Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Purpose. Section
1003.499(2),
F.S. requires the Commissioner of Education to annually publish online a list
of providers approved to offer Florida approved courses.
(2)
(a)
Application Form. Form VSP-03, Online Course Provider Approval Application
(
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15734),
for becoming an approved online course provider, will be used for those online
course providers applying for approved status from the Department of Education.
Form VSP-03 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to
become effective August 2023.
(b)
Application Form. Form VSP-04, Application for Currently Approved Online Course
Provider (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15735),
for a currently approved online course provider to add new courses to their
approval, will be used for online course providers applying for additional
online course approval status from the Department of Education. Form VSP-04 is
hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become
effective August 2023.
(c)
Application Form. Form VSP-05, Online Course Provider Renewal Approval
Application (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15736),
for renewing an approved provider, will be used for those online course
providers applying for renewal approval status from the Department of
Education. Form VSP-05 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of
this rule to become effective August 2023. Copies of Form VSP-03, VSP-04, and
VSP-05 may be obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and
Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(3) Application. The applications to become
an approved online course provider, renewal, or for new course approval will be
available at
https://fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/virtual-edu/provider-resources/
beginning September 1 of each year for the following school year and must be
accessed and submitted electronically. The deadline for filing the applications
is September 30.
(a) Pursuant to Section
1003.499(3)(a)5., F.S., the applicant must possess prior, successful experience
offering online courses to elementary, middle, or high school students as
demonstrated by quantified student learning gains or student growth in each
subject area and grade level provided for consideration as an instructional
program option. Learning gains data for at least two (2) complete school years
from one (1) of the following sources must be submitted for each course
submitted for approval in this application:
1.
At least two (2) years of cohort data from a state-administered summative
assessment, approved to meet federal (e.g., ESSA) accountability requirements,
including state-administered End-of-Course (EOC) assessments (Algebra 1,
Geometry, Biology 1, U.S. History, and Civics).
For course subjects not addressed by state
assessments:
2. At least two
(2) years of cohort data from nationally standardized summative achievement
tests. At a minimum, Provider must provide data from category 1 or 2 in
language arts and mathematics. The following evidence of learning gains must be
submitted for all other subject areas and grade levels:
3. At least two (2) years of cohort data from
teacher developed End-of-Course assessments or semester examinations;
4. At least two (2) years of cohort data from
pre- and post-assessments delivered for a course, which assessment is not
covered under another category; or
(b) In accordance with Section
1003.499(3)(a)6., F.S., the applicant ensures instructional and curricular
quality through a detailed curriculum and student performance accountability
plan that addresses every subject and grade level that the applicant intends to
provide. The curriculum plan must include evidence:
1. That the applicant meets the standards of
the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL);
2. That the applicant's online program and
courses meet the standards of the National Standards for Quality Online
Courses;
3. That its courses and
services are aligned to the Florida Student Performance Standards adopted in
Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., which is
incorporated by reference herein, and measure student attainment of those
standards. Each course must align to the course descriptions and benchmarks
established pursuant to Rule
6A-1.09412, F.A.C., which is
incorporated by reference herein, including:
a. Where the standard is taught in the
course,
b. How the standard is
taught; and,
c. How mastery is
assessed.
File names for course alignment documents must include the
Florida course codes and titles specified in Florida's most current Course Code
Directory incorporated in Rule
6A-1.09441, F.A.C., which is
incorporated by reference herein. A copy of Rules
6A-1.09401,
6A-1.09412 and
6A-1.09441, F.A.C., may be
obtained by contacting the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice,
Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida
32399.
4. That
mechanisms are in place to determine and ensure students have satisfied course
requirements. Mechanisms should include:
a.
The use of formative and interim assessments,
b. A multi-tiered system of student supports,
interventions and assistance to ensure student progression toward promotion and
graduation requirements,
c.
Curriculum development, activities and assessments based on principles that
give all individuals equal opportunities to learn, supporting flexibility in
representation, expression, and engagement,
d. Electronic and information technology
accessible to persons with disabilities; and,
e. Strategies to ensure comprehensible
instruction for students with limited English proficiency.
Upon request, the applicant will provide access for a virtual
walk-through of courses during the review phase of the application
process.
(c) The applicant must disclose on a
prominent place on its website the disclosure information required under
Section 1003.499(3)(a)7., F.S. Average student-teacher ratios are to be
calculated for each course. Teacher load (the total number of students assigned
to a teacher) must also be provided. Student completion rate calculations are
to include all students who are enrolled in the course for more than fourteen
(14) days. Student performance accountability outcomes are to include student
assessment results for all students and by the following subgroups: major
racial and ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged students, students with
disabilities and students with limited English proficiency. "Major racial and
ethnic groups" shall include those groups reported for accountability purposes
under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in any state or, if no
such prior reporting is available, shall include, at a minimum: American
Indian, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic, and White. If the course has
an EOC, the applicant will publish the results on the website. All disclosure
of student performance data must comply with Sections
1002.22 and
1002.221, F.S., by avoiding the
disclosure of personally identifiable student information. Assessment data for
less than ten (10) students must be redacted to prevent disclosure of
identifiable student information.
(4) The Department of Education will review
each complete application and provide the applicant with a written decision
regarding the approval or denial of the application no later than forty-five
(45) calendar days after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be
reviewed. Approved online course providers will be posted to the website:
http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/virtual-edu/provider-resources/approved-providers/.
(5) Notice of Denial. If the application is
denied, the applicant will receive written notification identifying the
specific areas of deficiency. The applicant shall have thirty (30) calendar
days after receipt of the notice of denial to resolve any outstanding issues,
and resubmit its application for reconsideration. The applicant will receive a
final written notice of approval or denial. If any application is denied a
second time, the department will provide a final written notice to the
applicant indicating that the application has been administratively closed and
that the provider may apply during the next application phase in accordance
with subsection (3) of this rule.
(6) Course provider approval will be in
effect for three (3) years.
(7)
Revocation. The department shall revoke the approval of a course provider who
fails to maintain compliance with all the requirements of Section
1003.499(3),
F.S., or who fails to implement the course(s) as submitted and
approved.
Rulemaking Authority
1003.499,
1008.31 FS. Law Implemented
1003.499,
1008.31
FS.
New 12-23-14, Amended 7-28-15, 10-30-16, 10-17-17, 8-21-18,
9-21-21, 9-20-22, 8-22-23.
