HB 913 Summary

• Establishes oversight mechanisms for online learning by requiring the State Board of Education to develop approval criteria and processes for multidistrict online providers, with initial approvals for four-year terms and first decisions due by April 1, 2012.

• Creates an Office of Online Learning within the State Department of Education to maintain a website with objective information about approved online providers, develop model agreements, and provide technical assistance to school districts.

• Requires all local school district boards to develop policies and procedures for student access to online courses by August 31, 2012, addressing eligibility criteria, course types, student support methods, and credit granting.

• Allows school districts to claim adequate education program funding for online courses beginning with the 2013-2014 school year only if offered by approved multidistrict providers, school district programs serving local students, or regional cooperative programs.

• Directs the State Department of Education to revise the full-time equivalent student definition to include students in alternative learning experience online programs and establish rules addressing student counting, staffing ratios, monitoring, assessment, and accreditation requirements.