La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § LXXIX-2523

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section LXXIX-2523 - Distance Learning

A. A school choosing to implement a distance education program shall establish policy and procedures for reviewing and approving programs that meet the following standards for distance education as established by BESE.

1. Distance education shall comply with all BESE policies related to nonpublic schools.

2. The school shall meet the following requirements related to the development of a standards-based distance education program. A receiving school is defined as any school that has students enrolled in courses via distance education. A provider could be an LEA, school, agency or educational organization.

a. The receiving school shall authorize each distance education course and ensure that the rigor and breadth meets appropriate course content requirements.

b. The receiving school shall ensure that instruction is provided by teachers certified or qualified in the course/subject in which they are teaching with training in the delivery method, including appropriate media and pedagogy.

c. The receiving school shall verify that college and university advanced placement and/or college dual enrollment course instructional staff not holding Louisiana state teacher credentials are validated as subject matter experts by the providing institution.

d. The receiving school shall ensure that all students enrolled in a distance learning course are provided with the necessary course materials and technical support.

e. The receiving school shall evaluate the effectiveness of each authorized distance education course based on course completion rates and student achievement.

f. The provider shall define minimum prerequisite technology competencies for student participation in distance education courses if such competencies are required for course access.

g. The provider shall also make available to the student an orientation to the course delivery method prior to or at the start of the course.

h. The provider shall ensure that teachers delivering instruction in distance education courses use a variety of methods to assess the mastery of the content as reflected in the Louisiana Content Standards.

i. The provider shall provide to the receiving school a complete syllabus and a list of required materials prior to course implementation.

j. The provider shall ensure that all course content complies with copyright fair use laws, including The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act).

k. Online Course providers shall ensure access to the courses' web content by using non-proprietary technologies (html).

l. Schools and course providers shall make courses available to all students by complying with web accessibility guidelines and standards (W3C, section 508, and Louisiana and institutional guidelines) to the maximum extent reasonably possible.

m. The provider shall supply course content that is designed to meet the following criteria:

i. based on current perspectives of learning theories and curriculum standards;

ii. systematic in design, clearly written and revised based on student performance and feedback;

iii. uses appropriate presentation methods, media and pedagogy;

iv. engages students in a variety of learning activities based on various learning styles;

v. accommodates individual differences, including student disabilities; and

vi. encourages student-to-teacher and student-to-student interaction.

3. Management and Administration

a. The receiving school shall award credit and grades for distanced education courses assigned by the distance education provider and instructor with no deviations.

b. The receiving school shall ensure that a facilitator who is a Louisiana licensed or qualified teacher is assigned to and is actively engaged with each student participating in distance education courses.

c. The receiving school shall ensure that the facilitator adheres to guidelines determined by the provider and the policies in this Section.

d. The receiving school shall provide adequate, timely, and appropriate technical support to students, teachers, and facilitators.

e. The receiving school shall ensure that the facilitators are provided ongoing staff development appropriate to the delivery method used, supporting distance education courses technically and instructionally.

f. The receiving school shall ensure that students have appropriate, equitable, and adequate access for course participation.

g. In the event of short- and long-term interruptions, the school shall establish an alternative method of instruction in cooperation with the provider.

h. The provider shall judiciously address issues relative to course load and student-teacher ratio as appropriate for the particular method of delivery, course content, and teacher competency to ensure effective student interaction and course management.

i. Students will be enrolled, added, and dropped as outlined in the school policies.

j. The provider shall ensure that the teacher providing instruction is provided adequate technical support to ensure ease of use for faculty and students.

k. The provider shall furnish training and/or support in designing course content to fit the delivery methods proposed for distance education courses.

l. The teacher delivering instruction and the facilitator, through ongoing communication, shall be responsible for verifying student participation and performance.

m. The teacher delivering instruction shall provide alternate course procedures and activities for use in case of technical and other course delivery problems arise that prevent normal course delivery.

n. The teacher delivering instruction shall an atmosphere conducive to optimal learning, including but not limited to monitoring online discussions and other instructional activities.

o. The teacher delivering instruction shall practice ethical and legal use of equipment and instructional resources.

p. The facilitator shall practice ethical and legal use of equipment and instructional resources.

q. The teacher delivering instruction and the facilitator through ongoing communication shall be responsible for verifying student participation and performance.

r. The facilitator shall implement alternate course procedures when technical and other course delivery problems prevent normal course delivery.

s. The facilitator shall maintain an atmosphere conducive to optimal learning including but not limited to monitoring online discussions and other instructional activities as they occur in the classroom as directed by the teacher delivering instruction.

4. Specifications

a. The receiving school shall provide students enrolled in distance education courses technical access which meets specifications furnished by the course provider.

b. The receiving school shall provide instructional and communication hardware which meets specifications furnished by the course provider.

c. The receiving school shall fund and provide timely and appropriate technical support.

d. The provider will furnish course technical requirements sufficiently in advance so districts may make informed decisions about participation.

e. Course providers will ensure they have the appropriate technical infrastructure to support their course offerings for effective course delivery.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § LXXIX-2523

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:3092 (December 2005), amended LR 37:3204 (November 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:7; R.S. 17:24.4; R.S. 17:183.3.