20-A §19153. Approval of online learning providers - Maine Statutes

Title 20-A: EDUCATION

Part 9: LEARNING TECHNOLOGY HEADING: PL 1999, C. 731, PT. FFF, §1 (NEW)

Chapter 802: MAINE ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAM

§19153. Approval of online learning providers

No later than June 30, 2010, the department shall provide school administrative units with a list of providers approved to offer full-time and part-time online learning programs and courses available for kindergarten to grade 12 students in the State. The department, in consultation with the state board, shall develop approval criteria and a process for approving online learning providers to implement online learning programs and courses. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

1. Approval of online learning providers. The department shall approve online learning providers on the basis of the online learning providers’ demonstrated experience in the operation and management of online learning programs and courses, including the number of students served and proven academic success as measured by student performance and state assessment results, as appropriate, and an online learning provider's ability to satisfy the requirements under subsection 2.

[ 2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW) .]

2. Requirements. To be approved by the department, an online learning provider must demonstrate and thereafter annually document that it meets all of the following requirements.

A. The online learning provider must be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices and operations. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

B. Each course offered for a unit of credit must correlate with applicable state-adopted academic standards prior to being offered. All courses must include assessments. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

C. A teacher employed by the online learning provider and providing instruction to students must hold a valid teaching certificate in each content area being taught or receive approval from the commissioner to teach the course. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

D. A teacher employed by the online learning provider must receive appropriate preservice and in-service training pertaining to the organization of the online classroom, programs and courses, the technical aspects of online education, the monitoring of student assessment and other pertinent training. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

E. The online learning provider must verify ongoing student attendance and progress and performance in each course as documented by ongoing assessments in a proctored environment and provide examples of student course work. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

F. Administrators, teachers and other educational staff employed by the online learning provider must comply with the fingerprinting and national criminal history record check requirements as set forth in section 6103. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

G. The online learning program must comply with the State's information technology accessibility policies and standards. [2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).]

[ 2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2009, c. 330, §4 (NEW).