A-15-1203 is enacted to read:
             124          53A-15-1203. Statewide Online Education Program created -- Designated as
             125      program of the public education system -- Purposes.
             126          (1) The Statewide Online Education Program is created to enable an eligible student to
             127      earn high school graduation credit through the completion of publicly funded online courses.
             128          (2) Pursuant to Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 2, the Statewide Online
             129      Education Program is designated as a program of the public education system.
             130          (3) The purposes of an online school are to:
             131          (a) provide a student with access to online learning options regardless of where the
             132      student attends school, whether a public, private, or home school;
             133          (b) provide high quality learning options for a student regardless of language,
             134      residence, family income, or special needs;
             135          (c) provide online learning options to allow a student to acquire the knowledge and
             136      technology skills necessary in a digital world;
             137          (d) utilize the power and scalability of technology to customize education so that a
             138      student may learn in the student's own style preference and at the student's own pace;
             139          (e) utilize technology to remove the constraints of traditional classroom learning,
             140      allowing a student to access learning virtually at any time and in any place and giving the
             141      student the flexibility to take advantage of the student's peak learning time;
             142          (f) provide personalized learning, where a student can spend as little or as much time
             143      as the student needs to master the material;
             144          (g) provide greater access to self-paced programs enabling a high achieving student to
             145      accelerate academically, while a struggling student may have additional time and help to gain
             146      competency;
             147          (h) allow a student to customize the student's schedule to better meet the student's
             148      academic goals;
             149          (i) provide quality learning options to better prepare a student for post-secondary
             150      education and vocational or career opportunities; and
             151          (j) allow a student to have an individualized educational experience.


             152          Section 6. Section 53A-15-1204 is enacted to read:
             153          53A-15-1204. Option to enroll in online courses offered through the Statewide
             154      Online Education Program.
             155          (1) Subject to the course limitations provided in Subsection (2), an eligible student may
             156      enroll in an online course offered through the Statewide Online Education Program if:
             157          (a) the student meets the course prerequisites; and
             158          (b) the course is open for enrollment.
             159          (2) An eligible student may enroll in online courses for no more than the following
             160      number of credits:
             161          (a) in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, two credits;
             162          (b) in the 2013-14 school year, three credits;
             163          (c) in the 2014-15 school year, four credits;
             164          (d) in the 2015-16 school year, five credits; and
             165          (e) beginning with the 2016-17 school year, six credits.
             166          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), an eligible student may enroll in online courses for
             167      more than the number of credits specified in Subsection (2) if the student's primary LEA of
             168      enrollment agrees to pay for the additional online courses in accordance with Sections
             169      53A-15-1208 through 53A-15-1210 .
             170          (4) An eligible student's primary LEA of enrollment:
             171          (a) in conjunction with the student and the student's parent or legal guardian, is
             172      responsible for preparing and implementing a student education/occupation plan (SEOP) for
             173      the eligible student, as provided in Section 53A-1a-106 ; and
             174          (b) shall assist an eligible student in scheduling courses in accordance with the
             175      student's SEOP, graduation requirements, and the student's post-secondary plans.
             176          (5) An eligible student's primary LEA of enrollment may not:
             177          (a) impose restrictions on a student's selection of an online course that fulfills
             178      graduation requirements and is consistent with the student's SEOP or post-secondary plans; or
             179          (b) give preference to an online course or online course provider.
             180          Section 7. Section 53A-15-1205 is enacted to read:
             181          53A-15-1205. Authorized online course providers.
             182          (1) The following entities may offer online courses to eligible students through the


             183      Statewide Online Education Program:
             184          (a) the Electronic High School established in Part 10, Electronic High School Act;
             185          (b) a charter school or district school created exclusively for the purpose of serving
             186      students online; and
             187          (c) an LEA program, approved by the LEA's governing board, that is created
             188      exclusively for the purpose of serving students online.
             189          (2) In addition to the entities specified in Subsection (1), beginning with the 2012-13
             190      school year, a certified online course provider may offer an online course to an eligible student
             191      through the Statewide Online Education Program.
             192          (3) A certified online course provider may include a public or private person.
             193          Section 8. Section 53A-15-1206 is enacted to read:
             194          53A-15-1206. Certified online course provider.
             195          (1) The State Board of Education shall issue a certification to an online course provider
             196      if the online course provider:
             197          (a) complies with the application procedures established by the State Board of
             198      Education in rule;
             199          (b) meets standards for certified online course providers established by the State Board
             200      of Education in rule; and
             201          (c) has prior experience offering online courses to secondary school students.
             202          (2) (a) The State Board of Education may charge a fee to apply for or maintain an
             203      online course provider certification.
             204          (b) The State Board of Education shall impose a fee under Subsection (2)(a) in
             205      accordance with Section 63J-1-504 .
             206          (c) Fee revenues collected under this section shall be:
             207          (i) deposited into the Uniform School Fund as a dedicated credit; and
             208          (ii) used by the State Board of Education to review an application for certification or
             209      monitor a certified online course provider's compliance with State Board of Education
             210      standards.
             211          (3) The State Board of Education may revoke the certification of an online course
             212      provider who fails to comply with standards established by the State Board of Education in
             213      rule.


