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H.B. 147

             1     

ONLINE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies requirements for providing online courses to students.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    specifies the purpose of the Electronic High School;
             13          .    provides that the Electronic High School may only offer courses required for high
             14      school graduation or that fulfill core curriculum course requirements;
             15          .    requires a school district or charter school to offer online courses at the grades 9
             16      through 12 level and online concurrent enrollment courses to students enrolled in
             17      the school district or charter school in grades 11 and 12;
             18          .    allows a school district or charter school to develop and teach online courses, and to
             19      ensure a wide selection of high quality online courses are offered;
             20          .    requires a school district or charter school to contract with an entity for online
             21      course content or online course instruction;
             22          .    allows a school district or charter school to form a consortium with other school
             23      districts or charter schools for the purpose of contracting with an entity for online
             24      course content or online course instruction;
             25          .    allows a student the option to enroll in online courses for a certain number of course
             26      credits each year;
             27          .    provides that online course credit hours are included in daily membership, except a


             28      student may not count as more than one FTE, unless the student intends to complete high
             29      school graduation requirements and exit high school early;
             30          .    provides that a student enrolled in an online course may not take more than a full
             31      course load unless:
             32              .    the student intends to complete high school graduation requirements and exit
             33      high school early; or
             34              .    if allowed by local school board or charter school governing board policy;
             35          .    provides for the administration of statewide assessments to students enrolled in
             36      online courses;
             37          .    repeals provisions relating to the Statewide Online Education Program; and
             38          .    makes technical amendments.
             39      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             40          None
             41      Other Special Clauses:
             42          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.
             43      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             44      AMENDS:
             45          53A-15-1002 (Effective 07/01/12), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter
             46      419
             47          53A-15-1003, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 227
             48          53A-15-1006 (Effective 07/01/12), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter
             49      419
             50      ENACTS:
             51          53A-15-1002.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             52          53A-15-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             53          53A-15-1302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             54          53A-15-1303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             55          53A-15-1304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             56          53A-15-1305, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             57          53A-15-1306, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             58          53A-15-1307, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             59          53A-15-1308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             60      REPEALS:
             61          53A-15-1201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             62          53A-15-1202, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             63          53A-15-1203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             64          53A-15-1204, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             65          53A-15-1205, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             66          53A-15-1206, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             67          53A-15-1207, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             68          53A-15-1208, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             69          53A-15-1209, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             70          53A-15-1210, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             71          53A-15-1211, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             72          53A-15-1212, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             73          53A-15-1213, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             74          53A-15-1214, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             75          53A-15-1215, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 419
             76     
             77      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             78          Section 1. Section 53A-15-1002 (Effective 07/01/12) is amended to read:
             79           53A-15-1002 (Effective 07/01/12). Definitions.
             80          As used in this part:
             81          (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
             82          (2) "Electronic High School" means a rigorous program offering grade 9 through 12
             83      level online courses [through the Statewide Online Education Program] and coordinated by the
             84      board.
             85          [(3) "Eligible student" has the meaning defined in Section 53A-15-1202 .]
             86          [(4)] (3) "Home-schooled student" means a student:
             87          (a) who attends a home school;
             88          (b) is exempt from school attendance pursuant to Section 53A-11-102 ; and
             89          (c) attends no more than two regularly scheduled classes or courses in a public school


             90      per semester.
             91          [(5)] (4) "Open-entry, open-exit" means:
             92          (a) a method of instructional delivery that allows for flexible scheduling in response to
             93      individual student needs or requirements and demonstrated competency when knowledge and
             94      skills have been mastered; and
             95          (b) students have the flexibility to begin or end study at any time, progress through
             96      course material at their own pace, and demonstrate competency when knowledge and skills
             97      have been mastered.
             98          Section 2. Section 53A-15-1002.5 is enacted to read:
             99          53A-15-1002.5. Electronic High School created -- Purpose.
             100          The Electronic High School is created:
             101          (1) to provide an opportunity for a student who has failed a course to retake the course
             102      and earn course credit;
             103          (2) to allow a student to complete high school graduation requirements, and exit high
             104      school, early;
             105          (3) to allow a student to take a course online so that the student has greater flexibility
             106      in scheduling courses during the regular school day; and
             107          (4) to allow a home-schooled or private school student in Utah to take a course within
             108      the Utah high school core curriculum.
             109          Section 3. Section 53A-15-1003 is amended to read:
             110           53A-15-1003. Courses and credit.
             111          (1) The Electronic High School may only offer courses required for high school
             112      graduation or that fulfill core curriculum course requirements established by the State Board of
             113      Education.
             114          [(1)] (2) The Electronic High School shall:
             115          (a) offer courses in an open-entry, open-exit format; and
             116          (b) offer core curriculum courses that are in conformance with course standards and
             117      objectives established by the board.
             118          [(2)] (3) Public schools shall:
             119          (a) accept all credits awarded to students by the Electronic High School; and
             120          (b) apply credits awarded for a core curriculum course toward the fulfillment of core


