281—15.6(256) Online learning provided by area education agencies.
	15.6(1) Online learning program delivered by area education agencies. Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly for this purpose, AEAs may provide an online learning program to deliver distance education to Iowa’s secondary students, including students receiving independent private instruction, competent private instruction, or private instruction by a nonlicensed person under Iowa Code chapter 299A. An AEA may provide an online learning program separately, in collaboration with other AEAs, or in partnership with school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.
	15.6(2) Student participation. To participate in an online learning program offered by an AEA, a student must be enrolled in a participating school district or accredited nonpublic school or be receiving private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A.
	15.6(3) District responsibility. The school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the student is enrolled is responsible for:
	a. 	Recording a student’s program coursework grades in the student’s permanent record.
	b. 	Awarding high school credit for program coursework.
	c. 	Issuing a high school diploma to a student enrolled in the district or school who participates and completes coursework under the program.
	d. 	Identifying a site coordinator to serve as a student advocate and as a liaison between the program staff and teachers and the school district or accredited nonpublic school.
	15.6(4) Cost. School districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall pay to AEAs the actual cost of providing coursework under an online learning program offered in accordance with this rule.
	15.6(5) Course content and delivery. Content and delivery provided by an online learning program established pursuant to this rule must meet the following requirements:
	a. 	Courses are taught by teachers licensed under Iowa Code chapter 272.
	b. 	Courses are taught by teachers who have specialized training or experience in online learning including but not limited to an online-learning-for-Iowa-educators-professional-development project offered by area education agencies, a teacher preservice program, comparable coursework, or relevant experience.
	c. 	Courses provide access to rigorous, high-quality content and instructional materials aligned with Iowa core content standards and blended learning.
	d. 	Courses provide content and instructional practices aligned with the national standards of quality for online courses issued by an internationally recognized association for kindergarten through grade 12 online learning.
	e. 	Grades in online courses are based, at a minimum, on whether a student mastered the subject, demonstrated competency, and met the standards established by the school district. Grades may be conferred only by teachers licensed under Iowa Code chapter 272.
	15.6(6) Private instruction. This rule applies to students receiving independent private instruction as defined in Iowa Code section 299A.1(2)“b,” competent private instruction under Iowa Code section 299A.2, or private instruction by a nonlicensed person under Iowa Code section 299A.3. To participate in an online learning program offered by an area education agency, a student receiving private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A shall take whatever steps are necessary to enroll with the student’s district of residence. The coursework offered by AEAs pursuant to this subrule must be taught and supervised by a teacher licensed under Iowa Code chapter 272 who has online learning experience, and the course content must meet the requirements established by rule pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.7(32)“c.”
[ARC 5740C, IAB 6/30/21, effective 8/4/21]