Definitions

For the purposes of this policy: “Blended Learning” is education in which instruction and content are delivered through supervised instruction in a classroom and online delivery of instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, or pace.

“Digital Learning” means a digital technology or internet-based educational delivery model that does not rely exclusively on compressed interactive video (CIV). Digital learning includes online and blended learning.

"Instructional Materials" means:

1. Traditional books, textbooks, and trade books in printed and bound form;
2. Activity-oriented programs that may include:
3. Manipulatives;
4. Hand-held calculators;
5. Other hands-on materials; and
6. Technology-based materials that require the use of electronic equipment in order to be used in the learning process.

“Online Learning” is education in which instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet. The term does not include print-based correspondence education, broadcast television or radio, videocassettes, compact disks and stand-alone educational software programs that do not have a significant Internet-based instructional component.

“Public School Student Accessing Courses at a Distance” means a student who is scheduled for a full course load through the District and attends all classes virtually.

Digital Course Offerings

The District shall offer one or more digital learning course(s) through one or more District approved provider(s) as either a primary or supplementary method of instruction. The courses may be in a blended learning, online-based, or other technology-based format and shall be tailored to meet the needs of each student.

All digitally offered courses shall meet or exceed the State Board of Education's curriculum standards and requirements and be capable of being assessed and measured through standardized or local assessments. Additionally, the District shall ensure there is sufficient infrastructure to handle and facilitate a quality digital learning environment.

The District shall annually determine what District created digital learning courses it will provide to our students. The District may also choose to provide digital learning courses by contracting with outside providers of such courses, who have been pre-approved as part of the Arkansas Course Choice Program by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The School Board shall determine the provider method or combination of methods for the District. The Superintendent shall ensure that all digital learning courses provided to District students, regardless of the source of the course, have been approved by DESE.

District created digital courses and any digital courses the district purchases from outside providers shall adhere to the guidelines for the use of digitally transmitted copyrighted materials set forth in Policy 5.8-USE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS as well as applicable statutory requirements.

The District shall require all outside providers to incorporate Policy 5.8 as a condition of the service contract. Failure of the outside provider to abide by Policy 5.8 shall constitute a breach of contract and the outside provider shall be responsible for any costs resulting from such breach.

A student may elect to take any scheduled courses digitally if offered digitally by the District or , if applicable, through the Arkansas Course Choice Program. The student’s attendance in the student’s digital course(s) shall be determined in accordance with Policy 4.7—ABSENCES.

The District is responsible for providing all instructional materials for each student who enrolls in a District approved digital learning course.

Except as required by Policy 5.19, the District may restrict a student's access to digital courses when the student's building principal determines the student’s participation in such a course would not be academically appropriate based on the student's past performance in digital courses. Furthermore, the student's building principal may revoke a student's eligibility to continue taking a digital learning course if the student's performance during the semester indicates the student is not succeeding in the course.