             121      curriculum requirements.
             122          Section 4. Section 53A-15-1006 (Effective 07/01/12) is amended to read:
             123           53A-15-1006 (Effective 07/01/12). Student fees or tuition.
             124          [(1) (a) The Electronic High School shall receive payment for an eligible student's
             125      enrollment in an online course as provided by Sections 53A-15-1206 through 53A-15-1208 .]
             126          [(b) For fiscal year 2012-13, a private or home school student whose custodial parent
             127      or legal guardian is a resident of Utah may enroll in an Electronic High School course subject
             128      to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.]
             129          [(2) A student whose custodial parent or legal guardian is not a resident of Utah may
             130      enroll in an Electronic High School course for a fee set by the board, provided that the course
             131      can accommodate additional students.]
             132          (1) Electronic High School courses are provided to students who are Utah residents, as
             133      defined in Section 53A-2-201 , free of charge.
             134          (2) Nonresident students may enroll in Electronic High School courses for a fee set by
             135      the board, provided that the course can accommodate additional students.
             136          Section 5. Section 53A-15-1301 is enacted to read:
             137     
Part 13. Online Education Act

             138          53A-15-1301. Title.
             139          This part is known as the "Online Education Act."
             140          Section 6. Section 53A-15-1302 is enacted to read:
             141          53A-15-1302. Definitions.
             142          As used in this part, "online course" means a course of instruction offered pursuant to
             143      this part through the use of digital technology.
             144          Section 7. Section 53A-15-1303 is enacted to read:
             145          53A-15-1303. School districts and charter schools required to offer online courses
             146      to students in grades 9 through 12.
             147          (1) A school district or charter school shall offer online courses at the grades 9 through
             148      12 level and online concurrent enrollment courses to students enrolled in the school district or
             149      charter school in grades 11 and 12.
             150          (2) Online courses offered by a school district or charter school shall include:
             151          (a) courses required for high school graduation and other courses that fulfill core


             152      curriculum requirements established by the State Board of Education; and
             153          (b) courses that are otherwise unavailable to students of the school district or charter
             154      school and which may enhance students' preparation for college and careers, including:
             155          (i) mathematics courses more advanced than those required for high school graduation;
             156          (ii) advanced placement courses;
             157          (iii) for students in grades 11 and 12, concurrent enrollment courses;
             158          (iv) foreign language courses; and
             159          (v) career and technology courses.
             160          Section 8. Section 53A-15-1304 is enacted to read:
             161          53A-15-1304. School districts and charter schools may develop and teach online
             162      courses -- Requirement to contract for online course content or online course instruction.
             163          (1) A school district or charter school may develop, and the school district's or charter
             164      school's employees may teach, online courses required to be offered under Section
             165      53A-15-1303 .
             166          (2) To ensure that a school district or charter school offers a wide selection of high
             167      quality online courses, a school district or charter school shall contract with one or more
             168      entities, excluding the Electronic High School established under Part 10, Electronic High
             169      School Act, to provide online course content or teach online courses.
             170          (3) A school district or charter school may form a consortium with other school
             171      districts or charter schools for the purpose of contracting with an entity to provide online
             172      course content or teach online courses.
             173          Section 9. Section 53A-15-1305 is enacted to read:
             174          53A-15-1305. Option for students to enroll in online courses.
             175          (1) Subject to the course limitations provided in Subsection (2), a student may enroll in
             176      an online course offered by the school district or charter school in which the student is enrolled,
             177      if:
             178          (a) the student meets the course prerequisites; and
             179          (b) the course is open for enrollment.
             180          (2) A student may enroll in online courses for no more than the following number of
             181      credits:
             182          (a) in the 2012-13 school year, two credits;


