RD372 - 2013 Status Report Regarding Multidivision Online Learning


Executive Summary:
In 2010, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation, introduced by Delegate Richard P. Bell on behalf of Governor Robert F. McDonnell, authorizing the establishment of virtual school programs. The legislation required the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop and the Virginia Board of Education to approve criteria for approving, monitoring, and, if necessary, revoking the approval of multidivision providers of online courses and virtual school programs. This legislation stipulated that the courses or programs must meet certain requirements with regard to accreditation and staffing as well as the educational objectives and assessments in the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).

The legislation allowed local school boards to enter into contracts with approved providers to offer such courses and programs. As guidance to these boards, the Superintendent of Public Instruction developed model policies and procedures pertaining to student access. In addition, the legislation required the Virginia Department of Education to develop a Web site containing relevant information, including course content, registration information, teacher qualifications, and completion rates. The local boards were required to post information on their Web sites to enable visitors to understand and compare various options for learners, including the types of online courses and programs available, conditions under which divisions will pay course fees and other costs for nonresident students, and criteria for granting high school credit.

In 2011, the Department of Education developed and implemented the multidivision online provider application process, including the Criteria for Approval of Multidivision Online Providers and the application, appeal, and monitoring process approved by the Board of Education. During this initial application period, 13 organizations were approved to offer online instruction as multidivision online providers. During the second year of program implementation, the legislation required monitoring of the approved providers and the reopening of the application window.

The second application window was opened on January 3, 2012, with provider applications accepted for 30 days. During that time, seven organizations submitted new applications and course correlation documents, and providers approved in 2011 submitted new courses for review and approval. After a thorough review, six of the new applicants were approved as multidivision online providers. For the one application not approved, review teams noted significant deficiencies in data collection and reporting capabilities, pupil performance standards, Section 508 compliance, teacher licensure requirements, and correlation to the SOL.

A third 30-day application window opened on January 2, 2013. During that time, four organizations submitted new applications and course correlation documents, and providers approved in 2011 and 2012 submitted new courses for review and approval. After a thorough review, the four new applicants were approved as multidivision online providers.

Ten of the 19 organizations approved in 2011or 2012 offered courses to students in Virginia during the 2012-13 school year. These organizations completed monitoring reports in June 2013.

After reviewing data from these reports and conducting monitoring interviews with the providers, the Department of Education has identified three primary issues of concern: some approved providers are offering courses that have not been approved, some school divisions are not providing information on their Web sites about the approved multidivision online provider courses, and discrepancies exist between data submitted by providers and data reported in the Student Records Collection (SRC). These issues are detailed in this report.