             214          Section 9. Section 53A-15-1207 is enacted to read:
             215          53A-15-1207. Standards for online course providers.
             216          (1) In adopting standards for a certified online course provider, the State Board of
             217      Education shall use as a guideline the standards recommended by the International Association
             218      for K-12 Online Learning.
             219          (2) Standards established by the State Board of Education in rule for an online course
             220      provider:
             221          (a) shall require an online course to be aligned with core curriculum standards
             222      established under Sections 53A-1-402 and 53A-1-402.6 ;
             223          (b) shall prescribe qualifications for online course instructors;
             224          (c) may not specify a minimum duration for an online course or a minimum amount of
             225      time a student must spend in an online course; and
             226          (d) may not limit the class size of an online course.
             227          (3) (a) An online course instructor who is an employee of the Utah Electronic High
             228      School or a Utah school district or charter school shall hold a teaching license issued by the
             229      State Board of Education.
             230          (b) An online course instructor who is not an employee of the Utah Electronic High
             231      School or a Utah school district or charter school shall hold a teaching license issued by a state
             232      educator licensing agency.
             233          (4) An online course may be offered in an open-entry, open-exit format.
             234          Section 10. Section 53A-15-1208 is enacted to read:
             235          53A-15-1208. Payment for an online course.
             236          (1) The fee for an online course is an amount equal to the product of:
             237          (a) average charter high school per pupil revenues; and
             238          (b) one-eight the number of credits a student may earn for the online course.
             239          (2) An online learning provider shall receive payment for an online course as follows:
             240          (a) for a one semester online course, 60% of the online course fee upon the student
             241      enrolling in the online course;
             242          (b) for a full-year online course, 30% of the online course fee upon the student
             243      enrolling in the online course and 30% of the online course fee upon the beginning of the
             244      second semester; and


             245          (c) if a student completes a full-year online course within 12 months or a one-semester
             246      course within nine weeks following the end of the semester, 40% of the online course fee.
             247          (3) (a) If a student fails to complete a one-year course within 12 months or a
             248      one-semester course within nine weeks following the end of the semester, the student may
             249      continue to be enrolled in the course until the student graduates from high school.
             250          (b) To encourage an online course provider to provide remediation to a student who
             251      remains enrolled in an online course pursuant to Subsection (3)(a) and avoid the need for credit
             252      recovery, an online course provider shall receive a payment equal to 20% of the online course
             253      fee if the student completes the online course before the student graduates from high school.
             254          Section 11. Section 53A-15-1209 is enacted to read:
             255          53A-15-1209. State Board of Education to deduct funds and make payments --
             256      Remaining balance to lapse into Uniform School Fund -- Plan for the payment of online
             257      courses taken by private and home school students.
             258          (1) Upon the receipt of a course credit acknowledgment described in Section
             259      53A-15-1210 , the State Board of Education shall deduct an amount equal to the online course
             260      fee described in Section 53A-15-1208 from funds allocated to the student's primary LEA of
             261      enrollment under Chapter 17a, Minimum School Program Act.
             262          (2) From money deducted under Subsection (1), the State Board of Education shall
             263      make payments to the student's online course provider as provided in Section 53A-15-1210 .
             264          (3) A balance remaining at the time a student graduates shall lapse into the Uniform
             265      School Fund.
             266          (4) The Legislature shall establish a plan, which shall take effect beginning on July 1,
             267      2013, for the payment of online courses taken by a private school or home school student.
             268          Section 12. Section 53A-15-1210 is enacted to read:
             269          53A-15-1210. Course credit acknowledgement.
             270          (1) A student's primary LEA of enrollment and the student's online course provider
             271      shall enter into a course credit acknowledgement in which the primary LEA of enrollment and
             272      the online course provider acknowledge that the online course provider is responsible for the
             273      instruction of the student in a specified online course.
             274          (2) The terms of the course credit acknowledgement shall provide that:
             275          (a) the online course provider shall receive a payment in the amount provided under


