W. Va. Code R. agency 126, tit. 126, ser. 126-042, app C
Virtual Learning Virtual learning enables students to learn from remote sites, learn at times other than the normal school day, and learn at a different pace and gives students access to courses that would not be available in their schools. Counties will offer a full-time virtual option for students in Grades 6-12, either through the WVVS or a county policy and vendor. | |
WVVS The WVVS, as per W. Va. Code § 18-2E-9, was created to assure consistent, high quality education for West Virginia students while utilizing technology-delivered courses. The WVVS only offers instruction for Grades 6-12 through West Virginia Learns. For virtual courses, other than World Languages, containing more than 25 students, counties shall provide their own instructor, either through the WVVS platform or a county virtual school instruction program. | County Virtual Instruction Program As per W. Va. Code § 18-5F-1 et seq., a CBEM or a multi-county consortium may create a virtual instruction program for one or more schools serving any composition of Grades Kindergarten through 12 by adopting a policy creating the program. When there is a multi-county consortium, CBEM in the consortium shall adopt a policy creating and monitoring the virtual instruction program. |
Policy | |
All counties are required to have a virtual instruction program policy. | The policy adopted by the CBEM pursuant to this section shall govern the virtual instruction program offered by the county or multi-county consortium. The policy shall be consistent with W. Va. Code § 18-5F-1 et seq., and may offer eligible students in Grades Kindergarten through 12 an online pathway for earning a high school diploma and, at a minimum, shall include the following: * the scope, instructional model, and capacity for the virtual education program; * assessment protocol and specific requirements for monitoring performance that are consistent with W. Va. Code § 18-2E-5, including, but not limited to, students participating in county virtual instruction must participate in the statewide summative assessment; * a plan for monitoring students receiving virtual instruction in accordance with pacing and completion of the required virtual coursework: Provided, that, if virtual instruction occurs in a public school classroom, then a teacher, professional personnel, professional educator, or paraprofessional employed by that county must be present to monitor students; * qualifications of faculty, which at a minimum shall include a teaching certificate issued pursuant to W. Va. Code § 18A-3-1 et seq. and WVBE policies; and * requirement that any virtual school provider will comply with state and federal privacy laws. |
Course Approval | |
Online or virtual course content will be reviewed for correlation with the current WVBE content standards. Courses shall include appropriate instructional resources. Course providers will adhere to the state and federal privacy regulations regarding students. | Coursework offered through a virtual instruction program shall be aligned to the appropriate academic standards as required by state law and WVBE policies. After adopting a policy, the county or multi-county consortium may contract with virtual school vendors or utilize the West Virginia Virtual School. |
Responsibilities | |
The county superintendent shall designate a virtual instruction program contact at the school level who will be responsible for registering students. Any costs incurred by the county WVVS contact are the responsibility of the county. Each school is responsible to assign specific individuals to monitor student progress, proctor exams, and post student final grades to WVEIS. Each school is responsible for providing onsite technology and support to any student enrolled in a virtual or online course. | Counties shall annually provide to the WVDE Office of Teaching and Learning a copy of their virtual instruction program policy; a list of their chosen virtual school providers; number of students per grade level enrolled in their virtual instruction program; the number of students who are enrolled in the full-time virtual instruction program and the number who participated in a blended virtual instruction program; the number of students who were homeschooled, the number of students enrolled in a private school, and the number of students enrolled in a public school immediately preceding enrollment in the virtual instruction program; and how the students enrolled in a virtual instruction program performed academically as compared with students in a traditional classroom setting. |
Funding | |
The cost of WVVS courses are the responsibility of the county. The WVVS may provide funding, when available, for online and virtual courses based on legislative appropriations specific to virtual instruction. Funding for online or virtual courses and associated materials may be provided through county instructional budgets or grant awards. | An eligible student enrolled in a virtual instruction program shall be counted in the net enrollment of the county in which the student resides for the purposes of calculating and receiving state aid. |
Instructional Resources | |
Appropriate instructional resources are provided for all courses within the WVVS. Credit recovery options are available through the WVVS. | Each county must ensure its virtual program instructional resources meet the minimum WVDE Instructional Resources Criteria for each content area. Each county will select virtual/online resources that will be used to provide opportunities for credit recovery. This does not include resources used to deliver first-time course credit. When selecting additional credit recovery resources, the following protocols should be met: * verify that a county team of educators has reviewed the credit recovery program content for the respective courses to ensure that the material aligns with the approved content standards; * provide the WVDE with the name(s) of instructional resources used for credit recovery purposes; and * follow all state and county purchasing procedures when obtaining course materials. |
W. Va. Code R. agency 126, tit. 126, ser. 126-042, app C