             183          (b) in the 2013-14 school year, three credits;
             184          (c) in the 2014-15 school year, four credits;
             185          (d) in the 2015-16 school year, five credits; and
             186          (e) beginning in the 2016-17 school year, six credits.
             187          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), the school district or charter school in which a
             188      student is enrolled may allow the student to enroll in online courses for more than the number
             189      of credits specified in Subsection (2).
             190          (4) A school district or charter school in which a student is enrolled:
             191          (a) in conjunction with the student and the student's parent or legal guardian, is
             192      responsible for preparing and implementing a student education/occupation plan (SEOP) for
             193      the student, as provided in Section 53A-1a-106 ; and
             194          (b) shall assist a student in scheduling courses in accordance with the student's SEOP,
             195      graduation requirements, and the student's postsecondary plans.
             196          (5) A school district or charter school may not:
             197          (a) impose restrictions on a student's selection of an online course that fulfills
             198      graduation requirements and is consistent with the student's education/occupation plan (SEOP)
             199      or postsecondary plans; or
             200          (b) give preference to an online course offered by the school district or charter school.
             201          Section 10. Section 53A-15-1306 is enacted to read:
             202          53A-15-1306. Dissemination of information on online courses.
             203          A school district or charter school shall provide information both written and online on
             204      the online courses offered by the school district or charter school, including:
             205          (1) information on who may enroll, and how a student may enroll in an online course;
             206      and
             207          (2) a course catalogue.
             208          Section 11. Section 53A-15-1307 is enacted to read:
             209          53A-15-1307. Online course credit hours included in daily membership --
             210      Limitation.
             211          (1) Subject to Subsection (2), a student's school district or charter school shall include
             212      online course credit hours in calculating daily membership.
             213          (2) A student may not count as more than one FTE, unless the student intends to


             214      complete high school graduation requirements, and exit high school, early, in accordance with
             215      the student's education/occupation plan (SEOP).
             216          (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), a student enrolled in an online course may
             217      earn no more credits in a semester than the number of credits a student may earn by taking a
             218      full course load during the regular school day in the student's high school.
             219          (4) A student enrolled in an online course may earn more credits in a semester than the
             220      number of credits a student may earn by taking a full course load during the regular school day
             221      in the student's high school:
             222          (a) if the student intends to complete high school graduation requirements, and exit
             223      high school, early, in accordance with the student's education/occupation plan (SEOP); or
             224          (b) if allowed by local school board or charter school governing board policy.
             225          Section 12. Section 53A-15-1308 is enacted to read:
             226          53A-15-1308. Administration of statewide assessments to students enrolled in
             227      online courses.
             228          (1) A student enrolled in an online course that is a course for which a statewide
             229      assessment is administered under Chapter 1, Part 6, Achievement Tests, shall take the
             230      statewide assessment.
             231          (2) (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules providing for the administration
             232      of a statewide assessment to a student enrolled in an online course.
             233          (b) Rules made under Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             234          (i) provide for the administration of a statewide assessment upon a student completing
             235      an online course; and
             236          (ii) require an online course provider to proctor the statewide assessment.
             237          Section 13. Repealer.
             238          This bill repeals:
             239          Section 53A-15-1201, Title.
             240          Section 53A-15-1202, Definitions.
             241          Section 53A-15-1203, Statewide Online Education Program created -- Designated
             242      as program of the public education system -- Purposes.
             243          Section 53A-15-1204, Option to enroll in online courses offered through the
             244      Statewide Online Education Program.


             245          Section 53A-15-1205, Authorized online course providers.
             246          Section 53A-15-1206, Payment for an online course.
             247          Section 53A-15-1207, State Board of Education to deduct funds and make
             248      payments -- Remaining balance to lapse into Uniform School Fund -- Plan for the
             249      payment of online courses taken by private and home school students.
             250          Section 53A-15-1208, Course credit acknowledgement.
             251          Section 53A-15-1209, Online course credit hours included in daily membership --
             252      Limitation.
             253          Section 53A-15-1210, Administration of statewide assessments to students enrolled
             254      in online courses.
             255          Section 53A-15-1211, Report on performance of online course providers.
             256          Section 53A-15-1212, Dissemination of information on the Statewide Online
             257      Education Program.
             258          Section 53A-15-1213, State Board of Education -- Rulemaking.
             259          Section 53A-15-1214, Review by legislative auditor general.
             260          Section 53A-15-1215, Interim Study.
             261          Section 14. Effective date.
             262          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-13-12 5:10 PM


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