             276      Section 53A-15-1209 ;
             277          (b) the online course provider shall refund a payment received for a student who
             278      enrolls in an online course if the student withdraws from the online course within 10 days; and
             279          (c) the student's primary LEA of enrollment acknowledges that the State Board of
             280      Education will deduct an amount equal to the online course fee from funds allocated to the
             281      LEA under Chapter 17a, Minimum School Program Act.
             282          (3) A primary LEA of enrollment and an online course provider shall submit a copy of
             283      a course credit acknowledgement to the State Board of Education in accordance with
             284      procedures established by the State Board of Education.
             285          Section 13. Section 53A-15-1211 is enacted to read:
             286          53A-15-1211. Online course credit hours included in daily membership --
             287      Limitation.
             288          (1) Subject to Subsection (2), a student's primary LEA of enrollment shall include
             289      online course credit hours in calculating daily membership.
             290          (2) A student may not count as more than one FTE, unless the student intends to
             291      complete high school graduation requirements, and exit high school, early, in accordance with
             292      the student's education/occupation plan (SEOP).
             293          Section 14. Section 53A-15-1212 is enacted to read:
             294          53A-15-1212. Administration of statewide assessments to students enrolled in
             295      online courses.
             296          (1) A student enrolled in an online course that is a course for which a statewide
             297      assessment is administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests, shall take the
             298      statewide assessment.
             299          (2) (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules providing for the administration
             300      of a statewide assessment to a student enrolled in an online course.
             301          (b) Rules made under Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             302          (i) provide for the administration of a statewide assessment upon a student completing
             303      an online course; and
             304          (ii) require an online course provider to proctor the statewide assessment.
             305          Section 15. Section 53A-15-1213 is enacted to read:
             306          53A-15-1213. Report on performance of online course providers.


             307          (1) The State Board of Education, in collaboration with online course providers, shall
             308      develop a report on the performance of online course providers, which may be used to evaluate
             309      the Statewide Online Education Program and assess the quality of an online course provider.
             310          (2) A report on the performance of an online course provider shall include:
             311          (a) data on the performance of the online course provider's students on statewide
             312      assessments administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests;
             313          (b) the percentage of the online course provider's students who complete online
             314      courses; and
             315          (c) the pupil-teacher ratio of the online course provider.
             316          (3) The State Board of Education shall post a report on the performance of an online
             317      course provider on the Statewide Online Education Program's website.
             318          Section 16. Section 53A-15-1214 is enacted to read:
             319          53A-15-1214. Dissemination of information on the Statewide Online Education
             320      Program.
             321          (1) The State Board of Education shall develop a website for the Statewide Online
             322      Education Program which shall include:
             323          (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
             324          (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in
             325      an online course;
             326          (c) a directory of online course providers;
             327          (d) a link to a course catalog for each online course provider; and
             328          (e) a report on the performance of online course providers as required by Section
             329      53A-15-1213 .
             330          (2) An online course provider shall provide the following information on the online
             331      course provider's website:
             332          (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
             333          (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in
             334      an online course;
             335          (c) a course catalogue;
             336          (d) data on the performance of the online course provider's students on statewide
             337      assessments administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests;


             338          (e) the percentage of an online course provider's students who complete online courses;
             339      and
             340          (f) the online learning provider's pupil-teacher ratio.
             341          (3) An LEA shall provide information both written and online on the Statewide Online
             342      Education Program, including:
             343          (a) a description of the Statewide Online Education Program, including its purposes;
             344          (b) information on who is eligible to enroll, and how an eligible student may enroll, in
             345      an online course; and
             346          (c) information on how to access the Statewide Online Education Program website.
             347          (4) An LEA shall include the written information described in Subsection (3) in high
             348      school course registration materials.
             349          Section 17. Section 53A-15-1215 is enacted to read:
             350          53A-15-1215. State Board of Education -- Rulemaking.
             351          The State Board of Education shall make rules in accordance with this part and Title
             352      63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that:
             353          (1) establish applications procedures for an online course provider to obtain
             354      certification;
             355          (2) prescribe standards for a certified online course provider;
             356          (3) establish a course credit acknowledgement form and procedures for completing and
             357      submitting to the State Board of Education a course credit acknowledgement; and
             358          (4) establish procedures for the administration of a statewide assessment to a student
             359      enrolled in an online course.
             360          Section 18. Section 53A-15-1216 is enacted to read:
             361          53A-15-1216. Review by legislative auditor general.
             362          The legislative auditor general shall conduct a review and issue a report on the
             363      Statewide Online Education Program after the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year.
             364          Section 19. Section 53A-15-1217 is enacted to read:
             365          53A-15-1217. Interim Study.
             366          The Education Interim Committee shall study and make recommendations for proposed
             367      legislation in the 2012 General Session on how to provide students who take a majority of their
             368      courses through the Statewide Online Education Program:


             369          (1) assistance in selecting courses that fulfill high school graduation requirements and
             370      prepare the student for postsecondary education and a career; and
             371          (2) a high school diploma.
             372          Section 20. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
             373           63I-2-253. Repeal dates -- Titles 53, 53A, and 53B.
             374          (1) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2012.
             375          (2) Subsection 53A-1-603 (5) is repealed July 1, 2015.
             376          (3) Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 10, UPSTART, is repealed July 1, 2014.
             377          (4) Subsection 53A-13-110 (4) is repealed July 1, 2013.
             378          [(5) Section 53A-17a-152 is repealed July 1, 2010.]
             379          (5) Section 53A-15-1217 is repealed July 1, 2012.
             380          (6) Section 53A-17a-162 is repealed July 1, 2012.
             381          Section 21. Effective date.
             382          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-1-11 6:32 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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