273.16  Online learning program.
  1.  Subject to an appropriation of funds by the general assembly for this purpose, the area education agencies may offer, separately or in collaboration with other area education agencies, or in partnership with school districts and accredited nonpublic schools, to provide an online learning program to deliver distance education to Iowa’s secondary students, including students receiving competent private instruction under chapter 299A. 
  2.  Coursework offered under this section must meet the requirements established by rule pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 32, paragraph “c”.
  3.  To participate in an online learning program offered by an area education agency, a student must be enrolled in a participating school district or accredited nonpublic school or be receiving private instruction under chapter 299A as described in subsection 1. The school district or accredited nonpublic school in which the student is enrolled is responsible for recording a student’s program coursework grades in the student’s permanent record, awarding high school credit for program coursework, and issuing a high school diploma to a student enrolled in the district or school who participates and completes coursework under the program. Each school that participates in the program shall identify 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. The individual providing instruction to a student under chapter 299A as described in subsection 1 shall receive the student’s score for completed program coursework.
  4.  School districts and accredited nonpublic schools shall pay to area education agencies the cost of providing coursework under an online learning program offered in accordance with this section.
2020 Acts, ch 1107, §8; 2021 Acts, ch 88, §2
Referred to in §256.11